Leica Mae T.

Calooy

Assignment on Socio 73

Water is a film that tackles gender, race, and class altogether. The film was set in
1938 India and revolves around the 8-year old girl named Chuyia. She was brought to the
city by her family to get married to an older man who dies right after their wedding. She
was then brought to an ashram – where widows go and live in seclusion. Most widows
are forced to beg outside temples or be prostitutes. Chuyia became friends with another
young widow, Kalyani, who is pimped by another widow, Madhumati, who dominates
the ashram. Kalyani became the source of income for the ashram.

Shakuntala, Chuyia’s another widow friend, questions the theory behind the
foundation of widowhood. Narayan, a Gandhi follower, answered her with an
explanation: One less mouth to feed. Four saris saved, one bed, and a corner is saved in
the family home. There is no other reason you are here. Disguised as religion, it is just
about money.” Narayan fell in love with Kalyani and wants to marry her despite the
stigma to her status. This in turn caused a commotion into the ashram. They tried to run
away but Kalyani later discovered that Narayan’s father was one of her “clients”, she
then drowned herself in the Ganges River and Narayan disowned his father. Chuyia is
abused and later rescued by Shakuntala and helps her escape.

As a woman, this film gives me a picture of how society back then looks down on
women and how badly they treat them. It gives me the idea how a woman is not complete
without a man and is nothing without him, which I do not like at all. They also depict
women to be unclean once they lose their husbands. Growing up in an Islam family, I
think I can sympathize to the women in the film. Why? Because when I was younger, I
saw one my playmates got married to an older man and it was horrible to witness. Also,
men in my family are presented with high respects than the women. They think women
are too fragile to do anything outside of home. This in turn made me so frustrated at our
beliefs and practices because they limit me on what I can do. I was not given the same
privileges as my male cousins. But like Shakuntala I begin to question the beliefs that we
have. I began to ask, “What can men do that women cannot?”. But then, it is embedded in
me that men are way stronger than women. I must thank my mom for changing that
notion that I was taught, because my mom was the one who supported our family
financially.

The film made me more interested on how the women of the 21st century are
dealing with the issues of gender roles. Because nowadays, women are given more power
and rights. Though, there are still issues of violence against women, we must admit that
they can now stand up for themselves if they want to and they can seek help. But still we
should push for equality because there are still some communities that are not reached by
this idea. Young girls are the ones who are suffering more with the traditional beliefs
such as the ones in the film.