Thursday, January 22, 2015

can you even imagine

A woman, living in this city for under 20,000 dollars a year?

The professor asks, at the end of a wearying lecture on women and work. The hundred-strong class feels hushed, tired, but in the TA corner there is a hulchul, a few of us turning to look at each other and saying, can you imagine? Fake outrage with a bitter edge. Can you even? I think I can imagine!

I'm sorry you're poor! One of them laughs afterwards. I'm just sorry you're poor!

Most of the women in the class live at home and commute 3 hours to come to the university, work 30 hours a week, pay their exorbitant tuition, pay their bills at home, are caregivers; and somehow still have the energy to do their readings, sometimes.

I am only thinking about how I should drink some water and survive the one hour bus ride home and eat some kurma sitting in my fridge. I don't need to buy myself a slice of pizza right now.



No comments:

Post a Comment