The middle-class families of Chennai, located in the southern state of Tamil Nadu in India, strongly believe in the importance of women’s education. From a very young age, girls are enrolled in school and most of them go on to pursue a college degree. However, despite this emphasis on education, the status of women here is still dictated by societal norms. As soon as girls turn 21, the legal age for marriage in India, parents arrange their marriages, often even before they complete their undergraduate degrees.
Unfortunately, the practice of dowry, which has been banned by the Indian government, still prevails. The groom’s family demands a large sum of money or valuable assets from the bride’s parents as a dowry. It is not uncommon for families to go to extreme measures, such as mortgaging their homes, to meet these demands. Even educated brides accept this system without questioning its unfairness.
As a result of the dowry system, the rate of female infanticide, particularly among poorer families, has been alarmingly high. In order to combat this issue, the state’s chief minister, a woman, initiated a program where hospitals provided cradles for people to anonymously leave unwanted baby girls instead of resorting to killing them.
In Chennai, much like in the rest of India, women traditionally had limited opportunities to pursue professional courses like engineering as their parents considered it a waste of time. However, there has been a positive change in recent years. The city has witnessed the emergence of several engineering colleges, offering hope to students who were unable to meet the strict admission criteria of elite institutions like the Indian Institutes of Technology. Computer science has become a popular major in these colleges, inspired by the success of Indians in the field, both domestically and internationally, particularly in the United States.
This shift in the educational landscape has encouraged more women to pursue computer science engineering. Families, enticed by the prospect of wealth and success abroad, now feel more comfortable supporting their daughters’ aspirations. One such example is Priya Karunanidhi, a 17-year-old student studying computer science at one of the city’s new colleges. Despite societal expectations prioritizing marriage over education for women, Priya firmly believes in the value of her academic pursuits. However, like many Indians, she has been taught to respect elders and refrain from speaking out against them, especially men.
Priya comes from a humble background, residing in a modest, single-story home in Pammal, one of Chennai’s densely populated suburbs. The neighborhood is packed with houses, and small shops selling various goods operate until late at night. Her father works for the city’s police department, recording statements on crimes and complaints. While he completed high school, he did not have the opportunity to attend college. Priya’s mother, a homemaker, received education only until the 5th grade. With no one in her family fluent in English, Priya faces challenges and lacks support at home for her studies. However, with assistance from teachers and attending special tuition classes in her final year of high school, she managed to achieve high scores and secure admission to an engineering college. Last year, her father even bought her a computer, which she cherishes and takes great care of. Yet, getting into college was only a small part of the struggle. For Priya’s family, the financial burden of paying 51,000 rupees ($1,200), a significant amount for their lower-middle-class status, poses a challenge to her continued education.
In spite of the obstacles, Priya’s determination and eagerness to learn are evident to those around her. People admire her boldness and admire her for breaking traditional gender roles and pursuing her dreams.
Priya, on the other hand, doesn’t challenge her mother’s views openly. However, she confides in me later that she admires women who are independent, like a character in a television series she enjoys. This character is divorced, yet assertive, and has taken control of her life. Priya appreciates her boldness and aspires to be like her, even though she admits she is not that way presently.
Editor’s Note: Vaishali Honawar, a staff writer for Education Week, is currently in India to report on the country’s education system. As part of her assignment, she is also contributing occasional reports for edweek.org.
