Prof. Alice Clark speaking on Valued Daughters. Prof. Vibhuti Patel chairing the public lecture on 28-2-2014

Public Lecture by Dr. Alice Clark on
"Valued Daughters:
Intern generational Attitude Change in Indian Middle Class Families”
Organised by
Department of Economics on 28/02/2014, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Chairperson of the session:
Dr. Vibhuti Patel, Professor and head of Department of Economics, SNDT University.

Dr. Alice Clark shared synopsis of her research based on case studies of young women in Allahabad, Mumbai, Bangalore, Vadodara and Ahmedabad. Dr. Clark began with the statement that gender roles are socially constructed, maintained and reproduced. Her research which centres on the concept of aspiration among young girls between the age group of 18-25 years revealed their powerful commitment to shape their future from construction and adoption of social and cultural capital out of material at hand in terms of urban residence, exposure, cooperation from family members, and friendship with professors and mentors. She described the process of advocacy from committed professors in higher educational institutions converting these girls from cloistered environment into global persons. It was touching to hear a father from informal sector telling, “I want my daughter to achieve what I could not.” She convincingly brought out interplay of family, gender, identity and individuality determining destined of young urban women. . She shared the stories of four young girls coming from different financial and social backgrounds, who had different opinions on the concept of family, freedom, career and marriage. The creation of the neo new middle class on the existing old middle class is due to the growing importance attached to the education of girls and laying down more and more impetus to their careers. Faced by structures of repression, how these young women carved out space for themselves gave idea of sense of self discovery. Family aspirations of decent life and mainstreaming of gender awareness were motivating factors for investing in girls and many parents changed their location to facilitate their daughter’s education. Confronted by consumerist and competitive culture, educating girls becomes family security strategy.

These stories touched the heart of all the audience present there as each and all of us could identify ourselves to all or at least one of interviews women. The lecture was followed by an hour long sharing of personal stories by the students and teachers. Audience welcomed the opportunity to share some heart touching and empowering stories based on their own experience. All in all, a great platform was created to open up our hearts and reach out to the fellow peers bringing in tears of joy and at times sadness in the eyes of all.