Web blog post #5

The first thing that came to mind when watching this video was the similarity between the ideas presented in it and that of the character Pramod in “The Good Shopkeeper”. Pramod is laid off from his job and is told by his wife, as well as many others that he should keep a positive attitude. In the film, this is our societies’ ideology, that if we have a constant positive attitude, then everything will be fine. This is referred to as willful ignorance. Pramod continues to hold onto this ideology, although it’s clear that he has major doubts of its effectiveness. He even attends Shiva’s temple daily, in hopes that his spiritual devotion will work in his favor, as it has appeared to for others. When he returns empty handed, after months of attempting to adopt such attitude, he decides to stray from it.
The American view that sex and anything related to it is taboo has shaped the way in which I view sexuality. For many years I believed sex to be a shameful thing, due to my conservative American upbringing and the presence of Catholicism in my home. I never even received the “sex talk” because such things weren’t discussed. I viewed it has a sin until I became older enough to realize that it is simply a human need and desire. However, my upbringing enforces that sex is a sacred act and decisions regarding it shouldn’t be taken lightly. My combined experiences have morphed two ideals into one. In my eyes, sex is an act with a lot of meaning behind it but it is also a natural thing that should be discussed openly and not swept under the rug.

Web blog post # 4

I strongly believe that every woman should be independent in almost every way. I think every woman should have their own financial support and even after marriage should maintain their independence in some way. I believe this because this value has been instilled in me since I was young. My mother told me all the time that I should “never rely on a man.” This brought on a sense of feminism at a very young age for me. I didn’t play dumb in school like many girls my age and always sought to get high grades, even if a boy noticed. Dating was even discouraged a lot. I was never the type of young woman who had to have a boyfriend like most of my friends. I hadn’t even had my first real relationship until this past year when I was 20. Even now, any woman who is constantly seeking to please a man sets off an alarm to me that there is something going on underneath the surface, that she devalues herself. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve had my moments, but I feel as though this value has let me be a passive observer and become sharper in my awareness. That’s probably why I identify with Hema the most. I know I’ve mentioned this in previous discussions but she is my favorite character. She deviated from the gender identity of her time and culture and represents a strong, independent, and driven woman. She has a successful career, is greatly respected, and is completely different from the other female characters. She like me at times even actively separates herself from any male ‘distractions’ until she lets her guard down with Ghosh.

Although this value can be extremely beneficial, it has its drawbacks. I’ve noticed that I’ve been a little colder towards guys most of my life, preferring lots of girl friends as opposed to male friends. I’ve even pushed a few potential boyfriends away. Being so independent and focused on self can drive someone to become cold hearted, selfish and desensitized to others or a particular sex around them. It also can be a great thing though, as it as for me. It can drive you to be successful in many different ways including school, work, etc. It can teach you how to be self-sufficient, so once you’re living on your own you will thrive and not panic. I appreciate my mom for teaching this quality/belief. It has created a strength in me and expectations for myself I wouldn’t have otherwise.