I Walked off Alone to get my Tubes Tied
In this informative essay, the author retells the stories of Gopli Gameti and Parvati Meghwal, two women in rural Udaipur from the Gameti community. Women in this community are often left behind as their husbands migrate for work. This story highlights the challenges faced by women in these rural areas in making health and life decisions independently.For example, women must seek healthcare (which can often be far away, expensive, or logistically difficult), navigate maternal choices like tubal ligation, and advocate for their own reproductive care on their own. Gopli also describes the sense of empowerment and liberation that comes with taking control of one’s own health when possible. This narrative can be incorporated into a class focused on gender studies, public health, or sociology. It provides real-life examples of how women in rural settings navigate healthcare decisions and family planning, specifically in the context of male migration. It can facilitate discussions on the intersectionality of gender, migration, and health, allowing students to analyze the socio-cultural factors influencing women’s choices.