THEMES FOR A SERIES OF WORKSHOPS IN CHENNAI, BANGALORE, MUMBAI, DELHI AND KOLKATA     I. Awareness of her body – biology versus social norms She is at an age old enough to vote a government to power, but, perhaps, not old enough to explore her sexuality. She is at an age when she is expected to be independent in her chores but maybe not so in relationships, career paths or in her ideas of success in life. The young adult woman’s (18-24) mind and body are an inferno. Having gone through the teens she has seen a new angular individual emerge from the comfortable body of childhood innocence. With deep unarticulated desires and longings and none too clear about the budding chemistry of her body and mind, she wants to be sure of herself. Media images bombard her with contrasting messages. There is a lot of information but it does not seem to percolate, make contact. Friends provide the only comfort. II. Tyranny of beauty She has been a brilliant student all her life. In fact, her academic performance created a shield for her to ward off the cruel and pitying remarks about, what they called, her unattractive physical self. Today, as she is poised to launch into a lucrative career, her parents give her the feeling that it is marriage that they really want of her to feel that she is settled. They are not tyrants; in fact they love her dearly. But by subscribing to the fact that only marriage really settles a woman, they have brought pain into her life. For the many men who have looked her over, have ‘rejected her’. She has never cried so much ever in her lifetime. What she is looking for is companionship and friendship in marriage. The men are not. She has developed an animus against men that is visible in her professional field. Every time a man gets up to speak, she decimates his argument – and him – to pieces. What should she do? III. The future is forked She did very well in her school-leaving exams but is not sure what she wants to do. She does not have a Plan like others. In her mind’s eye, she is unable to see a specific future. She comes from a reasonably affluent background and both her parents are working. They have not put any pressure on her to be a certain way. But she knows it is success and happiness that they want and hope for her. She knows that her friends certainly expect it from her. But she has entered an age when one is apt to question one’s own beliefs and those of others. Life acquires a shade of blue every now and then. What should she do? IV. Struggling to get out of a girl’s world She has studied in an all-girl’s school and an all-girl’s college. At home, her brother’s friends used to constantly drop in, but shyness prevented her from mixing with them. There was an unspoken wish of her parents that she fulfilled – and that was not to get too close to males. Today, she is scared of being approached by any young man, apprehensive about any male touching her, for she does not know what to expect. She does not know how these interactions take place. What should she do to come out of her shell and get into the stream of life? V. Searching for an identity She has always wanted a career, but is scared of becoming a hard woman. From all directions she is bombarded with messages that say a woman is one who is feminine, soft and gentle. How can she resolve the dilemma?           MAIDEN VOICES: THE YOUNG WOMEN OF INDIA