What is the #AintnoCinderella hashtag? The hashtag became viral in early August due to an online victim-shaming incident in which BJP politician Ramveer Bhatti blamed a victim of assault – Varnika Kundu – for an ordeal in which she was chased by two men and almost kidnapped. After posting her ordeal, Bhatti found it necessary to comment that Ms. Kundu …
For years, the push of white western beauty standards means that fair skin is entrenched as the beauty ideal in many countries across the world – particularly in India. This has led to the launch of numerous products such as skin lightening pills and creams, offering to make user ‘more attractive’. Adverts imply that having lighter skin will make you more attractive …
Rape is a controversial topic. Especially so in India, which has experienced several horrific and high profile cases in recent years. Such cases include that of a gang rape of a 23-year-old student on a public bus in Delhi in 2012. This case and subsequent ones prompted a revision of sections in Indian law that deal with rape and sexual …
What is intersectionality? Put simply, it is a feminist sociological theory that centers around analyzing and discussing how oppression often intersects, creating unique and varied experiences of discrimination. It was originally created by a black feminist Kimberlé Crenshaw to refer to the discrimination faced by black women. This discrimination is not only sexism and racism but an experience in which …
The number of acid attacks carried out against women in India has been on the rise. In 2016, while only 300 acid attacks were reported, the actual figure could be as much as 1,000. Many cases continue to go unreported, why? Well, the legal process is lengthy and convoluted; compensation is slow to arrive – if at all. Facial reconstruction surgery for victims …