THE GIRL WHO NEVER lacked

Iti was a lovely and extremely spoilt girl of 15.

She was part of the “I’m a babe” gang at school. And her favourite pastime was to flirt with all the boys and torment all “ugly chicks” (as she called them).

Let us not forget her designer shoes and clothes and the swanky car which dropped her to school everyday.

Iti – The Girl Who Never Lacked

Continue reading THE GIRL WHO NEVER lacked

THE GIRL WHO NEVER lied

Raima had turned 24 yesterday, and she had had the biggest party ever. She had called all her friends from college and all the families who lived nearby.

The food was smashing and the music ethereal.

The guests she was sure would have been stumped and stunned (had they turned up)

Raima – The Girl Who Never Lied

Continue reading THE GIRL WHO NEVER lied

THE GIRL WHO NEVER laughed

Rukku was all dressed up in this amazing long red flowing gown. Her hair was perfectly set as straight waterfall like shiney and smooth black depths. Her lips were a ruby red.

The ocean beyond beckoned but she looked onto the stars – as if tempting them to come to her.

“Rukku – where are you?” , came a loving male voice (almost like a caress)

Rukku in Red (this is a free image used from the internet)

Continue reading THE GIRL WHO NEVER laughed

Mere Papa Feminist hain…

“Mere papa feminist hain…” – this is a heartfelt comment made by this gaggle of girls – more as a sense of wonderment than proclamation…

Happy to have interacted with 50 rural and semi – urban girls – of the age group of 10 to 13 yrs in the Ranchi District area.

Our discussion point veered right from what adolescence is to what feminism is – and why is there “so much halla against feminism”

And then the shining moment on how men can be feminists – and then the “Mere papa feminist hain…” moment!

This is a dedication to all girls who have feminist Dads and all Dads who aspire to be feminists – I am sharing ALL that was shared with me today:

Mere Papa Feminist hain

Continue reading Mere Papa Feminist hain…

Dear Mom …. Please Raise me as a Feminist Son!

Drawing inspiration from ALL amazing Moms (and Dads) who are raising amazingly Feminist Sons

These are normal people from all walks of life, from working professionals, to stay at home moms and a few stay at home dads, to some vibrant parents from the Bottom of the Pyramid…

Dear Mom ,

Please Raise me as a Feminist Son!

A Boy – needing to be a Feminist!

Continue reading Dear Mom …. Please Raise me as a Feminist Son!

What do YOU say to someone who has been raped….

I had the most awful moment of awkward silence a few months back, a woman whom I had been speaking to and counselling about her career and job – just blurted“I was raped…”

This is a 23 year old woman who has been struggling to hold down 1 job and juggle a possible degree! She has always had this haunted and almost vacant look about her – which I could never explain!

The discussion that day was me scolding her for not taking her life seriously – and I was actually reprimanding her – when she had been bunking her evening classes….

And she said the “R” word – and that lead me to the discovery that I lacked the vocabulary to speak to her!

So WHAT should you say/not say or do/not do when someone close to you or someone comes up and says “I was raped….”

                                                                         A woman in PAIN! Continue reading What do YOU say to someone who has been raped….

Is she ACTUALLY being Sexually Harassed?

Men and Women BOTH always question if a woman ACTUALLY being Sexually Harassed , or did she misunderstand? Or it wasn’t meant to be? Or she was over-reacting?

 Then the uglier spectrum of – oh she was just “asking for it”, – look at the way she dresses, look at the way she drinks at office parties, look at the way she stays back late to work, look at the way she always works in men only teams

                                                                        Woman at WORK!

So De-Coding ACTUAL Sexual Harassment in 10 quick steps:

Continue reading Is she ACTUALLY being Sexually Harassed?

Play Holi CONSENT Waali…

Dear Uncle, Bhaiya, Jiju, Chacha, Friend, BF, Unknown male,

Lets all Play Holi CONSENT Waali

Lets ALL ensure that YOU do not have to ever say “Bura Na Maano Holi Hai….” – this at MOST times simply translates to “Don’t get offended for me BAD/lecherous behavior – after all its Holi”

And ALL you have to do is watch out for the signs of NO – Consent…. and NOT do those actions….

Holi should make you smile – NOT cry!

Continue reading Play Holi CONSENT Waali…

Gurmehar Kaur is an Idiot (perhaps) BUT…

Dear Trolls/People/Media/Politicians/Sports stars (now this one shocked me),

Lets start with clearing a few things:

  1. Gurmehar Kaur may or may not be an idiot

  2. Gurmehar Kaur may or may not be the daughter of a Kargil martyr

  3. Gurmehar Kaur may or may not be an AAP type volunteer

  4. Gurmehar Kaur may or may not be an opportunist….

  5. Gurmehar Kaur …. etc etc…

BUT Gurmehar Kaur is a WOMAN!

This is NOT Gurmehar Kaur! Continue reading Gurmehar Kaur is an Idiot (perhaps) BUT…

Confused Misogynists?

Misogyny is the dislike of, contempt for, or ingrained prejudice against women. But  seeing through the misogynistic glass: discussions online and offline with many women and some men leads me to some rather startling facts:

girl, misogyny, gender bias
Misogynists aren’t aware of their own misogyny

Continue reading Confused Misogynists?