“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 …
Category: Woman and Law
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 …
Why Rapes Won’t Stop!
By Tushar Jain 22nd December, 2012, saw one of the biggest protests in the history of modern India. On a cold winter morning, thousands of young boys and girls got together near the India Gate to march up to the Rashtrapati Bhawan via the Raisina Hill. As the morning progressed, they were joined by more people of different age groups. …
Responsibility and Rationality: The Need for Caution within Peer Groups
It’s sad that the world today has had to compel its females to turn themselves into this over cautious, on the edge species. Because irrespective of whether one is on the streets or at a party, there is always the need to look out for oneself. And that is perhaps ironically what many of us need to spell out a …
Violence Against Women is not his/her problem alone, it’s OUR problem!
WHO says ‘Violence against women can and should be Prevented’ (WHO 2013 Report) We regularly hear and read about acts of violence against women (VAW) and many times turn a blind eye to the atrocities thinking something like this happens only amongst communities which are either economically challenged or less educated and not in our neighborhoods. This is a misconception! …
On This Raksha Bandhan, Let Us Become Lesser Brothers
By Nihal Parashar India is celebrating Raksha Bandhan today, a festival that forms an integral part of the culture of India, which we always boast about. Raksha Bandhan or the ‘Tie of Protection’ is thread of love and affection which sisters tie on the hand of brothers, asking to protect her always. My sister has always tied a thread on my …
Do you know about the Two Finger Test?
Before 1979, United Kingdom followed a protocol for medical examination of women who were immigrating to their country to marry their fiancées. This protocol would have gone on forever if an Indian woman hadn’t raised her voice after being examined in a manner which not only breached her privacy but also insulted her dignity. On 24th January, 1979, an Indian woman …
The Aftermath: How difficult it is to ‘Deal’ with Rape
A lot of us talk about how one should ‘deal’ with rape. That it’s traumatizing and one requires courage, strength, some sort of a headlong response and the ability to not give up and make sure justice is sought. What we don’t realize is how easy it is to only say all this. What a rape victim goes through, we …