As I sat in one of Uganda’s most prestigious universities with my multi-cultural co-workers trying to raise awareness about women’s reproductive health, I had the most cringe-worthy moment of my life. As we answered questions about how condoms and religion don’t agree with each other, a guy in his mid-20s told us we should talk to the women exclusively. When …
Author: Vidhatri
Feminism In India
Every year for international women’s day, WhatsApp is flooded with forwarding messages about women. Their importance, their achievements, and an ever long reasons for them to be celebrated. One said, “A beautiful woman draws strength from troubles, smiled during distress and grown stronger with prayers and hope. You are one of them. Wishing you a very Happy Women’s day.” …
The Informal Justice System, Panchayat
A few weeks ago, one of Times of India’s headlines read, “UP woman tied up, thrashed on panchayat’s order; molested”. I received this video as a part of a forward message thread. Amongst these angry and reasonably reacting people were people, who supported the panchayat’s decision. They wanted everyone to honor the decision of a panchayat since this sort of …
Shut Up Or Be Shamed
India is a diverse country and full of contradictions. On one side we have a long history of influential women leaders while on the other, girls and women are asked to dress in a certain way to not entice men into raping them. Women are sacred only for as long as they follow a prescribed outline of how to look, …
The Nirbhaya fund, an act of publicity?
Six years after, men, women and kids alike protested the lax laws and their enforcement for sexual assault in India, but how much has it changed? Rape cases are reported every week, without consequences. These instances are cruel and too brutal to explain to a kid, yet girls across the country are going put through these scarring and life-threatening experiences. …
Bollywood and it’s Long term Commitment to Sexism
New Age media has repeatedly published articles about the problems with Bollywood. About how movies portray actresses, awards, and the million things that are related to Bollywood and our society. This article comes with the hope of making a difference, however small. It comes from a desire that women everywhere can watch a movie and be entertained instead of being infuriated, …
Why Our Language Makes a Difference
The words and phrases we use matter. The meaning and context of what we say, never mind the spoken language, affects people, directly and indirectly. It shapes how kids think, making a lasting impact on people’s thoughts and opinions of themselves and the world as a whole. During the World War 1, governments recruited unwilling men and women to the army …
Vagina and The Veil of Secrecy Surrounding It
Vagina & Menstruation – Let’s talk about it! The article’s title should give you an obvious idea of what this blog will be about. If not, It’s about vaginas and women’s natural monthly cycles. As a body part that half the world is born with, and is the reason the other half exists, I can’t help wonder why we dare …