Empowering Women Against Violence
Goddess Worship In India The Hindu lexicon has many goddesses, all of whom we worship. We have Saraswati, the goddess of music and learning, and Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity. Some worship the divine feminine energy of Shakti, in Durga, Kali and Parvati. And others valorise women such as Lakshmibai, singing Bundeley Harbolon key munh hamney suni kahani thi, …
“I have this recurring scene playing in my head – I’m walking alone on a dark road, and a man jumps out of the shadows and pins me to the ground. I try to scream, but nothing comes out…I try to move, but I’m frozen.” Over the past decade of working in security, women from different corners of the globe …
IntroductionPerhaps the greatest challenge to humanity currently is climate change. We have seen, in recent weeks, people marching to voice out this issue. The Global Climate Strike saw people protest in numerous countries. It brought people from different genders, ethnicities, religions and backgrounds together for one purpose. However, it is important to note that climate change does not affect us all …
Introduction I love Ramadan. It has undoubtedly always been my favourite month of the year. Ramadan is a holy month for Muslims worldwide. All throughout the month, Muslims fast every day from dawn till sunset. Ramadan, for me, means a chance to strengthen my relationship with God. An opportunity to repent and a time to revel in good deeds. Growing up, …
What Is Domestic Violence? Domestic violence includes physical, sexual, emotional, financial, and/or verbal violence perpetrated on an individual by their spouse or spouse’s family. The use of abusive tactics by the spouse’s extended family is more common in immigrant cultures than in American communities. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC, 2017), domestic violence prevalence is as …
Introduction The transition from winter to spring is a refreshing time. The longer daylight and warmer weather brings people outdoors. Inevitably, the incidence of street harassment also increases during this period. Street Harassment is when a person receives unwanted comments or gestures in a public place. These actions are often based on one’s gender, sexual orientation, race or religion. Attacking someone based …
Introduction Nirbhaya’s parents and the people of India waited seven long years for justice. On March 20, 2020, the court hung the four convicts of the Nirbhaya gangrape and murder case. As we currently speak of life-altering events, this 2012 case is certainly one to go down in Indian history. A horrifying incident that led to a nationwide movement, women’s …
Tree Hugging In India We use the term “tree hugger” derogatorily to refer to environmentalists, yet most don’t know where the term originated. The Chipko movement was a nonviolent ecological movement led, predominantly, by rural women in India. Chipko, in Hindi, means “to cling” or “to hug”. During the river floods of 1970s, a significant landslide hit the villagers of …
Scotland’s Period Products Bill On 25 February, 2020, Scotland took a huge step in fighting period poverty. The Period Products (Free Provision) Bill passed the first stage by a vote of 112-0. This legislation would establish a legal obligation for the Scottish government to make period products available for free. The bill details the provision of products including pads and tampons …
Indian Work Culture Our work culture, is it safe for women? Work cultures differ from country to country. Some adhere to the nine-to-five culture to promote work-life balance. Others like India have a grueling nine-to-nine culture. This of course is accompanied by long lunches and breaks for refueling. The 2000’s saw a wave of call center jobs entering India. It …