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12 Fascinating Jobs Done By Women Around The World | Still Standing | Business Insider Marathon

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In India, Sudam J maintains a centuries-old tradition of crafting unique mirrors called Adanula Kanadis, made from a special reflective alloy using specific ratios of tin and copper. Sudam's family stock faced near extinction due to floods in 2018, but she and her son Nanan continue to work tirelessly to preserve and pass on this traditional craft to the next generation, hoping to keep the legacy alive.

Insights

  • Sudam J holds the unique craft of making Adanula Kanadi mirrors, a tradition passed down for 500 years, involving specific metal alloys, intricate molding processes, and precise polishing techniques, with a hope to preserve the legacy for future generations.
  • Traditional techniques of silk product creation, like Moroccan rugs and bespoke suits by Catherine in London, emphasize meticulous craftsmanship, detailed processes, and dedication to quality, showcasing the value of heritage, artisanal skills, and the enduring legacy of handmade goods.

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Recent questions

  • How are Adanula Kanadi mirrors made?

    Adanula Kanadi mirrors are crafted from a special reflective alloy of tin and copper, melted separately and then together in specific ratios. The mirror-making process involves creating clay molds using jute, pottery dust, and mud, with the mirrors being sandwiched between discs coated with wet charcoal.

  • What challenges do Shea Farmers face?

    Small-scale Shea Farmers face challenges due to deforestation, competition from larger companies, and the global pandemic. Shea processing plants in Ghana with faster machines have taken over the market, making it hard for women to compete.

  • What is the significance of kachan bugs?

    Kachan bugs, used for red dye, have been a valuable commodity traded by indigenous people across Latin America. Catalina Yolanda Lopez is one of the last kachan producers in Mexico, preserving the ancient tradition.

  • How is sake made?

    To make sake, rice is polished into pearl-like grains and combined with COI mold for flavor. Sake requires four ingredients, but careful attention is crucial to avoid ruining the brew. The rice polishing ratio determines the quality and price of sake, with more polishing leading to a cleaner taste.

  • What challenges do Moroccan rug artisans face?

    Artisans in Morocco are working together in cooperatives to fight for fair wages and sell rugs directly. They wash, spin, comb, and dye wool using natural ingredients before weaving intricate designs. Each knot in a Moroccan rug is tied individually, with different regions having unique designs and motifs.

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Summary

00:00

Crafting Sacred Adanula Kanadi Mirrors in India

  • In India, a woman named Sudam J holds the secret to making the unique and sacred mirror called Adanula Kanadi, a craft passed down for 500 years.
  • Adanula Kanadi mirrors are made from a special reflective alloy of tin and copper, melted separately and then together in specific ratios.
  • The mirror-making process involves creating clay molds using jute, pottery dust, and mud, with the mirrors being sandwiched between discs coated with wet charcoal.
  • The mirror-making tradition faced near extinction due to floods in 2018, causing significant damage to Sudam's family stock.
  • Sudam and her son Nanan work tirelessly, spending 10-hour days tending to the mirrors, melting the metals, and crafting the mirrors by hand.
  • The mirrors are then polished and placed in handmade brass frames, with the most popular kind being the handheld mirror called Vonti.
  • The mirrors range in price from $20 to $1,300, with each mirror undergoing several rounds of polishing before being placed in the brass frame.
  • The mirrors are marked with a sticker for authenticity, as counterfeit Adanula Kanadis are prevalent in the market.
  • The traditional mirror-making process involves listening for specific sounds to ensure the metal is melted correctly and checking for leftover metal to confirm successful forging.
  • Sudam hopes the next generation will continue the legacy of mirror-making, preserving the centuries-old craft and tradition.

25:07

Shea Farmers Struggle Amidst Export Boom

  • Annual exports of products have increased by 600% in the last 20 years.
  • Small-scale Shea Farmers face challenges due to deforestation, competition from larger companies, and the global pandemic.
  • Shea processing plants in Ghana with faster machines have taken over the market, making it hard for women to compete.
  • Deforestation has been ongoing since the 1990s, with around 8 million sheanut trees cut down annually.
  • Shea butter production has been a vital income source for generations of women in Ghana, especially widows.
  • Organizations like Porscha teach traditional Shea Farmers to produce better quality butter and understand its value.
  • Porscha has planted 7,000 shea trees in the last 2 years to combat deforestation.
  • Kachan bugs, used for red dye, have been a valuable commodity traded by indigenous people across Latin America.
  • Catalina Yolanda Lopez is one of the last kachan producers in Mexico, preserving the ancient tradition.
  • Peru dominates over 80% of the kachan market, with wild kachan growing outdoors, providing a cheaper alternative to Mexican domesticated kachan.

50:07

"Sake Production: Tradition, Quality, and Innovation"

  • To make sake, rice is polished into pearl-like grains and combined with COI mold for flavor.
  • Sake can cost less than $10 or up to almost $10,000 for the highest grade.
  • Sake requires four ingredients, but careful attention is crucial to avoid ruining the brew.
  • The rice polishing ratio determines the quality and price of sake, with more polishing leading to a cleaner taste.
  • Around 12 metric tons of unpolished rice are used weekly at the brewery.
  • Polishing rice to 50% takes 3 days, while less than 1% takes over 200 days.
  • After steaming the rice, Cori mold spores are added for fermentation.
  • Nanami monitors the fermentation process daily for a month to ensure quality.
  • Despite its legacy, sake isn't always a popular choice for younger people.
  • Naawa Brewery, run by the fifth generation, faced challenges after the 2011 earthquake but has since won awards for its sake.

01:26:00

"Artisans create intricate silk, rugs, pottery"

  • Traditional techniques of silk product creation are time-consuming and sold for high prices to museums and collectors.
  • 42 employees are involved in making clothing, shawls, and tapestries in Cambodia.
  • 30 kilos of raw wool are needed for a single Moroccan rug, with women hand-tying each knot.
  • Authentic Moroccan rugs can cost over $2,000 online, but artisans often receive minimal profits due to middlemen.
  • Artisans in Morocco are working together in cooperatives to fight for fair wages and sell rugs directly.
  • Artisans in Morocco wash, spin, comb, and dye wool using natural ingredients before weaving intricate designs.
  • Each knot in a Moroccan rug is tied individually, with different regions having unique designs and motifs.
  • Weaving large rugs can take months, with the complexity of the pattern affecting the price.
  • Direct trade companies pay higher prices for rugs, but challenges like limited market access and exploitation by middlemen persist.
  • Snen Pottery in North Africa follows traditional methods, with women extracting oil, firing pottery, and creating unique designs using natural ingredients.

01:59:16

Maya traditions preserved through traditional cooking techniques.

  • Roselia's ancestors' techniques for making tortillas have evolved into mass-produced and pre-made versions available in Mexican grocery stores.
  • Roselia also cooks traditional dishes like Reno negro, a turkey stew for the Day of the Dead, but laments the decline of Maya traditions and language.
  • Only about a quarter of Maya people in the Yucatan still speak their native tongue.
  • Roselia tries to pass on her traditions to her children, who are preoccupied with school.
  • After being featured on Netflix's Chef's Table barbecue in 2020, Roselia began hosting cooking demonstrations at her home, attracting up to 60 people weekly.
  • Making traditional dishes requires time, quality ingredients, and adherence to traditional methods, resulting in a rewarding outcome.
  • Roselia sees cooking as a way to preserve her heritage and share it with the world, hoping the next generation will appreciate it.
  • Catherine, a master tailor, meticulously crafts bespoke suits on Savile Row, London, taking up to 4 months to complete and costing around £6,000.
  • Catherine's process involves detailed consultations, precise measurements, custom paper patterns, hand-stitching, and meticulous pressing to create durable, personalized suits that can last for decades.
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