Women of the "Third World' What can we learn from them?

About the Author Claude W. Bobillier was born in a modest family in the Swiss Alps.

After struggling for years through a questionable education system that did little for working class kids, he went on to earn a PhD at London University and embarked on a career in development in Third World' countries where he always felt at home. Before that, 12 years in friendly New Zealand opened up new professional possibilities, restored his shaken self-confidence and hopes for a better world.

As a sociologist, Claude spent 28 years working as a researcher/adviser in 28 countries of Africa and Asia. There, confronted with female oppression and suffering, he learned most durable lessons of what it means to be a female in patriarchal societies denying women respect, opportunities, a place and role within society.

This book is the product of Claude's field involvement at all levels of struggling societies as a witness, friend and spokesperson for many oppressed women he has met and listened to.

Now retired, he lives on the French side of lake Geneva, still trying to come to term with the persistent ignorance and harshness of a world that treats women as second rate citizens.

Foreword When I was growing up in a middle class family in Mumbai back in the 70's and 80's, we used to read about the women's liberation movement. In those days, it was fashionable to talk about it. It was a mark of being educated and well read! I used to read about several cases of oppression, dowry deaths, and honor killings in the newspapers. I discussed it with my female friends. There was a Marathi play called "Mulagi zhali ho" i.c. "A Girl is born" by Jyoti Mapasekar which had become very famous as the troupe would go to remote places and perform. They had come to my college too. Later, it was translated into other regional languages and into English. It was about sex determination tests, female infanticide and the harsh treatment of girl children. The play had shocked us as it showed that many mothers did not want a girl to be born!

The situation has somewhat improved over the past three decades. However, the stories of female harassment and domestic violence continue. Cases of female infanticide and illegal abortions also continue. The situation of women in urban India has improved as there are today many women in higher positions in business corporations and in government. There are also increasingly success stories about women in rural India.

Introduction This book relates the painful and often disturbing stories Tand experiences of utterly destitute and mostly illiterate "Third World' women. As a European male, working as a consultant sociologist and government adviser in the foreign aid domain, I was professionally closely involved over three decades with countless numbers of poor women in about thirty developing countries at all levels of African and Asian societies.

Geographic isolation, harsh climatic conditions, extreme and permanent poverty, lack of access to basic health and educational services, widespread illiteracy, brutal discrim ination and oppression against females, natural and manmade disasters were (and still are) some of the central issues facing most rural communities and those supposed to assist them (governments, extension workers, foreign aid agencies and NGOs).

Over the years I have had the privilege and many opportunities to meet, listen to, befriend, observe, understand and learn from dozens of qualified professional women in high positions (ministers, heads of corporations and bureaucracies).

**Contents and Sample Pages**