Else educated mallu woman will grow up to just another ‘Goddess of Silly Things’

That happens because the current defined ways of speaking in public are certainly male. A woman is forced to talk the same language. And most people who listen are men again. (Take the reader's mail section in Mathrubhumi Azhchappathipp for example).

This can change if one tries to speak a language of one's own — language of women, so to speak. And when they start speaking to women (in public, not just in the kitchen) and claim legitimacy to that language. (It will be often dismissed by the 'mallu men' as silly, so it can surely not happen overnight).

I see some efforts towards that in Sreejitha's post 'Call for co-authors'. And even in this post by Srividya. (Though not so much in the other post of hers).

So I think 'Does it have to stay that way' is still relevant.

(I had a dream.. of a Malayalam magazine run by women and of women, and mainly 'for women' also. Men can be part of it as long as they stut their mouths and are willing to listen to women's language. Yes, there are issues like all women don't speak the same language, there is caste and other things.. but with all that problems, I think it will still be worth it. Something that would sell at least the quantities of Malayala Manorama Azhchappathipp.)

“Masculine, high-literature” vs “popular culture” sounds too simplistic to me. I have two major issues with it.

One, as Mythri pointed out, there are popular cultures that the “mallu men” proudly identify themselves with. Not just football — even films are one popular culture that is majorly male. The stories are very male, so are the jokes, and so are the people who talk it in more visible pheres. Women are excluded from these discussions — be it films or football.

Two, by making this demarcation, we end up feeling good (making fun of the men who indulge in “masculine/ high literature” Marquez) and thus legitimize the exclusion of women from what they consider the “serious” spaces. I am not talking about academic spaces here — there we can argue that women also have somewhat the same opportunities, despite descriminations. Look at our households, tea shops, barber shops, party offices, bars and other such places. Women would at most make tea for these men at a household, even today. They have their serials, yes, but does it have to stay like that?

Regards
Sudeep