Comments on: Letter to the Update editor: Are Single Women in India Really Happier?

By: Madhurima ganguly

Madhurima ganguly — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 10:17:40 +0000

Hi
It is true that in small towns in Inida, single women are not loked upon with respect and all, but witht his changing society, womna re staying single comfortably provided they are economicaly independent.
Yes, financial freedom is very essential for women to stay comfortably in a single status oftheir relationships. A sound career can definitely helpa woman to stick firm to their decisions of staying single in the metro cities now-a-days.

By: Mae

Mae — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 16:17:09 +0000

I’d be really interested to know how this trend in women’s gradual in increase of independence is tied to the developing economic situation in India. As an international development student we do a lot of case studies on integrating “marginalized” communities, among them women. Does the acceptability to society of being a single woman increase with amount of education you obtain?

By: Chitra R.

Chitra R. — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 10:59:52 +0000

I am a different Chitra than the one who wrote in above and I happen to be a PhD, 28 and very much single. I do not have any intention of getting married soon and do not have a steady boyfriend right now and stay in an Indian city.
There certainly is pressure of all sorts, but then I am kind of used to not following the ‘usual norms’, be it choosing my career, my ‘non-religious’ beliefs and my attitudes towards social mores and traditions.
But it can be hard sometimes. It is difficult to get along with many who follow the old traditions. Yet, I cannot think of living another way. Thank for writing clearly about the current situation in India with more realty than cynicism or wishfulness. I only wanted to add, that this scenario is changing-atleast I wanted to voice the ‘minority’ of sexaully liberated, single, independent rationalist Indian woman.