Feminism Archives - Page 3 of 7

Ranveer Singh: Making Femininity Manly Again

How many Indian men can so lightly embody the many contradictions of Ranveer Singh? In our determinedly binary society, his love of lehengas on anyone else might have garnered epithets of “sissy” or “hijra”. But then, as his infamous t-shirt once declared, Ranveer always makes one thing abundantly clear: he’s got no fucks to give.

Kahini Iyer June 15, 2016

Gender

Why the World Can’t Handle a Bald Woman

Once I decided to shave my head, there was an almost unanimous show of “what the hell happened”. Relatives were concerned about my mental health and complete strangers asked me if I was suffering from a terminal disease.

Anam Naqvi June 14, 2016

Gender

The Other F-Word

I used to be one of those people who thought feminism was “too loaded a word” and feminists were victim-complexed man-haters. And then, I grew up.

Namaah June 13, 2016

Gender

Why Breastfeeding is Important for Mothers

I was clear that if ever I had a child, I would breastfeed him. Yet it wasn’t that simple. My baby and I were unable to sustain a latch. This wasn’t how it was meant to be.

Dharini Bhaskar June 13, 2016

Gender

Dear Rakhi Sawant, You’ve Gone Too Far with Your #SheToo Drama

At a recent press conference, Rakhi Sawant claimed that Tanushree Dutta raped her and muddied the waters of the #MeToo movement by calling it a publicity stunt. Because if anyone knows anything about cheap publicity stunts, it is Rakhi Sawant. It is fine to issue wedding proposals from your commode, but dismissing a movement for solidarity is going too far.

Kahini Iyer June 12, 2016

Pop Culture

Guilty Review: The Netflix Movie Wants To Make a #MeToo Statement But Doesn’t Know How To

Netflix’s Guilty, which traces the investigation of a rape accusation made on Twitter, had the opportunity to stand out as a film that explores the changing nature of consent in a post #MeToo world. It squanders that chance and instead tells us a story told far too many times – that rape survivors are often disbelieved.

Poulomi Das June 9, 2016

Pop Culture

Sacred Games: Why You Don’t Mess With the Marathi Tai

We can continue to criticise the portrayal of women as mere pawns in the sacred games of men. But take a minute to look beyond the obvious. The women in the Netflix series aren’t mere cheerleaders – they’re controllers in their own right.

Damian D'souza June 8, 2016

POV

Sabarimala vs Triple Talaq: Dear PM, There’s No Choice Between Hindu & Islamic Oppression of Women

In a rare interview, PM Modi stated that banning triple talaq has helped secure gender equality, but the Sabarimala ban on women is a tradition that has nothing to do with discrimination. But if treating women’s bodies as sacrilege isn’t blatant discrimination, what is?

Kahini Iyer June 7, 2016

Pop Culture

7 Years of Queen: The Complicated Legacy of the Film that Celebrated Feminism

Rewatching Queen is a surreal experience. For once, it isn’t because a movie has aged so horribly, you question your own sensibility and past self for ever liking it. On the contrary, Queen is a rare legit classic, as relevant today as it was in 2014. Queen’s legacy, however, is a complicated mess.

Runjhun Noopur June 6, 2016

Bollywood

How to Write Empathetic Women Characters: A Lesson from Abhishek Chaubey’s Sonchiriya

A dacoit film set in Chambal and headlined by an all-male cast is hardly the expected backdrop for a biting commentary on gender prejudice. But for all the testosterone simmering on the surface, Abhishek Chaubey and Sudip Sharma infuse Sonchiriya with grassroots feminism.

Poulomi Das June 5, 2016