Page 250 - Communication Processes Volume 3 Communication Culture and Confrontation

From Grindmill Songs to Cultural Action 225

sparks. This results in trouble. A woman is at the image of the
cilār.
What to tell you, woman, the thorn of the cilār
No son to keep the lineage, what’s the use of a girl?

8. Bother: The birth of a girl is not a happy event; she is synonym
for difficulties. She appears as an obstacle, a source of trouble,
headaches and hindrance, not only for her mother, but for the
rest of the family too.
In the middle of the fire, wet wood burns
The birth of a girl, a bother for the clan.

9. Second marriage: If a first wife does not give birth to a son,
one should immediately envisage taking a second. To beget a
boy is of utmost importance. What is a woman? If one has been
brought home already, nothing prevents from bringing a second
one.
The hope was to have a boy, mother-in-law is angry
I tell you, my son, be prepared to take another wife.

10. Adverse fate: To be a girl is a matter of misfortune. The fact
itself is a basis for being blamed or considered faulty. Several
words are commonly used with reference to that fatal misfortune,
-
bhogavata, naśīb, bhog, with the same attribute, vait, meaning
.
‘bad’ with connotations of all kinds: wrong, defective, injurious,
detrimental, harmful, guilty, and so on.

I gave birth to a daughter, the fate apportioned to me
A thorn has been brought, come on! pierce my nose!

11. Madness: Once a mother has a baby girl, she becomes almost
mad.

Birth of a son, sweet mango tree
A daughter is born, I go mad.