Society is divided according to gender, among other factors. Gender as John Zerzan writes in his book, Patriarchy, Civilisation and the Origins of Gender, is not the same as the differences and distinctions between the sexes, but is rather a “cultural categorisation and ranking grounded in a sexual division of labour that may be the single cultural form of …
Category: Woman and Law
No Country for Women?
On 16th December 2014, the National Commission for Women released an advertisement in all national newspapers. The advertisement under reference praised all women of the country by calling them brave and fearless. It “saluted” the spirit of womanhood in India. It was a move on the part of the state to appear as a body that respects women and believes …
The Many ‘Missing Voices’ in "India’s Daughter"
One film came and controversy arose. The furore over India’s Daughter, a documentary based on the December 2012 Delhi gang rape has been a subject of discussion over the past few weeks. Not just the content of the film, but issues like a ban on its broadcast have resulted in the documentary being discussed by people in India and across …
The Many ‘Missing Voices’ in “India’s Daughter”
One film came and controversy arose. The furore over India’s Daughter, a documentary based on the December 2012 Delhi gang rape has been a subject of discussion over the past few weeks. Not just the content of the film, but issues like a ban on its broadcast have resulted in the documentary being discussed by people in India and across …
Women in Pakistan – Breaking Barriers and Creating Their Own Destinies
Women in Pakistan are now coming out of their houses to study and work. Their perceptions toward education and literacy have changed remarkably over the last decade. You all have probably heard about Mala Yousufzai bringing home the Nobel Peace prize for Pakistan. This coveted award has not only added fuel to the present drive coming about amongst teenagers and …
International Women’s Day – Significant or Pointless?
March 7, 2014 by Lata Jha Every year the 8th of March is a day to rejoice, celebrate, engage, reach out to women all over the world and discuss how far we’ve come and how much farther we still have to go. While it is encouraging to believe in the sanctity of the idea of International Women’s Day (IWD), more …
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 …
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 …
Let’s Boycott Criminal Accomplices and Clean Up Our Country
I read the news these days and I can’t decide if the Indian voter is naive or simply stupid. How is it possible that someone like Mulayam Singh Yadav not only leads a strong political party but also gets elected into power multiple times? This is a man who has had two wives simultaneously, an inefficient and corrupt son Akhilesh …