Yesterday I wrote about how McAfee is buying into India.
Today I read something interesting in a weekly magazine. Economic independence and sexual independence are supposed to go hand in hand, the report said.
However, in the second fastest growing economy in the world - India (China is first) HIV/AIDS has balooned to 5 million - more than any other nation.
Why can't India get a grip on this? Somebody smarter than me will have the answer and perhaps our staff writer Razib Ahmed can weigh in his thoughts.
Social roles, it seems, are still strong in a culture where men must prove their masculinity and women their fertility. So, even though women make more money and are empowered by it, they find rather that they are at a disadvantage and a greater risk of violence and contracting HIV.
The group surveyed for the above report was 750,17-25 year old women in Bangalore...where McAfee is headed.
One way to prevent the spread of the disease is for women to marry later (they now marry at 17 years of age on average.)the report said.
Question: So, will McAfee's hiring of 400-1000 people in this area help or hurt?
What do you think?
5 million may sound too many but really not too many compared to a population of 1 billion. The average marriage age 17 years is not applicable to most Indian cities as educated girls tend to get married these days often in their late 20s. Actually,
Study shows fall in India HIV cases.
Posted by: Razib Ahmed | April 1, 2006 8:08 PM | Permalink to Comment