1. Kristine MoxHDFS 892 Growing Up GlobalMichigan State University Burton, Mark (Executive Producer), & Mehta, Deepa (Director). (2005). Water [Motion picture]. Canada, India: Fox Searchlight Pictures.
2. Synopsis Set in 1930s India. Chuyia is an 8-year-old widow who is sent to live in a home with other Hindu widows. Chuyia is a typical child—speaking honestly, which forces the others to “confront their faith and society’s prejudices.” Simultaneously, Mahatma Ghandi is fighting for India’s independence and civil rights.
3. Cultural Context According to Hindu scripture, minor girls are allowed to marry. When a husband dies, women and girls must either die as well, or be removed from society. Women had few civil rights: no access to education, work, or family. There were no economic options except for marriage.
4. Key Talking Points Principles and Goals for Positive Youth Development (from lecture): Schooling Health Transition to work Transition to citizenship Transition to marriage Transition to parenthood
Chuyia is a child, but she is allowed to marry a man, who soon after, dies. Chuyia then goes to live with other widows, and although she is the youngest, there is a wide range of ages. The 8-year-old is feisty, which causes an uproar in the beginning, but eventually her candidness with the other widows forces them to consider what they may be missing out on in the world around them.
In 1930s Hindu culture, females have no value except as wives so when their husbands died and were cremated, they would either have to be cremated too, or go live in a home with other widows. These beliefs are being questioned by progressives like Ghandi and his followers.
At this time, in India, women were denied full civil rights. In Water, the women had no education or work experience, so they would beg for money or, ironically, turn to prostitution—as means of survival. This is not only a health risk, but prevents proper youth development. Transition into adulthood is impossible.
![Kristine MoxHDFS 892 Growing Up GlobalMichigan State University Burton, Mark (Executive Producer), & Mehta, Deepa (Director). (2005). Water [Motion picture]. Canada, India: Fox Searchlight Pictures.](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/gugmoviereview-110529212802-phpapp01/85/Gug-movie-review-1-320.jpg)
