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WHAT WOMEN WANT
Cheers, ladies
ASHA S. MENON
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The Supreme Court recently passed a ruling recognising women’s right to choose bartending as a profession. We ask an expert women bartender, students of bartending and a lawyer their views.
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Right to equality
With the ruling, women in every state can now opt for the profession. When the government refuses to implement complete prohibition of liquor because it brings revenue, it is not fair to ask women not to earn their living out of it. A ban would be a
constitutional violation under Article 14 (equality before law). The substantive equality under CEDAW (Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, a U.N. convention) recognises that women are different from men, and that it is the duty of the employer to see that they are protected. A woman’s safety is the responsibility of the State Government and the employer concerned. There could be committees, which include women’s rights activists, in offices that address the women employees’ concerns.
Ramani Mathew
Lawyer
Entertainment value
It is a decent way of earning a living. So why keep women away from it? My family and I were apprehensive about choosing this job, but my relatives abroad assured us that it is safe. There are also plenty of job opportunities, especially for women be
cause women bartenders are a rarity now. I would have felt awkward if it were only mixing drinks, but we are taught bar tricks and juggling. It is more about entertainment than simply getting drunk. We can get placed in hotels or be even called for official or private parties. Even children may crowd our counter to see the tricks we are taught.
Muthulakshmi
A student of bartending
Mindset matters
When an authority like the Supreme Court recognises a woman’s right to choose her profession, it is definitely good news. But a ruling alone does not change things drastically. I don’t expect a sudden increase in the number of enrolments
among girls. The change will not be made through a law or a ruling. The culture here is highly resistant to such career choices, and few girls are in this profession. Parents and children should understand that it is a great career option, only then can we see more women bartenders. Today, only parents who have travelled the world and seen women working safely in bars appreciate the job. Probably after the ruling, the hotels will encourage their women staff in other departments try their hand at bartending.
Shatbi Basu
An ex-professional bartender who started STIR – Academy of Bartending at Revival (Mumbai)
Job prospects
I am happy about the ruling. I joined the course on bartending because the job pays well and it is easy to go abroad. I learnt of the institute from an ad in the newspaper, called up and the course seemed interesting and easy. We can get jobs in star hotels or on cruise liners. Why should any job be restricted to some people?
Ilakya
A student of bartending
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Metro Plus
Bangalore
Chennai
Coimbatore
Delhi
Hyderabad
Kochi
Madurai
Mangalore
Puducherry
Tiruchirapalli
Thiruvananthapuram
Vijayawada
Visakhapatnam
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