What do you think of a system where the village council have so much power? What are the consequences of those positions being held by men?

What do you think of a system where the village council and the head of that council have so much power? What are the consequences of those positions being held by men?

I find it frightening that the village council has so much power in this story. I definitely see a problem in a village council that consists of all men. We don't have to look too far into the past to see leadership and government groups in the United States that were mostly - or even totally - male. I believe an all-male council is bound to make much more patriarchal decisions and be less supportive of women. I don't think they have an understanding of the equality of women and men. It especially astounds me the way the council in this story comes before family love or loyalty. Having been raised Catholic and also having worked for the Catholic church, it came to my mind right away that this is another real-life example of male dominated leadership and the consequences of such. The Church still persists today as a patriarchy, yet as a part of our society that is respected by so many. This helps me a little to understand the patriarchy still accepted in Indian culture. However, this was really the most horrifying part of this story for me - that so many of the men would band together and be so cruel to a woman.

This is a culture that puts men over women. It's endorsed by particular faiths which gives it more credence to those participating. Men have the power and women are basically property. An all male council in such a culture will of course be biased against women. As I said, they have the power!

Unfortunately, the in India it is still a man dominated culture and thus the village councils are all male and all male council can continue to deprive women of rights and opportunities though the laws now nominally protect those rights but women are hesitant to express themselves and often remain in the older traditions.

So much of human history is exemplified by the power of the village council. Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter and the New England witch trials showed this in early America. Small isolated villages and groups throughout the world have similar systems. And traditionally, men have been the ones with this power. The consequence is that women are devalued and their concerns ignored or minimized. Men are also prevented from developing respect for women and realizing the richness of life when men and women communicate with and respect each other.

It's terrifying and hits very close to home. Women in the United States are experiencing the loss of their right to make decisions about their own bodies.

This has been the way of life for thousands of years. The USA was based on "man ruled" system. It is sad that it is still going on in many parts of the world. I do not know what can be done in this community. They have been taught that men are better and women are inferior. Until the community is educated enough to realize that it does not have to be this way I do not know what can be done. You find out in this book that is not going to be easy.

I found the village council frightening. There was a sense of hopelessness. Women were no better than animals. They had no representation or voice.

It’s a problem of representation and no checks or balances.Too much power by one group always leads to abuse of power, corruption, and entitlement like the Councils displayed.

J the main difficulty with a village council as described in this book is that it is male domination. Women have no rights.it took a long time for women in the US to have more equal rights and we are slowing losing those hard fought for rights. All because of male domination

The word "appalling" best describes it. The effects of this power in Honor are disastrous to say the least. But one of the other questions posed here relates to how we can connect this with America. The right of MEN to determine the woman's right to determine her own body is also appalling!

I think that such a system is Neolithic.

Such a system is appalling in the 21st century and places women in a precarious position—particularly women like Smita who,despite having lived a life of subordination to her brothers and village elders, had a strong sense of herself and her values. Love was Smita’s dominant quality and she defied her brothers out of love, love for her sister, for Abdul, and for her daughter. It resulted in her murder.

The system is misogynistic and corrupt. Men control the council and are influenced by money and bribes. There is no justice, even when going through the justice system. Money rules and men control everything.

I think it is important in any “government” to have diversity. This way the interests of all are represented. An all male council only serves males. I feel like there must be so many people in India who feel powerless-either because of where they were born, their religion, their wealth or lack of, and lack of education an opportunity. Perpetuating long ago traditions, gives some power back to these men, who would most likely be looked down upon anywhere else.

Too much power never seems to lead to positive outcomes. Leadership groups where everyone thinks alike or follows along with the leader can quickly become dangerous. Men or women who become emboldened by their position of power are quick forget the greater good and act in their own interests.