What is the #AintnoCinderella hashtag? The hashtag became viral in early August due to an online victim-shaming incident in which BJP politician Ramveer Bhatti blamed a victim of assault – Varnika Kundu – for an ordeal in which she was chased by two men and almost kidnapped. After posting her ordeal, Bhatti found it necessary to comment that Ms. Kundu …
Category: Women Public Safety
India's Rape Laws – Are they rigid enough?
Rape is a controversial topic. Especially so in India, which has experienced several horrific and high profile cases in recent years. Such cases include that of a gang rape of a 23-year-old student on a public bus in Delhi in 2012. This case and subsequent ones prompted a revision of sections in Indian law that deal with rape and sexual …
India’s Rape Laws – Are they rigid enough?
Rape is a controversial topic. Especially so in India, which has experienced several horrific and high profile cases in recent years. Such cases include that of a gang rape of a 23-year-old student on a public bus in Delhi in 2012. This case and subsequent ones prompted a revision of sections in Indian law that deal with rape and sexual …
India's Acid Attacks – Why safety and solidarity matters even more
The number of acid attacks carried out against women in India has been on the rise. In 2016, while only 300 acid attacks were reported, the actual figure could be as much as 1,000. Many cases continue to go unreported, why? Well, the legal process is lengthy and convoluted; compensation is slow to arrive – if at all. Facial reconstruction surgery for victims …
India’s Acid Attacks – Why safety and solidarity matters even more
The number of acid attacks carried out against women in India has been on the rise. In 2016, while only 300 acid attacks were reported, the actual figure could be as much as 1,000. Many cases continue to go unreported, why? Well, the legal process is lengthy and convoluted; compensation is slow to arrive – if at all. Facial reconstruction surgery for victims …
Resources on Self Defense – Two Bestselling Books
In our post about tips on staying safe, we talked about the importance of trusting your gut and defending yourself. Here are two must-read books that address those tips in great detail. While every situation may not apply to our lives, there is much to learn from both books. The Gift of Fear by Gavin De Becker Gavin De Becker’s bestseller makes …
Sexual Harassment on Social Media
“Sticks and stones will break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” We’ve all heard this adage, right? As children, adults recited this to us in response to the bullies we dealt with on the playground. But, here’s a hard truth: Words DO hurt and, in fact, inflict just as much (if not more) damage, with lasting consequences. In today’s modern …
Womaniya – You and Only You Can Help Yourself!
Brace up and refuse to succumb….. Women Empowerment & Women Safety – The topic seems complex, heavy and hardcore ‘women’s lib’ kinds. I am no cotton-sari-clad activist or any budding neta-in. Neither am I a pro in women specific stats nor a part of policy making system. I am a regular woman with a normal family and a usual 9-to-6 job. …
Women are Rising Up: From the Burka Avenger to a CNN Hero – A “Sayfty” Story
It’s 2015 and of all the alarming statistics that plague public health, very few rile me up like crimes against women. Seriously, women bring us into the world yet sexual assault, trafficking, and public health disparities seem to only be rising. You can wait for public officials, governments, and societal leaders to make change, or you can create your own movement, …
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 …