Creating One's Capacious Cavern

Women making inroads into territories dominated by men

- Rajat Mishra

CHRISTINE SAMANDARI, 69 FOUNDER- L’OPERA

Hollywood comedy-drama The Devil Wears Prada beautifully portrays the struggles of a fashion journalist trying to make a mark. Emily Charlton’s famous dialogue ‘I love my job. I love my job. I love my job’—underlines an individual’s determination to accomplish his or her dreams in the professional space.

However, despite having female protagonists, the movie fails to reflect on the untrodden paths that professionally determined women are willing to walk in order to fulfill their dreams.

A documentary named A Fine Line directed by Joanna James, however, probes into this vital question. James provides a glimpse of restaurants wherein women play decisive roles. The movie tries to find an answer as to why the representation of women chefs and restaurant owners in the United States is so thin.

Though James’ documentary is set in the western world, India’s situation is no different.

Indian society, for ages, has conventionally and conveniently relegated women to the sphere of the kitchen. Ironically, the modern Indian society does not witness a healthy representation of this gender in the industries based on gastronomy.

One can identify a moderate number of women working in restaurants and hotels in various capacities, but that does not necessarily mean that they have a healthy representation compared to the men in this business. It is still not easy to find out women who own restaurants. The ownership and the authority—to be precise, the positions that hold power, are still enjoyed by the menfolk.

Impressive population, Meagre Representation