Gulabi Gang

Friday morning our class was welcomed by Victoria Fontan, a professor at UPEACE who teaches courses in peace and conflict studies. After a brief introduction of peace-buiding strategies, she presented us with a case study. 

Sampat and her Gulabi Gang

On paper, the government of India presents its nation as a paradise of equality. But in actuality it is a place filled with corruption and immense social inequalities. Luckily in the province of Uttar Pradesh in Northern India, someone took a stand.

Sampat Devi Pal was a unique woman from the start. She was educated, a rarity in the area, and was vocal about her rights. Sampat fought for equality within her family and on a larger scale. Soon everyone in Uttar Pradesh was murmuring about the "rebellious" Sampat Devi Pal. Funny how a woman simply striving for equal rights and opportunities is deemed radical...

In an effort to help local women become economically autonomous, Sampat began the Gulabi Gang. This "gang of pink saris" started to push the walls of morality and tradition. Now with over 20,000 members, the Gulabi Gang continues to denounce oppressive government and cultural practices -- like child marriages and the lack of female educational opportunities, assert their rights, and investigate corruption throughout Indian black markets. 

For a long time the Gulabi Gang has faced backlash from the media. The group has been portrayed as vicious vigilantes and were only seen in a positive light recently. The influence of the media as an institution is enormous. Misrepresentations of positive female leaders like Sampat is not what this world needs. Role models who fight for equal opportunities should be portrayed rather than privileged celebrities making poor life decisions for all the world to see. The media's massive expanse of powerful influence can make this necessary shift in the right direction. Hold them accountable for their damaging perceptions of women!

For more information on the Gulabi Gang, check out their website here.