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Desperate For News

The hapless H4 wife is one among the many stereotypes that abound about desis. Having known many myself, I have an appreciation of their plight though the desperation that this TOI article describes is news to me. That they could become victims of domestic abuse is easy to understand given that their legal status in the country is tied to their husband's and they have no means of acquiring financial independence.

Why turning to swinging should be an H4 wife syndrome is not quite as clear. It is a choice any jaded and adventurous couple could make if they were so inclined. How typically TOI to use an "undercover agent" to uncover material for the tabloid the publication has now become.

Raheel Dhattiwala - skipping the first two paragraphs of your story and the unimaginative allusion to Desperate Housewives soap would have lent the gravitas to the H4 predicament that it is deserving of. That cheap trick dilutes your message and makes the H4 wife caricature so much more grotesque. You owe these women an apology. Was it perhaps you and another TOI undercovers posing as Wife 1, 2 and 3 and to make this whole swinging business up ? If so, shame on you and TOI.

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Comments

Ek Umeed said…
I agree with your take on the article, Heartcrossings. I find the author's trick of using the plight of women (lacking basic rights afforded to resident aliens and citizens) under H4B visas to visit the topic of swinging absolutely disgusting and a hiatus from the intention of bringing to forefront serious discourse on this important issue. Much like you, I do not find this type of writing, which can only be termed as "sensationalistic journalism," in good taste. How crass and unimaginative indeed!
4:35 AM
Heartcrossings said…
Ek Umeed - Back in the day (I mean 80s and earlier) TOI used to be a serious newspaper. You read it for credible reporting. Its a shame to see how far they've stooped.
6:12 PM
ggop said…
They don't call it Slimes of India on blogs for nothing :-)
gg
7:13 PM
Heartcrossings said…
ggop - Slimes of Inida is just perfect !
9:21 PM
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