The Future

Women of
India:
Leveling the
Playing Field

Christine E.
Henderson
with Excerpts
written by
Samantha
Jackle
January 30, 2011

Page 1
 During the chaos of a work day, I received a call from a friend in India. He had been
working with me over the past few weeks organizing, working, telephoning; planning diligently
for the immersion and excursion study abroad program for Central Washington University
(CWU) undergraduate students . The focus of the study abroad program was gender and
poverty. My friend and I had been researching non-profits, organizations and businesses in
Cochin, India where the respective organizations would relate to the study abroad program,
and more importantly support my volunteer work with the Homes of Hope in the southern
province of India. We were having a tough time getting commitments from organizations who
would accommodate 18 students and a professor. My friend assured me - in a very Indian way
of assurance - our group would not have a problem finding organizations relating to the topic of
gender and poverty, and to my volunteer work at the Homes of Hope. Naturally, I was feeling
quite uneasy because of the extreme differences in the “American way” of planning versus the
“Indian way” of planning. Those who have spent time in India will know and recognize those
differences, and we certainly can all chuckle about these differences, as there is not really a
right or wrong way of planning in India.

My friend and I were both working for the students at CWU. Neither of us was
receiving any kind of compensation from the University. Our goal was strictly to share our
knowledge with the students. We wanted the students to have the best possible study abroad
program. This program was designed to demonstrate the importance of empowering young
girls through education. During my very busy work day and the telephone call, my friend
informs me we are going to tour a C-O-I-R factory – spelling it out for me very slowly and
patiently – I responded by saying, I am quite busy and if he thinks this factory would be
meaningful, then book it because I have to turn in the itinerary for the entire program to the
University in about two hours. Before ending the telephone call, I asked again what kind of
factory – C-O-I-R – again spelling it out for me as if I were a two year old.

I did not ever ask my friend what it was like trying to educate me and trying to organize
this program, but if I had to guess, it would be that he understood the cultural differences and I
did not – the “American style” versus “Indian style”. I proceeded with my day without thanking
my friend, to whom I am forever indebted for the work he did for me and others. The same
afternoon I submitted the final itinerary to CWU with the C-O-I-R factory listed as one of our
places to visit.

Later in the evening I Googled C-O-I-R. I read many webpages about coir and its
importance in India. My first thought was, why do I not know about coir. I have three huge rugs
made of coir in my house. I ran around my house touching the material. Quickly educating
myself about coir, it occurred to me that my friend must have thought I was absolutely
uneducated. I started laughing to myself as I touched the rugs. Up to this point in my life, I had
not questioned or wondered where things come from or where they are made, much less know
of factories that would produce such material from a fiber called C-O-I-R.

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 Blaring through my headphones, while researching coir, was Lady Marmalade, “hey
sister go, hey sister flow sister, hey sister go” seemingly inspiring me to keep going with this coir
thing. Come with me as I describe my research on coir as I came to understand it that evening.

Think of Coir as a naturally re-enforced fiber which lessens the impact when coconuts
drop from the tree. It is a coarse protective fiber found on coconut husks. Coir is an important
natural product because of its resiliency, as opposed to its competitors like sisal and abaca. Its
elastic fibers contain a significant amount of a naturally occurring polymer called lignin. Lignin
resists biodegradation which makes coir a commercially sought after natural material.

India manufactures and produces commercial items made from coir. It is estimated by
several different sources that India produces approximately 70-90% of the global coir fiber.
India produces and exports rope and twine, brooms, brushes, doormats, rugs, yarn, mattresses,
and other upholstery items. India exports these coir items having an approximate trade value
of $120-160 million per year for the Indian market. Coir production in India is typically a rural
industry. Each factory employing 15-60 people, working in two shifts. Generally the factories
are family run. Many of the employees are women who are augmenting their family income or
completely supporting the household with her production work in the factory.

I began to understand coir and its importance to women and poverty in India. I was
intrigued and rather interested in the upcoming tour of the coir factory as it would be
something new for me to learn about in Cochin, but still I did not truly grasp its importance to
women and the economy of India.

After a twenty-some hour plane ride across the world, our group of eighteen finds itself
at the coir factory about a month after my coir self-education session. It was our second stop
on our day of arrival in Cochin. Jet lagged and tired, we moved on as there was a timely
itinerary to follow.

Samantha, one
of the CWU
students
describes the
coir factory
tour:

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 “The coir factory that we arrived
at was unlike any factory I had ever seen
in the United States. It was on the side of
a fairly busy road and resembled a barn or
shed. When we walked into the factory
there was hay on the floor, and a number
of women wearing their saris tied up into
their waistbands, using them as pouches
for stuffing shredded coconut fibers into.
The women were hooking strands of the
fibers to a magnetic wheel and walking
backwards, pulling on the fiber as it
formed rope.”
The women in this picture are weaving the coconut fibers.
Haydee and Sanday gave each woman a CWU keychain and 100
rupees. The women asked many of us if we had shampoo or a
pen to write with. Some of us in our group simply handed over
any writing utensil we had but none of us had shampoo to give
to the women.

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Samantha continues to
recall…”this rope was then
used to weave rugs and
various textiles often
bleached or even dyed. The
women seemed to be doing
the majority of the work, as
most of the men we

encountered were merely sitting or standing around. A couple of the men demonstrated where
the coconut fiber comes from, and they explained that the rope it makes is strong enough to
hold an elephant. I was shocked by the amount of manual labor occurring at this factory. Even
the looms they used for weaving rugs had been handmade, and the products that they were
making were being exploited in my home country. I ended up purchasing two floor mats for a
total of two hundred rupees, which is approximately the equivalent of four U.S. dollars, and
twice the amount of one of the factory woman’s daily wages.

Factory work is considered a fair living for a woman

in India, and the average female factory worker is
paid around $1.50 a day, whereas their male
counterparts average $2.50 a day. While most
positions that men hold allow for their wages to
potentially increase, a woman’s small earnings are
set in stone. This inequality in pay is a result of
several factors, including, traditional beliefs that a
woman cannot be the head of a household, and the
belief that a woman cannot fulfill traditionally male

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job titles. Challenging gender inequalities in India is
somewhat of a struggle because the people of India place
a strong emphasis on the family, and the family structure.
Furthermore, certain religious beliefs and rituals have,
and even continue to bring up important, yet sensitive
issues in regards to violating human rights. Our race has
experienced a number of hardships in the form of
diversity and segregation, but the important thing is that
we recognize and seek change. In order to spread the
word of gender equality it must actually be practiced, and
traditional gender roles must be challenged. “

As we made our way through the coir factory, I could not help but think of the orphan
girls who live but twenty minutes away at the Home of Hope. The same girls I have spent a
significant amount of time with. I have lived with them, befriended them, taught them and I
have loved them. The girls have become my extended family. I would do anything for them to
have a meaningful and fulfilling life. I did know one thing, I did not want them to only earn
$1.50 a day. I want more for them. But, how do I ensure they are empowered to challenge
traditional gender roles and become leaders in their community.

UNICEF and other agencies define gender equality as being related to human rights and
more importantly women’s rights. UNICEF further defines gender equality as “leveling the
playing field for girls and women by ensuring all children have equal opportunity to develop
their talents”, UNICEF. http://www.unicef.org/gender/. Retrieved 12/16/10. At the coir factory
the playing field is not level. It would take a great deal of effort to break down the barriers for

Page 6
these women. In order to level the playing field for the orphan girls who live at the Home of
Hope, they must be given the opportunity to develop their talents. Only then will they be able
to live a just and humane life. Opportunities must be provided to develop their talents.

Despite the reported economic progress in Cochin, the majority of the people still live in
poverty, earning the same as the women at the factory. The women at the coir factory do work
and do earn a wage, but more than likely they still would be unable to survive on $1.50 per day.
How is an orphan girl going to succeed with such odds?

In India, it is not typical that women are head of household thus the literacy rates for

women are less than men. States such as Kerala, where the girls and the women at the factory
reside, are slowly increasing the literacy rates for girls and women. Kerala holds the highest
literacy rates in the entire country of India. This increase in literacy rates is a factor that should
and more than likely elevate the girls at the Home of Hope and the women at the coir factory.
In other words, education and literacy is the ticket out of poverty and should level the playing
field.

The United States Department of Commerce in 1998 stated one of the major barriers to
female education in India are inadequate school facilities (such as old buildings, lack of clean

Page 7
water and lack of clean spaces). United States Department of Commerce.
http://www.census.gov/ipc/prod/wid-9801.pdf. Retrieved 12/18/10.

After spending many months in Cochin, I think the largest barrier to leveling the playing
field is breaking down the barrier that women are weaker than their men counterparts not the
lack of clean facilities. I have witnessed many situations in where women are interrupted by
their men counterparts, or the women simply just differ all conversation to the men. The
submissive deferrals I have witnessed are usually when speaking in a professional situation.
These women often times have been groomed to act weak, mink and mindless.

The girls at the Home of Hope and the women and at the coir factory should be
encouraged to actively participate in decision making and in community activities. Active
participation must include education, organic and holistic approach to health, good nutrition,

clean and sanitized water, and a right to earn a living. The goal for the girls at the Homes for
Hope is simply that: education, holistic health, nutrition, clean water, and a right to prosper in
their adult lives. This approach should level the playing field for the orphan girls and the future

Page 8
women workers at the coir factory. Rena, who is pictured on page one is certainly showing that
the approach is working – look how great she looks now! The first picture of Rena was taken
three years ago and the second picture was taken a month ago – she barely looks like the same
girl. Rena is an example of what education and good health can do. Empowerment through
education!

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