Submitted by: Ashley Breneman

On January 24th, women drinking at a bar in Mangalore, India were attacked by a group of approximately 40 men representing Sri Ram Sena, “the Army of Ram.”  The women were attacked for being “un-Indian” by being out drinking and dancing with men.  The new pub culture in India has been strongly debated across the country on various talk shows.  The conservative group known as The Sena appeared on television saying that his group had “stepped in to enforce morality since the government had failed.”  The following video describes the attack:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aJpSfV-UmIY&NR=1

Many have shown opposition for this group, but politicians have made few announcements on the topic.  Women and child development minister, Renuka Chowdhury, has criticized the Sena, calling its methods “Talibanization.”  Many women across India have protested that they have a right to go to the pubs.  Although a lot of the Indian culture is still very conservative, this proves that many women in the Indian society are striving towards a more Western view on women’s rights. 

The struggle for equality is more of a battle of culture.  From what we have learned up until now, the women in India are treated very respectfully.  The issues being brought up by the Sena are resulting from a deviation from the traditional Indian ideals of how a woman should act.  These new-age women feel they have a right to go out and drink at the pubs, just as men do.  The following debate on CNN-IBN about Mangalore morality and culture shows just how heated these debates have been. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQrYgkBBryw

After learning about these attacks on women, I understand why it is so important that we go out in groups and more importantly, always have a guy with us.  It also demonstrates why it is crucial that we understand the cultural differences in both China and India.  A bar in India is not the same as a bar in San Luis Obispo, and treating it as so can get any one of us into a great deal of trouble.  Hopefully with this knowledge and a little common sense, none of us will encounter any problems.  The videos shown reinforce why we should never drink on the streets, and why we should always exhibit caution and respect if we do decide to consume an alcoholic beverage. 

The article describing the incident can be read on The New York Times website:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/09/world/asia/09india.html

Submitted by: Ashley Breneman

As the days go by, and we get closer and closer to our departure to India, there are some important tips that the women must remember.  This is not to say that the guys have nothing to take precautions about, but the large cultural differences between Western women and Indian women should be noted.  All year we have been educated on the culture in India.  The most obvious difference we as Americans will need to adapt to is the conservative style of dress for women.  By now, we should all understand this difference, but what we may consider conservative here in California, may be extremely provocative in India.  Here are some tips for women that I found on numerous websites.

1. Avoid low cut, tight-fitting shirts, tank tops, skirts that fall above the knees, and shorts.
2. Short sleeve cotton shirts can be worn in warmer climates, but they should be loose fitting and not revealing.
3. Observe the locals, and dress a bit more conservatively than the most liberally dressed woman.

Some of us have talked about buying a sari once we get there.  I know some of us wondered if the Indian women would be offended if we were to wear the saris.  From the research I did, it is a treat for most Indian women to see Americans open-minded enough to immerse themselves in another culture or tradition.  However, you may/will be stared at if you wrap the sari wrong.  For those who plan on buying a sari, this LINK link shows a demonstration on how to wrap a sari.

The other option for Indian dress is the salwar kameez.  This is the slightly less dressy outfit that consists of a loose-fitting blouse that comes down past the waist, and loose-fitting pajama-like pants that are very wide at the top and very narrow at the ankles.

Now how does all this relate to the business aspect of the trip?  Lets put it this way, how many of you would walk into an interview wearing just a bathing suit?  I know this sounds extreme, but revealing clothing can come across just as offensive to the men and women in India.  While in India, I plan on buying at least one of these outfits to try and blend in as much as possible.  Dressing appropriately will not only help to avoid lewd comments and glares, but we will be much more respected by those we encounter.  Besides, there is little knowledge to gain if we enter India assuming the same cultural bias that we experience here in the United States.

For more clothing tips and some extra safety tips, see the below article written by Beth Whitman, an American writer who spent a month traveling through India.

For Women Traveling to India: Preparing for Safe and Culturally Respectful Immersion