MSC archived stories - July 21, 2022
A week ago, I was eating a sandwich during my lunch break at workplace when received Juliana's latest 'CR' letter in MyCI. She is just turned 11 and already making self assessment and being candid of herself. At the end she also drew a picture of her family. (added to media)
Juliana sounded like I'm the only one there for her to share all in her little world of thoughts. She literally threw sandwich away and grabbed my attention in fascination, deeply questioning myself her simple drawing. I got work colleagues to gather around my desk to see it – the hierarchy of placing women after men in the family and shyness of ladies including her turning away (no eyes).
She wrote an honest reading of her own self followed by a thousand words worth picture on the next page. What paused in my thoughts was that even her younger brothers come before her. This is quite common perception among Asian families in particular, but how can Juliana break this taboo.
My mom is the only female in our family of four male members, and she naturally has the same feeling as Juliana portrayed. I wonder if Juliana can really express her wishes of having dignity and equal rights, will she rearrange the family members in a different order.
If you think, 8 billion of us living on this planet is so tiny compared to the vast number of insets/animals, plants sharing life on earth (and undersea). This is all other creatures only habitable world too, so respecting their right to live here is a lesson for mankind – not to take the dominance!
Familiarity of culture leads you to understand her challenges better than most. Of course, she can only ultimately challenge the life path she is on by doing well in school and getting an education- otherwise she will live the life set out for her by the generations that came before. Even in India change is happening (as you must know, dear Chelaka), but just like everywhere else, it is met with resistance, fear, anger. Her path must be one of water, gentle yet determined. This is her great chance, with you as her sponsor she can become something she cannot even dream of! I am so grateful Juliana has a sponsor who not only is familiar with the cultural prison that could happen but is also equipped to help her escape it with a different world view, a compassionate heart, the tools she needs, and most importantly, love.
ReplyDeleteJuly 22, 2022
Kiyoshi, thank you! In 3 months another annual photo of Juliana just landed this morning. Juliana is questioning a lot already and I think inadvertently asking me about living in a patriarchal society. The golden rule is to treat others the way you would like to be treated. At her age, I still remember one occasion an older labourer doing some work at home asked me for a glass of water to drink. He was working on a very hot day and felt thirsty. I asked my mom and she told me to bring it from the tap. Those days back in SL, we never drink tap water without boiling and keeping in clay pots. I instantly felt mom was wrong, so instead took the water from our pot and gave to the man. I was so happy to see him drinking purified water just as we would. I know Juliana will too challenge such stereotypes embedded within her culture.
ReplyDeleteJuly 23, 2022
barbmc
ReplyDeleteI don't see any covert message in her stick figure drawing or her letter. I don't think because Juliana chose to group the boys together and drew them first means she is inadvertently asking you about living in a patriarchal society. What specifically makes you believe Juliana thinks you're the only one (or the best one) out there to share all in her little world of thoughts with? She has parents, her extended family, CI, ect. Is it because of the missing eyes situation? None of the stick figures she drew )have a voice! They don't have mouths (or ears or a nose either)) but she did draw the most adorable hairstyles on the girls How cute are those! Everyone else is bald. Maybe she just ran out of time to finish the drawing. I don't see any secret messages hidden in Juliana's drawing.
July 23, 2022