Life in an all girls’ school is unlike anything people belonging to a different world could imagine. In fact, it’s quite a world in itself. A world with rules, norms and presumptions of its own. Which is why for most convent girls, college is nothing less than a dramatic change. It’s not like they feel any less grateful towards school. …
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Elections and Women
The 2014 Lok Sabha elections declared their results yesterday. First things first, congratulations to our new Indian Prime Minister, Mr. Modi. As a social media jockey, I have followed these elections very closely. There is no questioning the fact that these were the most ruthlessly fought elections in recent times where the ruling party was desperate to reclaim its power, …
Feminism or Basic Human Rights?
Growing up in an ordinary, military, middle-class family, I didn’t expect myself to become a feminist. When I was a teenager, the prevailing view was that feminism meant being anti-men. Feminists were women who were divorced, widowed, or victims of abuse and hated everything to do with men. They lobbied for women’s freedoms only so that they could take away …
Woman in a Man’s World
A walk near a construction site in my city made me think about the involvement of women in male-oriented jobs. What caught my eye was the large number of women working with their children at the site. These women were doing the same heavy lifting as men, while constantly taking care of their children. One of the women there told …
Nirbheek in Today’s World: How Feasible is a Gun for Women?
The Indian Ordnance Factory in Kanpur has taken the call to give more power to women in the country quite seriously. As a tribute to the young girl who was gang raped on December 16, 2012 and whom the nation collectively christened Nirbhaya for her unparalleled courage, the IOF has manufactured Nirbheek, a 0.32 bore light weight revolver which is …
Insignificant Other: The Political Ball Called Women’s Empowerment
“The thing women have yet to learn is nobody gives you power. You just take it.” ~Roseanne Barr The memories of the horrendous gang rape that took place on December 16, 2012 haven’t faded yet. More reports of rape, sexual harassment and domestic violence act as constant reminders of the socio-cultural mess India has become. The constant violation of rights …
The Bollywood Hypocrisy Around Women Rights
A couple of weeks prior to Women’s Day, a documentary based on a women’s vigilante group, The Gulaabi Gang, was released in India. The production of this documentary started in 2009, after the director Nishtha Jain, met the organization’s leader Sampat Pal Devi. She has been a champion of women’s rights for decades. She has fought against child marriage, the …
Feminism Where Did it Go Wrong?
A few days ago, I was talking to a friend of mine who is a successful financial advisor. Our conversation began with the usual pleasantries – work, families and friends – and proceeded as always towards complaints. We always complain about the same things; about how tough it is to feel like a minority, about how men always treat us …
Only Beauty, No Brains: How Gender Stereotypes View Women?
Music has the ability to transcend boundaries and connect people and identities. It’s thus surprising that in the most melodious times, we manage to not only find disparities, but also the means of incessant debate and outrage. This month, popular singer Palash Sen belted out more than just music at the Indian Institute of Technology, Mumbai’s college festival. A lot …
The Blatant Unfairness of Gender Testing
Sports, one would think, is a lot about fair play, team work, respect, acknowledgment and appreciation of the worthy. Everyone gets a chance to race for the ribbon in their own track and space. While you give it your all, you don’t hog, manipulate, or take away from other people’s achievements. At least, not in an ideal world. But in …