There has been a lot of outrage surrounding hostel curfews for college students but in Kerala, matters are even worse. Professional women are also bound by curfews. Most PG's don't allow women out after 7 pm.
Durga Balakrishnan is an assistant researcher by profession. Based out of Thiruvananthapuram, often she ends up staying back at office and working late into the night. Having faced the bizarre 7:30 pm deadline at two separate hostels for working women in the city, she finally decided to move out.
"I always had to go on taking permission. That didn't suit my work and it started affecting my career and finally took a decision to move out," Durga said.
It's not just work, these hostel deadlines also keep young women like Durga away from cultural events, dinners and even rob them of a chance to unwind after a long day. Women in Kerala are now seeking answers for such discrimination.
"Just because we are women, they treat us as objects who have to be kept inside the hostel after sun goes down," Durga said.
"These rules reflect an archaic mindset and not the reality of the 21st century. I'm in an industry where I get back by 10 pm or 11 pm but people look at me as if I am Into something bad. I don't know why people have to behave like that," advertising professional Radhika Ratnam said.
Kerala might lead other states as far was female education and empowerment is concerned, but these rules are holding these bright young women back.
Many working women's hostel claim that these restrictions are to ensure the safety of women and some even add that these deadlines breed discipline.
Many young women think when they get job they can finally dispense with curfew on when to get back home. On the contrary, these in these hostels, they are hauled up to the warden's room if they come late much like school kids are taken to the principal when they play truant.
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