Stories of Women Artisans in India:

Micro-Economic Empowerment as a Solution for VAW

Traditional Paintings on house walls - Bihar

Bihar: Wall Paintings

VAW Context: India

A woman is raped every 20 minutes

4 women will be raped by the time this talk is finished today

The VAW Context: India 2011 census = sex ratio 940w:1000m 2001 census = 933:1000 35 million women “missing” due to sex

selective abortion and neglect of young girls due to strong male child preference.

DV, dowry deaths, acid attacks, killings, rape, abduction, and cruelty by husbands and in-laws.

The VAW Context: India Dowry Prohibition Act

and the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act and cruelty under Sec 498A of the Indian Penal Code.

22 women killed every day due to unmet dowry demands.

India’s national rape conviction rate in 1973: 44%

India’s national rape conviction rate in 2010: 26%

85% of rape cases investigated in 2012 still awaiting trial.

The Pink Revolution:The Gulabi Gang

The Regional VAW ContextVAW in

Karnataka Rate of Crime =

35%. (# of crimes/ 100,000 women)

VAW in Bihar 65% Increase 56% of women

between 15 and 49 subjected to physical and sexual violence.

Rate of Crime= 23%

The Artisanal Context 2011 census: 68%

of the Indian population lives in villages.

@700,000 villages in India

Farming Handloom Handicraft (@200

million)

Traditional Paintings on house walls - Bihar

Painting done in the nuptial chambers by the bride

Artisanal Women in Bihar

Structural system emerges Quality of life improves for women Women generate income Gain regional/international recognition Gender relations shift

Abortion Clinic

Female Infanticide

Lifting the Veil

Bihar VAW Study Age 20 – 35 Total sample=40

A tribal village in Karnataka

Artisanal Women in Karnataka

Welfare Project for Women A Co-op is born Large garment orders for large retail

outlets Self-Help Groups Food Ration Program

Tribal Women discussing their work

Karnataka VAW Study Local community

leaders develop survey

Analysis and learnings exceed expectations

High degree of survivor engagement

9 foot panel – transition of the untamed “woman” to tribal “woman”