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14 years after her last feature film Dhobi Ghat, storyteller extraordinaire comes up with her new film, Laapataa Ladies, a must watch.
Though we walk different paths, know that a part of me will always hold a special place for the memories we shared.
No, I wasn’t in love. The day you chose was the killer move. Unprepared that all the gifts and chocolates and movie date was set up to end our little secret soiree by you.
How are women as leaders? The saying goes ‘Empowered Women Empower Women’. But in current times, it should be ‘Empowered Women Empower ALL.
Historically, leadership roles were often reserved for men. However, women have always excelled in making important decisions,
There was so much loss and pain over the past decade since my retirement, but I did not let that stop me from living an active, fulfilling life.
Menopause is a transformative experience and comes with its own challenges like Vaginal Dryness that causes erosion of confidence. Is there an effective solution?
The taboo around a topic only keeps intensifying as the silence around it thickens, as well as the misconceptions. Let's talk about divorce.
Celebrate the bond of love and protection with these 30 Raksha Bandhan gift ideas, and honour the sacred relationship between siblings.
In this era of connecting on social media and chatting on WhatsApp, for someone who already struggles with opening up, it's extremely difficult to form significant bonds.
What are the benefits of sabja seeds? Also known as basil seeds or tukmaria, offer a plethora of health advantages that will astonish you.
In her community, she was scared of expectations imposed on educated women, who were still expected to conform to traditional gender roles, confined to the kitchen and denied the opportunity to pursue a career.
Are you wondering what are the benefits and side effects of chia seeds? In this article, we have it all covered for you!
Here are 6 best finance YouTube channels hosted by Indian women, that will help you kick-start your investment and budgeting journey today!
Do you want to start your own venture? Here are 30 best business ideas for women in India who want to start their entrepreneurial journey.
When I bought my first vibrator and showed it to my girl pals, the first question I received in the group — "What if your parents find out?"
If you are queer, then you are threatened on a daily basis that you cannot come and open up, you cannot dress in a way you want to, you cannot express yourself the way you want to
My journey of coming out at work began when I sought to enrol my partner in the health insurance policy and got support from my employers!
Do you want to understand what is ITR: Income Tax Return, and who is eligible to file ITR in India? Here is a complete guide to help you!
As relationships become distant it is convenient to keep them so. Gradually you stop sharing small details which sound unimportant, and not worth sharing on the late night phone call after all work is done.
Looking for an extensive range of earrings for women? Here are 5 styles of earrings for women: that you should in your jewellery collection!
She kept trying to fix her ma's depression for the lack of a boy child from a young age. Only to give up 'control' to her boyfriend - the 'man' in her life to emotionally manipulate her in the name of love.
How did Surekha Yadav become Asia's First Woman Loco Pilot? Find out everything in this exclusive interview!
My MIL must be pleased with the image her family is presenting in the minds of her relatives - her fair DIL, and her grandson standing by her side. I, the wheatish DIL with two daughters, don't count.
Everyone knows that the balance tilts towards the husbands in the Indian household. So, why state the obvious? Right! His lordship was right. He had not done any wrong.
Asal Kolaar from Bigg Boss 6 Tamil was often seen touching women co-participants without their consent and getting away with it. Why didn't the organisers say anything?
Heading to Litfest after 3 years, and my heart is skipping a beat. I started going to Litfest about 12 years ago, on a whim. A group of us at a reunion, all avid readers and close friends, thought this would be a fun thing to explore. We stay in a tiny little hotel, more […]
If only I had taken her seriously, but I was too much in love with my husband. That was the first red flag I should have paid attention to.
This Generation To Generation Violence towards A Daughter-in-law Needs To Stop!
My wake-up call came when my daughter was 3 and a half months old, and my breastmilk dried out for two consecutive feeds leaving her hungry.
Your goals made you move to a new city. I saved my pocket money to call you from a local PCO since my house used to get itemized phone bills.
39% of Indians became first time caregivers during COVID, putting the spotlight on caregiver stress that can lead to caregiver burnout.
The story and narrative draw the viewer in slowly but surely, till, in the end, you wait for the final credits to end before leaving the theater.
He will patronizingly tell me how not to take anything personally, that what he said was a learning for everyone and that is why he actually said it out loud in front of 3 people; that as a senior professional I should take everything on the chin etc.
This deeply moving poem explores how love and passion can veer into the realm of toxicity. What happens when we let love destroy us?
This comeback post by a former Women's Web writer celebrates the strength and resilience of women while documenting her own journey.
I realized that this was wrong, that what my uncle was doing to me was not right. The term sexual abuse still hadn't entered my mind. I started feeling ashamed and scared.
Is it easier to preach empowerment to other women, than to apply the same to those inside one's own household? Asks a daughter-in-law.
Covid has taken away so many legends. Spanning the gamut of cinema from comedy to tragedy and all the many hues in between, Nedumudi Venu was a gem that shone with unrivalled brilliance.
#MeToo has revealed many sexual predators. When their actions come to light, who carries the shame? This question was brought sharply to me recently because of the identity of one such man.
In an online PTM for my 5th grader, the 4 teachers focused on all that he was doing wrong, and nothing about the hard work we had done to do better after the earlier feedback. In just 5 minutes, the confidence we worked on building over so much time was broken.
Rewriting My Happily Ever After is a soft, warm conversation that author Ranjani Rao has with her readers. She is telling her story as it is, sans filters, illusions, and repressed emotions.
As a 5th semester Delhi University student I definitely want to read Mahasweta Devi’s 'Draupadi' as well as Dalit authors Bama and Sukirtharini. Put them back into the syllabus!
So, we stay where we are and continue the fight. We continue speaking up. In small and big doses. In articles like these. In family conversations. Over the dinner table and in big gatherings.
At 30, married for around five years and a mother to a toddler, I was still unintroduced to the world of sexuality. I did not know what my body wanted, or why I did not enjoy sex with my husband.
A 9 year old Dalit girl was brutally raped and then possibly burnt alive by rapists from Oppressor Castes. As a Dalit woman, I ask, how dare anyone deny the caste angle to this brutality?
The Internet never loses an opportunity to meme. So, when a DC executive had objections to Batman giving oral sex to Catwoman, this is what happened.
Meera Singhania Rehani, who acted as the trans woman model in the now famous Bhima Jewellery ad speaks about her journey to transitioning, and how her privilege helped her.
A recent Punjab and Haryana High Court verdict says that an extramarital affair cannot be a reason to decide a woman won't be a good mother and deny her child custody.
As someone who was in an extremely abusive relationship in her teens, the latest Instagram reels trend brings back too many painful memories.
Aren’t women trained to be puppets, serving their 'masters', never thinking for themselves? How do we get the others sit up and take notice that WE MATTER?
Our relationship is hanging by a thread, because of a million misunderstandings between us, that can be cleared, only if you give us the chance to speak in private.
I'm a teen domestic abuse survivor at the hands of my father. He is violent to both my mother and me, and I don't feel safe at home.
We’re not religious, we’re just a couple like most; we have the usual ups and downs any ordinary marriage has. Why should there be media focus on us as 'interfaith'?
After the news of Tina Dabi and Akhtar Khan's divorce became public, people obviously had things to say. Don't they deserve any privacy?
In an interview, once, Rekha said that she had barely acted in the role of Umrao Jaan; she had lived it. A tribute on Rekha's birthday today.
The society may see me only as a twice divorced woman but I know I am more than that. After two divorces, I finally realised my self-worth.
These female poets turned to poetry not only as an expression of creativity, but also to connect across borders when we are homebound.
Needing to do something concrete, we started CARE (Creativity and Art for Amphan Relief Efforts), a 5-day long initiative to lend support to NGOs working on ground, and we’re astonished at its success. It was sisterhood all the way.
In light of a pandemic, missing a festival seems like a small thing. But it is also about missing the reassuring smells, sounds of home and that of Iftar.
We don't have to be defined as one person - we can be many women if our imagination is given the freedom to soar and be creative, says Anmol Malik, a.k.a. Audrey Piano.
Cooking during the lockdown may be stressful and difficult, mostly because of what is available. Jyotsna Shahane's The Classic Konkan Cookbook to the rescue!
Anukrti Upadhyay, author of Daura and Bhaunri, takes you headlong into the rich world of folktales in her books, and tells us how her childhood was full of these.
Two delicious desserts you can try at home, courtesy recipes from Rachel Goenka’s Adventures with Mithai, given here. Let us know how these turned out!
Corona virus isn’t the beginning of our problems of public health and overall governance and social and economic inequity, nor the end. But we shouldn't let fear incapacitate us.
With the current lockdown, everyone is at home. How and where do women trapped at home and in a violent household find their safe spaces?
Traveling can be fun, exciting, and great for your career – but not when hackers compromise your data. Here’s what you can do to really keep it safe 24/7.
The thought behind, and the fine detailing that this reviewer finds in every scene of Thappad makes the experience of watching it extraordinary, for these 10 plus reasons...
An expert silk weaver, Chandramma’s quest for livelihood led her to being a bonded labourer. Nonetheless, she is determined to build herself and her children a better future.
Thappad, the newest 'feminist' movie is getting praise for calling hidden domestic violence that is so normalised in marriages. But it is really the feminist wonder it is considered?
A new screen version of Little Women has just been released, and so much of it (as also Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice) still feels relevant to girls and women in India, even in 2020.
This is a ‘coming-of-age’ movie but with a delightful twist of a grown man first turning grudgingly into a father and later on more willingly into an excited grandfather.
Government schools in India lack many educational facilities like a good library. Mayuri Purkayastha speaks of one such she built in Bhosari, through crowdsourcing.
Meet Zakira, who has literally faced a lot, from domestic violence to an acid attack. Yet, her spirit remains unbroken. Her story in her words.
Every time a woman is raped and murdered, this is what I desperately hope will happen. And am disappointed every time!
Calling for the rapists' blood isn't going to solve anything. Instead, rape culture itself needs to be tackled. Here's what can be done.
Veterinary college wasn’t a comfortable place for girls. Not because of anything else. It was only because the boys made sure they harassed us.
ARISE, a 'standing wheelchair', was recently launched by IIT Madras. Here is the brain behind this, the unassuming Prof Sujatha Srinivasan, talking with her junior alumnus, Namrata Vora.
Hilarious one-line descriptions of some really popular Bollywood hits, that get right at the bottom of the problematic part of it, by a woman who identifies as feminist.
A woman is worried about not getting promotion despite having worked in the company for a long period of time. Job change or talking to the boss?
A woman who took a break after the birth of her children wants to get back to working. She is confused between a drastic career change or opting for comfort.
A woman managing her business and home is tired of travelling between Bangalore and Coimbatore on a regular basis as she can't get anything else done. How would you deal with that?
A woman is facing issues with her manager who seems to have taken a grudge against her going as far as humiliating her. How do you deal with this situation?
If you are constantly rebuked, blamed and compared to others, what do you do? You live separately with #NoRegrets. A woman's honest advise on taking matters in your own hands.
Political activist Tara Krishnaswamy realised early the gap between her privileged, feminist upbringing, and the life of the ordinary Indian woman, leading her to raise her voice in concrete ways that make a difference.
A recent video going all over viral on social media show security staff of St Francis College for Women, Hyderabad, tugging at the Kurtis of students if the kurta was not below the knee.
According to the WHO, every year, approximately, a million people die through suicide. Here's a story of a happier life lived despite attempted suicide.
It has been one year since Section 377 was struck down by the Supreme Court. But has the LGBTQIA+ community got its full rights?
Though the Transgender Persons Bill was recently passed in the Lok Sabha, the community is not particularly happy with it. Here are a few reasons why.
Students of St. Francis College for women in Hyderabad have alleged that their college is forcing them to wear knee-length kurti so that "they get good marriage proposals" and wearing short tops garners “unnecessary male attention from the staff”.
'They' need to do something for reducing violence against women, but what about 'us'? What about the mindsets that perpetuate the covert rape culture that feeds into overt violence?
"Women have each other to draw inspiration from, to hold one another’s hands when the going gets tough," says Change.org Country Director Nida Hasan, "and to celebrate our victories together."
This husband has manipulated his wife into being a stay-at-home mom who also 'must take care of his parents' and 'can't have a career'. And we thought this was 2019.
Kabir Singh is the latest in a long line of misogynist movies that glorify stalking and violence against women in the name of 'romance'. Time to get off social media and protest in real life.
It's considered 'shameful' to talk about - even think about - women's sexual fantasies and pleasure, a taboo that 5 college girls set out to erase with Oh My Hrithik.
"There are many Feminisms," says Kamla Bhasin, who has worked in this field for close to 50 years. "They are often contextual, and are not just about choice, but about the politics of what we choose."
Paromita Bardoloi began her initiative Letter From A Stranger, India, as the exchange of ideas and advice between her friends. But it has become much bigger than that.
Sowmya Rajendran rants on Facebook about the utter cluelessness of men about pregnancy, and the danger of romanticising it, as in the blockbuster Arjun Reddy and the recent remake Kabir Singh.
The AAP Delhi state government has announced free travel on metro and buses for women who cannot afford it. How exactly will this lead to safer travel for women?
Doctors understand early on that under our skin, all of us have the same blood, organs, and skeletons. Why, then, do Indian doctors continue a belief in the caste system?
Yesterday, we heard the deeply saddening news of a massive fire in a commercial building in Surat, and the subsequent deaths of 20 children there.
"Feminism means having the freedom, choice and opportunity that the other gender has," says Bollywood screenwriter Jyoti Kapoor. "It's okay to question things."
This Mother’s Day, we celebrate and salute mothers who have triumphed over conditions of bonded labour, remaining hopeful despite it all. Here's the inspiring story of Papamma and Chiranjeevi.
A poignant wish by a daughter, to be reborn in another life as someone else in her mother's life, someone who will cherish her instead of restricting her choices.
They chanced to sit together and spent the next hour conversing like there was no tomorrow. He had never felt the same way talking to anyone else in school or at home.
The film's writer, trans woman Gazal Dhaliwal feels that with Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga Bollywood has finally stepped out of the closet, and hopes it never has to go back into it again.
Laxmi Agarwal is so much more than just what we know her as - a gritty acid attack survivor. Here we meet her as a mom, speaking about her dreams for her daughter.
Tough times come in everyone's lives, and dealing with them needs a lot of support - from family, friends, and the sisterhood of those who can handhold you... these 10 coping mechanisms help.
Supriya Jain lost her husband in an accident after 15 years of married life. A Piece of Him is her effort to make sense of the grief following this tragic loss. This excerpt is published with permission from the publishers, Notion Press.
The very next day, he would be the same man she had loved. It was like the previous episode had never happened...She told herself firmly, he was probably just having a bad day at work, or stressed, or troubled.
Akkai Padmashali was assigned male at birth, but she always felt like a girl. It has been a long struggle to be who she is today, a transgender activist.
The Widowing of Kannaki is from Samhita Arni's new book The Prince, a retelling based on 'Silappadikaram', one of the five greatest epics ever written in Tamil Nadu. Republished here with permission from the publishers, Juggernaut.
The silence on the pain felt by women living with infertility is deafening, in a society so focused on women getting married and having babies.
When she looked up at her father, her eyes screamed in pain as they darted towards the body abandoned in the corner. A body used to his abuse, taunts, slapping, kicking. Had it given up? Or would it rise again, to justify and bear more humiliation?
As a married woman, I've faced domestic violence and stopped from having a career. I'm still looking for justice, which is elusive for homemakers.
"I've come to realise that it's rather hard to live by feminist principles in every sphere of your life - at home, at work, in your social circle, in public spaces, on social media," says Sowmya Rajendran.
Bidai as a wedding underlines the 'enslaved' status of women and girl children in society, leads to discrimination against women, and should be banned, says the author.
Amba (with her sisters Ambika and Ambalika) is among the most fascinating characters of the Mahabharata, reborn as Shikhandi to take her revenge on the Kurus. Author Meenakshi Reddy Madhavan reimagines their story in The One Who Had Two Lives.
Postpartum Haemorrhage (PPH) is the term used for excessive bleeding after childbirth. Here's what you should know about it.
One more Nirbhaya Day comes along on 16th December, 6 years since Jyoti Singh a.k.a Nirbhaya was brutally gangraped. Has anything changed for the women of India?
Aanya dropped her overnight bag and rushed to hug her mom, breathing in the familiar scent of Nivea cream mixed with her mom’s unique scent. Maya, caught off guard by the sudden hug, sensed something wrong, but didn’t say a word.
To truly empower themselves, women must recognise their relative privilege in the structures that enable men to hold on to power and oppress women, says Vinutha Mallya in this eye-opening article.
For an average Indian woman, a marriage is an unequal partnership that means taking care of the husband, his family, sundry relatives, friends, and neighbours. But not so for the man!
On Diwali day, a patient contacted me online to ask if ejaculating on a virgin girl's vagina could make her pregnant. When I came to know the girl was a 10 y.o. child, I decided to report him.
A step by step argument against those who ask why women haven't spoken up earlier, and why they are only speaking up on social media and not making actual complaints officially. Do read.
It took Lila many years and much pain to realise that the flaw was not in her, but in the warped and conditioned minds of others, that held up only fair skin as beauty.
Most people are clueless about bisexuality, and even within the LGBTQ+ community in India, bisexual people are often stigmatised as 'greedy'. Here's setting y'all straight.
Getting back to work is a challenge for many women, and especially in a dynamic industry like IT. Here are some thoughts on making the return.
"I started working full time in an office at the age of 37 years and am still learning." This experience is so poignant and inspiring for every woman who is restarting her career late.
#DearCosmicMistake is a series of poems I wrote on heartbreak, love, loss and unsaid goodbyes. It is about all the love stories that go unsung.
What would her mom say if she knew? But Maanasa seemed not bothered by such thoughts. She was so.... Titiksha searched for the right word, Maanasa was so uninhibited.
New learning and life's adventure actually begin once relieved of all other responsibilities. With her riding experiments, Manjula Basavaraj explains how.
Plus sized fashion is more than just clothes. It’s a personality type, and these plus sized fashion bloggers from India are proving just that.
Bipolar disorder can make a person quite unpredictable and wildly varying in their moods. How does one love such a bipolar person? The author explains from experience.
This was another reason why grandmother poisoned mother’s ears with lies of how I was beaten up by boys sometimes and that she had to hide me from the boys or they would do “unimaginable things” to me when I grow up.
The Mahila Manch, a brand all female new stand up comedy group in Ahmedabad, is entertaining audiences with 'The Period Show'. We got group member Aarti Nair to share their story with us.
"This is the question which had haunted me, kept me awake, made me question my decision, but the day I realised that I was not scared about it, in fact the thought excited me, I knew I had to take the plunge.”
One would expect Indian policewomen to be sensitive to the issues of their own gender, but this author's study shows that they weren't usually, just strong women choosing their battles.
I'm bisexual. It is difficult for both straight and gay people to understand or accept this. This creates many problems of coming out as a bisexual that others can't fathom.
A woman who's worked in the BPO industry, but doesn't want to do night shifts now, wonders if there are job options available to her. What's your suggestion?
I am a bisexual teenager. While coming out to my mom and a small set of friends has been a positive experience, I hope that I will be able to come out openly some time.
Women ecologists in India used to be conspicuous by their absence, with fieldwork seen as 'unsuitable' for women. Pioneers like Dr. Priya Davidar have led the change!
Telling my pregnancy story of pre-eclampsia to alert others - if you have any of these symptoms, get help immediately. I survived, but it could kill.
There are many myths about STIs and STDs in LGBTQ + individuals, that discriminate, and also prevent their easy access to sex education, prevention, and treatment.
Women aspiring for senior level marketing roles are often penalised for having 'no sales background'. How does one overcome this sometimes invisible barrier?
Amla Mater, a memoir by Devi Menon is every bit as nostalgia inducing and mouth-watering as the title of this review suggests. Do look it up!
The women scientists of India, in the immediate post-independence period, braved enormous odds in the cause of their careers. Theoretical Plasma Physicist, Dr. Bimla Buti shares her experience.
The Let Down, which premiered on Netflix takes you on a roller coaster ride while capturing the woes of motherhood.
Is Veere Di Wedding really about empowered women or just a very narrow slice of what single women in this country supposedly, want?
This post has been taken down because of a prior copyright claim.
The last line provoked Kavya. Her eyes flashed fire: Yes ma. I am not just going to learn from those 'homeless' people with their priceless craft, I am going to be living with them.
A new mom speaks of her journey through pregnancy and childbirth to now - how she felt, and how she fell in love with her new baby.
Living with endometriosis since my teens, an unpredictable, painful, and often debilitating disease, has been very challenging & exhausting.
Not many people understand kids with autism. My son is one of them. Here is a BIG Thank You for all those who have made our journey beautiful.
Are you searching for memory foam mattress online? Well, we have also prepared ourselves to help you with your shopping.
Mahima noticed just then that they had taken a route she was not aware of. “Uhh…where are you going?” She called out to the cabbie in as stern a voice as she could.
“Oh you devil! Knowing Adil checks his mails on Sunday nights to prepare for the coming week. You sent him your resignation this morning!”
To this, I said many mean things. Making a business around motherhood cannot possibly be about spreading love and happiness. Several people agreed with my notions. I must be right.
"I still don’t know what led us to grow apart." Some relationships end inexplicably. If you have one of those stories, you'll so relate to this one!
With the best intentions in the world, some marriages don't work out. Perhaps we need to rethink that bit about 'all you need is love'?
The real pain had stood behind the momentary mask of her mother’s disapproval. Now that the mask was torn away, Sumana could not hold it in anymore. It was too much. Way too much.
My son is on the autism spectrum. I send him to a parallel school which is perfect for him, so it is unfair that I'm judged for it.
The menstrual cup is a fairly new entrant among sanitary options - here are most questions about using a menstrual cup, answered by a user.
The She Stands Tall Project presents The Vagina Monologues in Bangalore this month. Here, some women share their stories of preparing for the project.
A contrary view by the author on the controversial statement by Manohar Parrikar that has most feminists in arms against the stereotyping.
Contrary to popular belief, babies do not sleep all the time. Sure, when they’re a couple of weeks old, but after those early days, a new parent can get a rude awakening.
An Indian woman is not considered to have the agency to say NO to sexual overtures, unless she 'belongs' to a man. This is a fatal flaw in how we perceive consent.
Even as as she said it, she tried to clamp down on her thumping heart, the rush of blood a roar in her ear, or so she imagined. She was desperate not to lose the caller.
Sorting through the things a kid collects over the years, and deciding what to keep and what to throw can be a real dilemma. Here's how one mom solved it.
Modern women can learn much from Andal’s life and appreciate its beauty, without having to be sentimental about it or evaluating her in a 21st century context.
I love both my mom and my boyfriend dearly. But I can't tell her about him because we are of different faiths. I don't want to hurt either of them. #NotMyLoveJihad
Don’t judge me or negate me because I am a divorcee. You do not really know what the lives of couples who get divorced are really like.
The problem of the Double Burden cannot be solved just by women’s intervention. It’s really time now for men to do their fair share.
However hard you try to run away from the Patriarchy, it seems to catch up with you… sometimes, in the form of the landlady! When women work outside the home, their work inside doesn’t magically go away! Women continue to bear the ‘double burden’ of two jobs – resulting in immense stress as well as […]
We indulge freely in victim blaming, but do not think to blame perpetrators of violence against women. A hard look at this for International Day for Elimination of Violence against Women.
Kirron Kher recently caused an uproar when she gave unsolicited advice to a young woman, blaming her for her actions which allegedly led to her rape.
The Supreme Court's recent judgement on the Hadiya case 'allowed' her back to college. However, aspects of the judgement as well as the way it is reported, are unsettling.
Appearances can be deceptive, as I realised when I came to know the reason for a neighbour's apparently strange behaviour. And now I applaud her courage!
“But look at Pihu. Does her size even bother her? If they reject her who will marry her? At the age of 29, I had two kids and look at this girl. Does she want to remain unmarried forever?"
The obsession with fairness in Indian girls and women is so all pervading that it affects all aspects of a woman's life. Fair or unfair?
Women's Education Project - India (WEP India) is a Bangalore based NGO that is working towards a goal of bettering the status of women through education. A report.
The last thing she wanted was for the family matriarch and her orthodox mother-in-law to hear this and rain hell on them for raising an insolent daughter.
We've all been there and outraged at why women don't give it back when faced with sexual harassment at work. The reality is more complex.
From strangers on the street, to husbands in the home, women in India face sexual violence from multiple sources, and want things to change NOW.
When women dare to confront misogyny, they often face harassment of a worse order. This woman refused to shut up.
But the past experience reminded me, it does not have to be one majorly abusive or explosive incident to drive them to the breaking point, it is a culmination of years of being harassed, years of subservience, years of being unable to speak out.
And every time she choked with recurring sobs, watching the unwelcome moon, she reminded herself that she would not cry.
In an interesting two-day activity in Patna, teenaged girls and boys from Bihar and Jharkhand got together to debate what holds girls back.
Sarees will never go out of fashion. Here are some unusual weaves that the author speaks so lovingly of, for all kinds of budgets. Check NOW!
Having a bipolar disorder can churn life inside out, making it very difficult for those who love you. A searing personal account. #MentalHealthAwarenessDay
The heart of a woman is strongest at struggle, she had heard, and she saw it for herself firsthand when her hands shook with fear but her other hand steadied it, on its own.
This was the best gift that I could ever give you, Sharad. But I don’t know why I waited for 25 years. I should have slapped you the very first day when you started disrespecting me.
Good news in India is synonymous with one thing, and one thing only. Impending motherhood, after getting married. That is important.
Pune scientist Medha Khole and her allegations against Nirmala Yadav have opened a can of casteist worms that need to be dealt with.
Double Trouble, Double Fun by Riti Prasad covers a twin mom's unique personal journey - a perspective not found in the usual books on parenting twins.
The Supreme Court of India declared instant triple talaq illegal on 22nd August 2017. Let’s understand what this truly means.
I am a film reviewer of South Indian movies, and I am not about to tolerate the nonsense I receive online in the comments, mostly from disgruntled men.
Is it possible? I had daydreamed about it but realized had never really believed I would do it. Yes, I was not in my conservative little hometown anymore. But still…
When moms return to work after a maternity break, they often face a bleak response or harsh questions. Here is a mom who fought back!
The author, a well-travelled woman, speaks of the first year of her stay in Jakarta with her family, a city very different yet so similar to the cities in India.
A harrowing account of how a mother in law made the life of a woman difficult for no real fault of hers. A downright soap opera!
Time was when getting your Aadhar card was a breeze. Not anymore. Here is how to go about it.
Women's cricket is the rage, with our women in blue giving stellar performances in the World Cup. Will this mean better opportunities for our girls?
Only thing, here it was two heroines instead of a hero and heroine! I was in 10th std, still a little too young to fathom what exactly was going on.
With Harmanpreet Kaur delivering an incredible performance, it’s time for us to cheer the Indian women’s Cricket team in the upcoming World Cup finals!
While the government cites 5% GST on products that assist people with disability as a 'concession', what is the reality?
HEADLINES: A photography project featuring a woman wearing a cow mask created a furore nationally! What does this say about India today?
Want to return to work after a career break? You may feel desperate but coming across like that can hurt your chances.
Will women be the force that brings communities and people together? A lovely account of a women-led all faith iftaar.
The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), Government of India, has deemed the Hindi film Phullu, fit only for "adult" viewing because its story revolves around menstruation.
Not all fathers are 'good fathers'. Here's a heart-wrenching personal account of how a father should not be.
Indian women travellers going alone are rare even today. These accounts inform us of the anxieties and also the bright side of these escapades.
Worried about being decently dressed when you go to meet that dignitary? Fret not. The Sanskaari Clothes Bank is here to the rescue!
“But deep down, I am sure nothing matters to you more than my happiness. And right now, I am perfectly content.
We had started from the scratch, without any luxuries. But, we had the comfort of each other and we were happy in our little bubble. We thought, we could survive anything.
This HR Manager candidly discusses the real sexual harassment cases she has seen, and tells us what we can learn from them.
Kanika Gupta describes the first 2 days of a gruelling solo trek to the Annapurna Base Camp, without any guide or porter, as her cash became worthless enroute due to demonetisation.
In an age where everyone is trying helter-skelter to look more younger, Laila Tyabji's views on aging gracefully is truly inspiring!
A woman is more than her body. She's not just a pretty face. Her beauty is within, in the 'woman' she is inside, and that is what matters.
Talk about sexuality (from the male point of view) and we might have an open mind. But, have women talking about sexuality and our hypocritical society freezes up.
“If you bow down to everything society says, it will make sure that ‘You’ will be stripped from whom you really are.” Here is the fourth winner of our April 2017 Muse of the Month contest, Swarna Manjari Ayyalasomayajula. The cue for this month was from the movie Kahaani, in which the cop, played by Nawazuddin […]
Nandita Venkatesan lost her health, hearing, and a 'normal life' to tuberculosis, but this valiant girl battled it and rebuilt her life.
In an apartment in a quiet street in Chembur, Mumbai, the mother and daughter duo of Saraswathy Hariharan and Dr. Shalini Ananth are helping scores of women navigate the emotional and physical challenges of pregnancy and impending motherhood. Saraswathy Hariharan and her daughter, Dr. Shalini Ananth, run Aaroghya Pregnancy, offering a holistic pregnancy module covering […]
Talking on pregnancy recently, Kareena Kapoor recently said that all pregnancies are not the same, on being criticised for going out right after delivery. We need to remember this before passing judgement on new moms. As quoted in this interview, Kareena said, “Yes, I was on my feet a few days after the delivery, but it’s upsetting to […]
Sometimes, it is enough that a woman wants a life of dignity and is no longer willing to put up with abuse from a husband, normalized in a patriarchal society.
“The salary offered to my mother was much more than what my father earned and yet the topic of him leaving his job and looking for something in the US was never even considered as an option."
SNEHA is a grassroots organisation that works in preventive and promotive healthcare among women and children in informal settlements and from marginalised populations.
What decides your self worth? Does it matter whether you are a homemaker or a working woman? The author muses today on occasion of #WomensDay.
I Want To Destroy Myself is the best selling memoir of Malika Amar Sheikh, translated by Jerry Pinto from the Marathi original 'Mala Udhwasta Vyaychay'.
If more stars take a stand on fairness creams as Taapsee Pannu recently did, would we see less fascination with fair skin in India?
“All that glorious promise of a life to be… Now a zilch. Suddenly, everything she had believed in, all that she held dear to her heart had come to a naught. Her quest for perfection itself had been a mirage.” A short story.
A visually impaired woman helped me navigate when I tried walking with a blindfold in solidarity this World Disability Day. Respect!
“To reinvent oneself, any place can be home. Pack your bags, follow life as it is calling you right now. Who knows what is in store?” A short story.
“Unwilling at first, she understood that she had to bring courage from her innermost reserves and step out into the world, even if it meant working in a bank to feed her family.” A short story.
Yesteryear actress Vandana Mishra's memoir has been translated by Jerry Pinto as I, The Salt Doll, and tells the story of a strong woman facing her challenges.
“But what is a person’s value? Who defines or measures that? Does it only exist to benefit someone?" A short story about self-worth.
Those who put all blame for gender discrimination on religion forget to take into account the many ways science can be anti-women too. A balanced view.
Navaratri is meant to be a celebration of the female as the supreme power. Let's use it as an opportunity to raise questions about the stereotypes and ignorance that still occupy our lives.
Traditional celebrations often propagate stereotypes. Occupy Navratri is a way of challenging stereotypes and creating awareness.
"I wish I had not gone searching for something that I felt was missing. Cause it wasn’t." Look for the freedom within yourself.
Freedom, she had thought, was to be able to have fun whenever she wanted. Until she realized what freedom really meant!
Garrisoned Minds speaks of women who suffer specifically as women, when they live in strife torn regions. Sometimes for no direct fault of theirs.
Karishma Walia turned down a marriage proposal because the guy was unable to come to terms with the dog in her life. More power to her for speaking up about her choice.
Biplabi Shrestha speaks about her journey of learning cycling at 34 in a society that discouraged girls from cycling, an empowering and refreshing experience.
Having free access to birth control methods is a question of healthcare and not about morality. Women should have reproductive and birth control rights in India.
"For the first time she was doing something for herself on her own. And she did not feel guilty." A short story about social autonomy.
Standing up to people you love needs more courage than standing up to others. And sometimes, hard choices need to be made for your self-esteem.
With longer life expectancies, both spouses working and no experience of caring for the elderly, what can we learn from the West to make it better for everyone?
Teaching children about gender bias begins at home. It is the small things we do and say as parents, that gives rise to the culture of 'boys will be boys'!
A married Indian woman is supposed to do all the adjustments for the sake of the marriage. What about the husband? Shouldn't he hold up his part of the deal?
"The waves had claimed her." A story of love, loss, and grief that yet has a dreamlike quality.
We have relationship problems and my husband was abusive during my first pregnancy. So this Father's Day I have decided not to have another child with him.
"You have given me the gift of independence, Mumma and I love you for that." A letter asking a mother to remember her own lessons, at a low point in life.
“We are women, Draupadi, of royal blood. We do not have the luxury of exercising our choices, our personal likes and dislikes." A fabulous modern retelling.
The work of a homemaker is never done. But this is not understood by many husbands who think their wife is idling away her time and having fun all day!
'Their daughter, who had always been the centre of their world ever since she had come into their lives, was now blinded by some filthy substances.' May 2016 Muse of the Month.
Crowdfunding to study or learn is a very new concept; Aruna Raman who tried it out shares all her learnings with you.
Comedy can be a wonderful tool for social change. UnGendered, presented by Shenomics in Bangalore on 22nd May attempts just this.
There are many stereotypes about plus sized women prevalent. Which of these 6 mythical stereotypes do you believe in?
Breaking stereotypes works best when it is done by those in a position of privilege. Here is a son breaking the stereotypes about how a mother should dress.
No Outlaws In The Gender Galaxy discusses how society fails all those who biologically do not identify as male or female in terms of social privilege.
The other woman usually faces criticism rather than empathy. What if there is the other man in a relationship with a married woman? What would his feelings be?
Outdoor photography in India does not always have to mean wildlife or landscapes of unusual beauty. Our cities offer plenty too.
A chance experience as a busy parent who forgot about keeping track of her child's vaccinations led Subhashini Subramaniam to develop the BabyBerry app.
The burglars had thought it would be an easy target. But they hadn't realized what 'mere women' could do, if they joined forces! #TeaBagStrength winning entry.
'Nature can choose how I look. But only I can choose what I can make of it.' A thoughtful piece that will make you introspect on your choices.
Exam stress - what is it about curriculums and exams that make slave-driving monsters out of us, usually reasonable adults and loving parents?
In her book Bicycle Dreaming, Mridula Koshy tells the story of the dreams of a young girl of thirteen, who is baffled by her family's actions.
Anuradha Bajpai wanted a place to connect with like-minded readers, so she co-founded Woodpie, a successful platform for book exchange.
Moving home is especially difficult with a young family. Here are 8 tips that can help in a seamless move to the US with kids in tow.
The other woman. What about her feelings, her dreams, wishes, wants and needs? For isn't she a woman like every other woman, after all?
Yes, I was completely a normal girl, but did society see me as one? Or was my 'normal' always to be tainted by the 'fault' they thought I had?
Why should the bride wear only white? I wanted to wear a blood red wedding gown at my wedding, and I did. Here is my story.
We routinely receive marriage jokes and memes that can be almost cruel in their gender stereotyping. Do they really define us and our marriages?
The experience of love can make you blossom in a million colours. On the other hand, heartbreak can be searing. But, can it be that the one who breaks your heart might also have his own private pain?
Whether in an arranged match or otherwise, heartbreak is never easy. Is it possible to find love again, even after being tossed about by time? The fifth winning entry for the Muse of the Month.
Design thinking for entrepreneurs explained: Read on to know what it means to bring design into the heart of your business.
Life, growing up, can take strange directions, often led by our choices - the underdog and the top-dog might easily change places. The fourth winning entry for the Muse of the Month.
Children are exposed to very real violence, either in real life, as in the Peshawar attacks, or in news and images on media like the television. Here are 8 tips for parents to help their children deal with tragic news and events.
This short graphic novel, Sarah: The Suppressed Anger of the Pakistani Obedient Daughter, though from across the border, tells the story of an almost 18 girl who is aware of and resents the discrimination between her and her brother.
A 14 year old tells us in this piece how books have become the stuff of dreams for her, and how she can never be without a book.
A 10 year old talks about how she became a reader despite her parents not wanting her to waste time on books.
The writer takes you on a courageous walk through her personal experience of divorce, from darkness to light.
A 9 year old tells us in this sweet piece, how books became his best friends, despite a crippling eye affliction.
Love wearing Indo Western office outfits to work? Here are some great accessories to team up with my last post on Indo Western wear for work.
Advice for new parents can be a deluge! Yet, hearing the experiences of other new parents does help. Here are 6 super useful things to know.
Tired of wearing formal shirts and trousers, or churidar-kurta combinations to work? These Indo Western looks for office wear are a nice change!
Here the writer describes how as a child books never interested her until one day, she found a book, that changed her life. Our fourth winning entry for December writing theme.
Our movie reviewer Saumya Baijal says that Bajiroa Mastani is a must watch, if nothing, watch it for the world Sanjay Leela Bhansali delicately creates.
A daughter speaks of her father's love for her, a love that is reciprocated, a love that can often be wordless, in evocative words that are poetry.
Haven't read many books this year? Looking for something to read in these Christmas holidays? Here's a list for you to choose from.
Mhonbeni Ezung is the youngest recipient of the National Bravery Award this year – for a feat that is not only astonishing, but endearing as well.
A mother writes a very moving letter to her son, on the shame society body shames a woman when it comes to her physicality. It begins from birth itself.
Here is the review of 'Come As You Are,' that as the book itself says, will transform your sex life. Have a look.
A woman writes a letter to her younger colleague opening up about the sexual harassment she faced in the streets, which she kept buried deep within her.
A mother writes a letter to her son, recounting her struggles of growing up as a woman. She rightly says that it begins right at birth.
This November Women’s Web, with JustBooks, is running Book Talk, a writing theme where you get to write (read) about books that inspire us.
The aunty from the corner of the street? The one who douses you with unsolicited advice every time you see her and whom if you are oblivious to only if you are living under a rock? She strikes again!
Our youngest reviewer Arya, reviews the book 'A Children's History of India,' and she says that you will definitely love history once you read this book.
This October Women’s Web, with JustBooks, is running Book Talk, a writing theme where you get to write (read) about books that inspire you. Our third winning entry is unusual, quirky and delightful as ever!
How to deal with divorce? The author pens a candid and courageous account of triumph and self-revelation.
Shalini Vij is the Founder of Hang Out, a chain of Family Entertainment centers in Delhi and Gurgaon. What drives her to follow her passion, despite health challenges? Find out!
Three women, three different countries, and a black dog. Pepita Seth's The Edge Of Another World links apparently disparate elements and combines them in a swathe of mystery.
Sometimes we have to live certain things all over again, maybe even after we are married, we got to begin with the proposal again.
Though the protagonist of Toni Morrison's book 'The Bluest Eyes' was an African, yet it reflects the ethos of the Indian society which is our obsession to be fair and lovely!
Society tells women to wear a Saree and be a good girl so that no one can rape you. But the truth is- dress has nothing to do with any form of sexual abuse.
In 'The Mare's Trap,' Wendy Doniger explores the Kamasutra looking at it in the context of texts from the same time period, like the Arthashastra and Manu’s doctrines.
How to deal with an abusive partner? The process might not be easy. But worth the effort. Here are 5 ways to deal with an abusive partner.
Here are 8 signs of an abusive relationship. Are you living in one? Maybe it's time, you make a choice to protect yourself.
An unusual story of sexual abuse, Nari by Sharath Komarraju's explores the nuances of sex, relationships, and consent.
Is our obsession with fair skin related to our craving for all things Western and unconscious disdain for many things Indian?
Who killed 14 year old Aarushi Talwar? The question continues as Journalist turned writer Avirook Sen tries to find an answer in his latest book, "Aarushi."
A poignant poem on the trial and tribulations of a woman, the journey through the standards of the society and finally the distant hope of the revival of a woman!
The blows from people we trust and love, are the hardest to bear, to survive. Yet, familial conflicts over money are all too common. Here's one such story.
Walking away from a committed relationship brings in the guilt of leaving someone in pain. Surviving that guilt, itself is another story - a survivor's story.
Is crying on wedding day a must? A bride recollects!
Image Management consultant and entrepreneur Jainee Gandhi shares an very candid account of her journey – ups and downs, joys and sorrows all.
A daughter writes a heartfelt letter to her father after he passes away. Read on!
A new bride narrates how the aunties living on her street have a question about everything, from having a baby to her online status.
Investing in social entrepreneurs with a focus on women and gender equality can help tackle poverty in many communities.
While most victims of sexual harassment are women, men who do not conform to stereotypically masculine traits also face it.
Street sexual harassment is not just a personal issue. We need governments at all levels to help prevent as well as report incidents.
Building intimacy in marriage is not just about the physical; emotional intimacy happens as a result of respecting differences - while communicating what you need.
The love and support that girls give their parents is no lesser than that boys do. It is time we stopped devaluing girls.
If a girl or woman tells you that she was harassed, help her take action against the attacker. Don’t ask her how “sure” she is!
Scientist Vijaya Sinha started her career in the sixties, at a time when female graduates in India were few. Her story inspires Indian women in science today.
Can women be a part of public celebrations too? Yes, if men take a pledge against harassment!
Conflict over gender roles often leads to deep unhappiness in relationships today. Should we just give up in despair, or are there ways to create a more harmonious partnership?
Young girls often face their first experience of street harassment even before they can understand what is happening to them.
It is not always easy to speak up when we see sexual harassment happening in front of us. Yet, not speaking up hurts us in the long run.
Bhumika Anand, once a cubicle dweller, found her home at the Bangalore Writers Workshop (BWW). This is her story in the world of words.
Shalini Singh is the Founder of not one but two businesses – Galvanise PR and Speakers MIC. How does she do it? Listen to her story.
Leaving Home With Half a Fridge is the author's story. It takes the reader though the various aspects of a divorce and the journey involved.
We all make mistakes. We all miss a moment of courage. But how many of us revisit the moment and talk about it?
Malini Gowrishankar is an Engineering graduate, a voice-over artist and a mom who now helps women hit the refresh button in their lives with F5 Escapes.
Rashmi Singh, an NID graduate deeply committed to the Indian craft heritage began Moya, as a way to bring innovative craft-based products to a discerning audience.
Massage and bath time rituals help in bonding and enhance a child's sense of well-being. Here is more on the science behind the ritual.
Relationships aren't easy, especially when they end. Here's a moment of moving on, captured warmly by this winning entry for our muse of the month contest!
Our lives are a cycle of change, and this winning entry for the Muse of the Month contest chronicles it beautifully.
What we laugh at says a lot about us, as well as the source of humour. Here's an exploration of the thin line between humour and sexism in stand-up comedy.
Love is a blank canvas, and you're free to paint it with whatever colour you want, says this post!
Everything changes. Yet, nothing does. Here's a story to explain this paradox beautifully.
Not all marriages are made in heaven. Some can be hellish, and one must try to break free. Here's an attempt, and hope.
Most of us turn to a higher force for solace, for a patient ear, for a solution. Here's a look at the receiving end of our prayers and whining!
We're talking all the time, but are we really listening? Here's a beautiful glimpse into people and conversations.
Graphic Designer Pragati Asthana Srivastava takes us through her journey and her day, as a Technology Entrepreneur in Lucknow.
Love and marriage are bound by no rules, contrary to public perception. Here is a warm story about choosing love.
Today, more than ever, needs writers who let their ideas run free, to inspire the world. Here is an ode to the writer's dilemma - to be or not to be free?
Shweta Foulger who has moved from running a blog on all things sustainable, to creating a business from it, Green OK Please talks about her life as an entrepreneur.
What happens when the past, present, and future dance together? This intricately woven story will make you wonder.
Who am I? I am many things, and all things possible, says this lovely poem on the self.
A young innovator has designed a kit to make information available to blind women. We talk to Sadhvi Thukral about her menstruation kit, her inspiration, and her vision.
The wheel of this woman's life seems to have come to a standstill; an unusual event gets it moving again.
Sometimes, the wheel can only come full circle if we let it - if we are honest with ourselves and can face up to the truth of our own lives.
The wheel stops for no one - at least, no one who is still living. You just have to scramble along as best as you can.
Call it karma or the wheel of time, it doesn't make an exception for anyone, says this story of a matriarch.
Swaathi Kakarla is Co-Founder at Skscript, a start-up technology firm. But here's what's interesting - while a tech entrepreneur, she is still at college.
PepsiCo CEO Indra Nooyi has got a lot of press recently for her interview on why women can't have it all. A contrarian point of view.
Creativity is not only a gift, but also a responsibility, says this writer, who talks about why she wants to tell her untold stories.
The writer tells the story. But equally, the story makes the writer. An interesting story on what each does for the other.
Shadow Play, by Shashi Deshpande, is a serene read about what makes people human - by exploring relationships, families, and the lives of women.
Short and bittersweet, this story will set you thinking whether it is indeed the heart that makes the best choices!
How precious is the meal that this grandmother prepares for her beloved granddaughter - made of so much more than the ingredients that go into it.
Kamila Shamsie's new novel, A God In Every Stone, set in the Partition era has at its heart a quest for identity through archaeology.
Can one be perfectly happy (or even happier!) without a silly heart to interfere with the workings of the crafty brain? Winner of May's Muse of the Month theme
Some journeys inspire you, some refresh you, and some are magical. This piece is about a woman's journey to independence, and what true freedom means to her.
Even as celebrate Mother's Day with flowers and cards, the state of maternal health in India is appalling. This Mother's Day, can we pledge to support mothers?
An ecofriendly wardrobe does not mean dressing up in leaves! Fashion consultant Babita Jaishankar gives us tips on creating a green wardrobe.
As many couples find themselves having difficulty with conceiving a child, infertility is a problem that needs to be talked about more
We call a woman powerful when she does something that is traditionally 'masculine'. What does this say about Power and how we perceive it?
A woman who never felt the world belonged to her, decides to become one with the world.
When all the world seems to be conspiring against us, one little act of kindness can make the world seem a much more friendly place!
Even when the world was young, did Eve believe that the world was her own? This poem will set you thinking.
The world expects us to be ambitious. We are ambitious. Is that why being a housewife feels like we are letting ourselves and everyone else down?
When a woman learns to love her own body, she is one step closer to accepting herself fully.
South Asian families living in many parts of the world often support each other in tough times. But sometimes, we need additional help beyond the family.
Khushwant Singh was a fearless writer, not just by profession, but in every sphere of his life. This inspiring writer's life leaves behind many lessons.
Ally Matthan, the Founder of Areev, a brand of naturally derived Indian personal care products shares her day as an entrepreneur with us.
How can the biggest industry of this century have so few female engineers? Women Tech Makers is about getting together as women passionate about technology.
Author Juliet Philip shares the story of how the Amul Butter woman shaped her teenage rebel feminist years
Sharing the story of my mother's battle with breast cancer and determination to carry on living as normal.
Six wonderful life lessons, learnt from a 3 year old child. In short: Enjoy life.
Why do so many men believe that a No is a Yes? We need to start with teaching boys that a No means No.
Each time we accept all the markers of being a good woman, we accept that we are not equal.
How is raising compassionate boys possible if we refuse to extend compassion to boys, if we don't allow them to cry?
When does a girl become a woman? Why do we think only motherhood or a man's love makes her a woman?
Why does the guilt of motherhood occur? Mothers feel guilty because of the perfect mother stereotype we are expected to uphold
The obsession with fair skin for Indian women means women are judged first on their looks, and especially complexion
Women in corporate India are not a rarity any longer, but the challenges faced by working women in India continue.
Gender discrimination in India is a reality that we need to recognize in the seemingly ordinary occurrences around us, and help root it out.
Child marriages in India are a reality that need us to work not only with adolescent girls but build support for them in the community and state.
Rishi Verma is 29. He is a writer by profession, and by choice. To pay his bills, he works in advertising. To bring peace to his life, he writes fiction, strums the guitar tunelessly and reads like a maniac. Some of us remember Tobu Cycles and Campa Cola from our childhood. Memories of Mario and […]
Reshma Gude is a software professional and mother to a young child. She blogs at Reshma Musings. Whenever my husband and I talked about having a baby, we always pictured it to be a little girl dressed in a pink frock with matching pick hair band and pink shoes. During my pregnancy, whenever anyone asked […]
Sakshi Nanda is a writer, with a past stint in the publishing industry. She says, “I love cooking ideas, and having them read even more!” She blogs at Between Write And Wrong. Not all of us are conceived in the hope of a boy. But I was. Most certainly I was. I felt it as […]
What girls must not do is a long list of rules that seem designed to keep them submissive and unquestioning!
Indian women and girls are in grave danger, says Rakhee Ghelani, as part of the #GirlsROCK campaign
Being a second girl child in an Indian family is not easy; this daughter succeeded with the help of her supportive father.
Kiran Manral is a well-known blogger, and Author of The Reluctant Detective. She also runs India Helps, a group that began in the wake of the 26/11 terror attacks in Mumbai and helps organise support in such cases. She was a young girl, barely ten one presumed, but then this was a girl who survived […]
All those rules for parents and teenagers? Here's news from a mother: They don't work!
Can well-meaning advice from mothers to mothers to be do more harm than good? What do you think?
Teaching children to know their bodies and name the private parts is essential to protect them from child abuse.
Being a female atheist in India comes with its share of challenges, as women are expected to be the preservers of culture.
Who's better - mom or dad? A mom weighs in on the 'My Daddy Strongest' syndrome.
An 8 year old child is killed in Bangalore, all because her father was not happy with her homework. Are we becoming a brutal nation?
Can online support groups be of help to women? Sagarika Chakraborty shares her experience
What was Aanand Rai, Director of Raanjhana thinking when he made a movie glorifying street sexual harassment?
Many Indian women still find initiating sex a challenge, since we are conditioned to appear timid and shy.
Get these 4 useful personality development tips if you want to present a more confident personality at work, and be rewarded.
These special health tips for women focus on physical and emotional well-being during pregnancy. These fitness tips for working women will aid you at this crucial time.
Society's concept of beauty only serves to reinforce sexist beliefs and reduces the value and worth of women.
Are the choices of mothers ever easy? Anshu shares her story of returning from a career break and helping other working women in India
How can we identify and stop people who use their position in a group to indulge in abusive or unacceptable behaviour?
The Teach India experience - a volunteer shares what it was like to teach English to others from a under-privileged background
As the Ford India ads demonstrated, women in Indian advertising are often mere props, and even violence against women can be 'humour'.
Single women in India are still vulnerable to character assassination as "loose women" if they stand up for their rights.
Thoughts on turning 30 by a woman - on why 30 is a fantastic age.
An Indian woman writes about handling the challenges of working mothers who want the best of both worlds.
Is there really a correct age for marriage? Indian society dictates early marriage for women while ignoring women's career goals and aspirations.
Working women in India make multitasking look easy, but lets not forget that they need family members to pitch in equally at home too.
Know your consumer rights and be an aware, assertive customer. Here is how.
One Indian mom's reflections on turning 35 soon.
Grow up, get married, have kids - why is the journey of life writ in stone for Indian women?
Taking care of your knees gets harder as you age. In this amusing story, a woman's tongue comes to the rescue of her knees
Do gender stereotypes silence the true voices of men too? On bringing up the boy child in India
If a woman doesn't want to dress up, and is happy being her natural self, why do we call her a behenji?
Serious about ending rape in India? Don't feel smug that you are not a rapist. Rape culture arises from how society views the role of women
Guest Blogger Roopa Prabhakar describes herself as a a new mother, a working woman who believes her face is plastered on the glass ceiling, a closet feminist and writer. Some days back when Nirbhaya (God rest her soul!) was supposedly recuperating and had taken a turn for the better, I was listening to the radio on […]
Sairee Chahal is Co-Founder, Fleximoms. Fleximoms works towards creating, enhancing and co-creating workflex opportunities for women professionals. Co-founder, SAITA Consulting Pvt. Ltd, a management consulting firm focused on SMBs, member of the CII Committee on MSMEs, a visiting faculty at IIFT, New Delhi and mother of a 4-year-old, Sairee is your regular Fleximom. Follow her on […]
A very fine contemporary feminist writer, Ambai's In a Forest, A Deer consists of the stories of women we all know.
A letter from the "girls of these days" - women's empowerment in India starts when you start treating us with respect and as adults.
While we protest against the gang rape in Delhi, lets ask ourselves: as individuals, what can we do against rape culture?
Savita Halappanavar's needless death was caused because doctors interpreted the outdated abortion law in Ireland at its worst
A tongue- in-cheek look at the modern husband and the importance of wives in their lives!!
India's obsession with fair skin begs the question, how do dark complexioned people ever get married?
Breastfeeding is best for the child, but is it easy? One Indian mom has a humourous account of her breastfeeding days.
Despite community initiatives, racism against UK Asians persists, including among young people who have absorbed the prejudices of those older.
What is gaslighting, and how an Indian woman often experiences it in subtle forms.
When misfortune strikes, sometimes, asking 'why me' gets us no answer; reflections on a pregnancy that was not to be.
What is Gaslighting? A feminist perspective on psychological abuse focused on making a victim doubt her own perception of reality
Makepeace Sitlhou, a young North Eastern origin woman shares her thoughts on her identity and her feelings after the recent exodus
The changing role of women in India today means that expectations have changed, and both women and men need to learn how to adapt in their relationships.
Interview with Girish H.N. - the high jump athlete representing India at the Paralympics 2012 in London.
The fairness craze in India shows no stopping, nor the market for fairness creams. Why do we buy into the craze for a fair complexion?
The Mandana art of Rajasthan, a unique women's art passed down from mother to daughter
What indoor activities does Bengaluru (Bangalore) for kids? Find out in this exhaustive list of children's activities in Bangalore!
Women in Bollywood seem to be getting to play bigger roles, but are female characters in Indian cinema really getting stronger?
"How to acquire new skills" is a question of deep desire as much as necessity, says this aspiring entrepreneur
Despite awareness of child sexual abuse, many people think male child abuse does not occur!
Body image among children takes a beating when parents stress that only some kinds of bodies are acceptable - The #CanWeTalkAboutThis campaign
Challenging the status of widows in India is not just a function of legislation - but something all of us can do.
Goddess worship is common in India - and so is domestic violence.
The recent attack on a young woman in Guwahati is not an isolated incident, but part of a growing trend of moral policing of women
Artist Debapriya Gupta's Mothers and Daughters carries a plea to treasure and save the girl child in India
Will educating the girl child pave the road for women's empowerment in India? Can literacy improve the lives of poor Indian women?
Is astrology real? Can the stars give you health advice? Dr. Lakshmi writes on the real damage to health that blind belief can do.
Women's liberation in India is still very selective, with daughters encouraged to be independent - but only before marriage
Teaching your child honesty, while living in a corrupt world, is a scary proposition
When affairs are virtual - are they still 'real'? A look at virtual infidelity and what it means for relationships
A poem on the man who worships many goddesses, but proves his masculinity by beating his wife
Love And Life Behind The Purdah: Early Indian Women Writers covers a few remarkable books by from the 1900 – 1950 period.
Written over a hundred years ago, Pandita Ramabai Sarasvati’s The High Caste Hindu Woman feels relevant even today.
Prenatal classes for pregnant women are gaining popularity in India. How can they help the busy, expectant Indian moms of today?
Thirteen life lessons to learn before you celebrate your thirtieth birthday.
Ever heard of the concept of validating emotions? Learn more about how validating emotions helps you create more meaningful relationships
An Unfinished Song by Swarnakumari Debi Ghosal revolves around a young Bengali girl in the process of discovering herself amidst a gradually changing India.
We hesitate to express our emotions because we are afraid that our feelings may not be validated by others.
If you are constantly scuttling between roles and have a fetish for being perfect in all your roles, you are a good candidate for the Superwoman title.
We live in a world where we evaluate a woman based on her private life and both men and women are taught to address certain women as sluts or bad characters.
A young woman writes poignantly of the passage of time - and what it means for our relationship the the place called 'Home'
Equity vs Equality. What is the real argument for feminism, to bring those marginalised at par with those always privileged?
For the Indian career woman, navigating the male mindset at work can still be a challenge
Are we confused by the increased choices we have in every area of life, or have they helped us?
Careers for women: tips for managing a career transition for women at work, especially relevant to IT professionals but also for others
An adoptive mother says on how they convinced the extended family and built a loving family family through adoption
As an Indian woman, do you feel the pressure from a "cut-off date" for marriage and motherhood?
Is Norway child services right in removing these young Indian children from the care of their parents?
Do Indian laws protect women? Are they gender sensitive? So I thought, till a quick reading of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 quickly changed my opinion.
Help Mahak, a school for the girl children of daily wage labourers in Madhya Pradesh
'Big school' may be a new phase for the children, but with every new phase, it is the parents who have to learn to let go.
Following the Passport To A Healthy Pregnancy contest, noted obstetrician and gynaecologist Dr. Gita Arjun shares her tips for a healthy pregnancy
How do you decide what to take when relocating cities or moving house?
While it is difficult for women who face violence to speak out in real life, it is indeed quite possible to use literature as the abused women's voice.
Reading Aparna’s article on Indian women working abroad, I thought of sharing a few lessons I learnt while working abroad, more from a personal angle. Having worked in a handful of countries, I must say that on the whole I enjoyed the experience. But being a single woman in an alien country does come with its […]
Every rescued dog has a tale and here is mine. I m Princess, I m good natured, fun loving and a well behaved dalmador, and after many adventures in my life and now that I have finally settled in my new home (hope it will be my last), I decided to blog and write down […]
Summer vacations are over and it is back to business for all the kids. After enjoying the summer holidays and the lazy afternoons, kids get ready to start their next academic year. It was lovely to see the kids in my apartment complex in their shiny new uniforms and bags and lunch boxes – some […]
Unless you had been living under a rock the past one week, you must have heard about the Canadian couple who have decided to raise their child genderless. They have not revealed the gender of their third child and this news has been making waves all over the internet. While I do not agree with […]
Guest Blogger Lavanya Sampath is a young working mum, an Indian living abroad, a budding entrepreneur and a singer. Music, arts and photography are her passion. In her own words, “I jot down my personal & professional experiences to reach out to women in similar situations.” I had two hours yesterday when my toddler snoozed […]
Bell Bajao!, the mass media cum grassroots campaign by Breakthrough took the country by a ‘rigga ding dong’ storm with its simplistic, catchy and effective method to interrupt domestic violence in their PSA advertisements, that won the Silver Lion in the Cannes Advertising Awards in 2010. Inspired by these ads, several have rung the bell […]
Guest Blogger Lavanya Sampath is a young working mum, an Indian living abroad, a budding entrepreneur and a singer. Music, arts and photography are her passion. In her own words, “I jot down my personal & professional experiences to reach out to women in similar situations.” It is a bright, crispy morning as I cross […]
This entry by Ankita Prasad won 2nd place at the Women’s Web My Favourite Female contest. Ankita lives in Bangalore and reads and travels a lot. In between the reading and the travelling, she manages to earn her living by writing code at a software company. My favorite female fictional character is Lisbeth Salander of […]
This is a guest post by Nandini Shanmugam and Sweta Narayan, Volunteers with the Prajnya Trust, a Chennai-based non-profit centre for research, public education and networking on issues relating to peace, justice and security. Go here to know more about their campaign to end Gender Violence. The deathly silence observed by a family next to her […]
Popular and articulate parenting blogger Starry won second prize at the Women’s Web My Favourite Female Contest with this entry. She blogs at Things do not change…until we change. The first character I recalled when I saw the Women s Web Favourite Females contest announcement was Anne Shirley/Blythe. Hmm , I thought. That s a children s series, and […]
Amodini Sharma is a writer/movie critic and blogs at the Review Room and Amodini’s Movie Reviews. This post of hers won the first prize at the Women’s Web My Favourite Female Contest. I ve written about the The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency before. Reading it is like eating comfort food. This series features Precious Ramotswe, a […]
Well-paced and well-written, Indu Sundaresan's Shadow Princess is a historical novel set in the Mughal period, and told through a woman’s perspective.
I get these moments, when I am glad that I did not commit myself to feminism, because it kills me with conflict. Morality and its relationship with feminism is well known. It’s usually based on morality that the strongest shackles are tied on to women. Social pressure on what is moral and what is not, […]
Indian immigrant women in the US are often heavily dependant on spouses and have nowhere to go in the case of domestic violence.
Review of Rupa Gulab's 'The Great Depression of the 40s'; toyboys, mid-life crisis and happy endings - bring on the 40s!
The end of summer signals the advent of the monsoons and the start of a new academic year at school. I remember I used to hate going back to school after 2 months of fun-filled holidays. Getting back to the regular school routine after an idyllic summer holiday is a difficult transition in most households. […]
Many Indian women plan on moving abroad after marriage. Some tips to deal with the challenges and problems of women living abroad.
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