Men in May

Thank you for highlighting the role of individuals in the community on the first two pages of Parsiana (May 7, 2018).
"Realign or resign?” (Editorial Viewpoint) mentions individuals such as Shiavax Vakil, solicitor and legal advisor to the House of Tatas, Pundolite lawyer Jimmy Shroff, industrialists Jamshed Guzder and Naoroji Godrej, Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) trustees Dinshaw Mehta, Muncherji Cama, Yazdi Desai, Kersi Randeria and Noshir Dadrawala. Not one of them is a woman indicating that men dominate and squabble and are tumultuous in the BPP which is the premier organization in Bombay where the largest concentration of Parsis reside.
Furthermore, "So they say” carries all quotes by males: Dr Purvez Grant, Gary Lawyer, Piruz Khambatta, Keki Mistry, Zubin Balaporia, Donald Trump, James Comey. Why this all male pontification? Why do you not carry what women say? Why are they presented as voiceless? Zoroastrianism continues to be dominated in its leadership, news reporting, and biased practices by males in its priesthood and trustees who are males. The degree of patriarchal practices differs only slightly between India and North America headed by the Federation of Zoroastrian Associations of North America in the acceptance of children, but otherwise Zoroastrians have been practising a patriarchal religion for thousands of years.
Today, the world is changing, especially in the USA and Europe where more women graduate than men, with the Me Too movement breaking the glass ceiling in law and medicine. There are a record number of women winning elections and seeking public office. It is time for change and the Zoroastrian religion needs to change from its ancient patriarchal practices of only sons of mobeds being priests, to include daughters. It needs to change to elect more qualified women trustees who are less tumultuous and do not resign, more service oriented with better time management skills. This male economic and religious domination should end if the religion is to grow, prosper and multiply. Women need to be treated as equals and not surrogates.
Yes, it is difficult to do so in India where female unemployment is 30% and the government of India under the Bharatiya Janata Party has not created sufficient jobs as promised in its manifesto. Let’s move from "Pappa knows best” to sharing and caring families where Mumma is an equal economic, parental, religious participant in raising a family.
PORUS DADABHOY
porusdad@gmail.com

The editors reply
Many of the "So they say” quotes are taken from the general media where the preponderance of people quoted are men. Just as we had in our May 7 issue, we will, in future try to ensure at least one quote, if not more, is from a woman. Women are considered second class citizens in our community and Parsiana endeavors to counter this bias whenever and wherever possible. As regards news reporting, there is a plethora of women in the Parsi media.