Series: Young India, Mobile India
Happy House Hunting
Where does a young single woman professional stay?
The flat owner said, “I cannot rent my flat to you.” “Why can’t you?”, the young lady in late twenties, an IT professional posted in a private company in the city, asked in exasperation. This conversation was at a broker’s office.
“I don’t rent my flat to young unmarried woman. There can be problems you know.” said the flat owner. “What problems are you talking about? I will pay the rent on time. These are my references.” the young lady tried to convince the flat owner. “Not these problems madam, but you know madam there are other problems.” the stubborn flat owner said in a low voice. “What other problems are you talking about?” the young lady asked loudly. “Other families in the Apartment will have problem, you know. Why don’t you understand.” said the flat owner. Even my wife will have problem…young unmarried woman tenant… you know.” “Why should they have problems, I don’t understand?”, said the young lady who was angry as well as puzzled.
Just then a friend of broker entered the shop with sweets for the broker. “Sweets for you as I celebrate my daughter’s success. At the age of 28 she is appointed as a manager in a private company. She will be posted to any city in India. We will plan her marriage once she is settled in her job.”
The broker congratulated his friend on his daughter’s success. The young unmarried IT professional woman said, “Congratulations and happy house hunting!” The flat owner was confused and speechless.
The Indian society is in transition as it struggles to understand the new lifestyle that is emerging with professionally educated women. Society is comfortable when it is able to pigeonhole persons and actions as this helps it understand how to engage with them. The emergence of professionally educated women in the society has created confusion and conflict between the identity of woman as an object of desire and as an individual who is a professionally educated person. The tag of ‘married’ pushes back and covers up the identity as object of desire. There is a recognition and celebration of women as a professional but where does one place the identity as an object of desire is a problem for a patriarchal society. The flat owner represents this problem of a patriarchal society. The policy initiatives in education and employment make women significant economic actors who migrate for professional work independently. The pace of success of these will depend on how fast society evolves and overcomes its practice of pigeonholing the identity of woman.
Corporate Migrants and Urban Ghetto