Check out 16 Return-To-Work Programs In India For Ambitious Women Like You!
Just being a girl or a woman is enough - men consider them fair game. But it matters what question we ask - instead of blaming her, ask: why did he?
Just being a girl or a woman is enough – men consider them fair game. But it matters what question we ask – instead of blaming her, ask: why did he?
Once my tutor asked me a question when I answered correctly, he cupped my face with both his hands and tried to kiss me on my cheeks. I was uncomfortable, and pulled myself away with all my strength. I was too afraid to even tell my mother. My little mind failed to justify his behavior. So, I did what I could- washed my face rigorously with soap, for days.
On a sunny afternoon, my friend and I were having a reunion at the Marine drive. We sat facing the sea- oblivious to the world, buried so deep in our conversation, that we didn’t realize how our dangling legs and fluttering dresses, invited attention. It was only after a few hours that we noticed the rag-picker standing down below, looking up at us- with his pants off.
“I will miss your tits”- message, one of my classmate sent me after our farewell party.
I was disgusted, ashamed, and angry. I couldn’t figure out what to do. So, I shared with a friend. Who casually suggested, “maybe he was drunk”, “maybe he would really miss you”, “he will apologize tomorrow”.
But, what would I do with his apology?
I replayed the events of the night, trying to find a fault in me. I recalled all the clothes that I ever worn to college, wondering if any of them were ever inviting or revealing.
I kept asking, “why me?” When it should’ve been, “Why did he?”
Image source: pexels
A woman who believes in lifting up other women. Runs on coffee, poetry, long walks, and tiramisu. Loves stand-up comedy, rerunning Friends, and making travel plans. Every year's one fix resolution is to read more...
Women's Web is an open platform that publishes a diversity of views, individual posts do not necessarily represent the platform's views and opinions at all times.
Stay updated with our Weekly Newsletter or Daily Summary - or both!
UP Boards Topper Prachi Nigam was trolled on social media for her facial hair; our obsession with appearance is harsh on young minds.
Prachi Nigam’s photo has been doing the rounds on social media for the right reasons. Well, scratch that- I wish the above statement were true. This 15-year-old girl should ideally be revelling in her spectacular achievement of scoring a whopping 98.05% and topping her tenth-grade boards. But oddly enough, along with her marks, it’s something else that garners more attention – her facial hair.
While the trolls are driving themselves giddy by mocking this girl who hasn’t even completed her school yet, the ones who are taking her side are going one step ahead – they are sharing her photoshopped pictures, sans the facial hair, looking nothing less than a celebrity with captions saying – “Prachi Nigam, ten years later”.
Doctors have already diagnosed her with PCOD in their comments, based on photographic evidence. While we have names for people shamed for their weight – body shaming, for their skin colour- racism, for their age- age shaming, for being a female- sexism, this category of shaming where one faces criticism for their appearance has no name. With that, it also has zero shame attached to it.
Please enter your email address