Women's Web

I have had a busy month…no, busy 3 months actually having involved myself in the organization of a National Seminar hosted by our college and conducted by the Odia department of our college. I had to take two days off after the seminar got over to put my house in order.

Having had an unusually cold winter (we still need to wrap ourselves in the morning), I had to deal with winter wear as well. So the two days went by in sorting out clothes and hand washing a few, airing out a few more and machine washing the rest. Curtains and sofa covers had to be changed and the left over food in the fridge either consumed or thrown out. OMG! It was so much easier helping out in the seminar. At least I had some excuse to offer myself!

I might be writing this quite late – which actually I think is for the better. Afterall I am going to mention one incident which most of us got somewhat tired of hearing about; the Bachchan Baby. Okay okay! I can hear your groans and moans of “Oh no! Not again!”, but please bear with me. I am not so much concerned if the baby has Aishwarya’s eyes or Abhishek’s whatever.

Rather, what I would like to talk about is a comment which I came across from some random person on Facebook (Note to Editor: I know I talk too much about Facebook – but I work too. Promise!). So when anybody and everybody were putting up updates of the baby news, there were many equally going ga-ga over it and commenting away. While most comments where something around congratulations and best wishes, a few were not. One person had asked, [...]

Guest Blogger Chandni is a development professional in the field of public health with a keen interest in gender and womens’ issues. She blogs at
chandni.wordpress.com.

A lot of us interested in issues of gender and feminism know that in theory, there are various schools of thought on feminism. First wave, new age, radical, classic….you name it, we have it! However, for those looking from a distance, the word “feminism” automatically refers to “demand for equality”.

A few day ago, over a conversation with a friend, the issue of women leaving the workforce to have children came up. He was cribbing about women asking for equality on all quarters and then also demanding flexibility as being unfair. The gist of his argument being, on one hand women want to be equal to men, and on the other hand, still use the “woman” card as per convenience.

The recent Park street case in Kolkata where a woman alleged that she was raped inside a car after being accompanied by some men from a nightclub, demonstrates once again what we’v always known: If you get raped, you’re likely to be blamed for it.

In this case, the woman went to a nightclub (GASP!), had alcohol (cue bigger GASP!) and had met the alleged rapists before she was attacked by them were all used as sticks to beat her with.

Many parts of India today are modernized with increasing globalization, trade, exchange programs, and incoming western culture. With modernization, women are also experiencing a transformation: divorce is an option now, Dowry has been legally abolished, women are becoming career oriented and self-sufficient, and education is primary for both men and women.

One would think that with these changes, women emancipation is already in place. In reality, it is only an assumption, and in fact, a wrong one.

In the Mumbai local elections held recently, the Shiv Sena has promised to provide sanitary napkins for all slum-dwellers.

If I weren’t against the politics of xenophobia, I would give my vote to this party just for this promise. At least it recognises that there is an entity called the slum-dweller, that within this group there exists a sub-group called female, that within this sub-group the majority are menstruating girls and women who need access to hygiene.

…one MCP at a time?

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.

How do Indian women ever get ahead in their professional life? Everywhere I turn I either run into an obnoxious MCP or a woman who’s actually an enabler somebody who eggs her male colleagues on to perpetuate their bad behavior. Whatever happened to universal sisterhood? For me, this was the unkindest cut of all, to see women siding with these men just so that they can say “We never have any problems with anybody, team spirit runs in our blood!!!” to all and sundry.

The waiting room of a pathology lab unexpectedly turned into a learning experience. At a recent visit for the annual check-up, I had no time for my usual promises of sticking to a ‘healthy lifestyle’, the reason being a laboratory pamphlet entitled ‘Soul to Soul’. Intrigued I picked it up, not really knowing what to expect inside…

Let me get straight to the point. This was a marketing leaflet that described a package of tests for a young couple to be done prior to marriage.

Valentine’s Day is as simple as just loving someone. It is likely that you know the person you’re buying presents for, or taking out, or hanging out with. Then, there are some others who suddenly find their soul mate on the day of love (extremely rare though).

What I cannot comprehend is why we keep falling for the commercial tricks that keep objectifying women (more than men, mind you)? Not a day goes by when I don’t see women in commercials that promote objectification such as those Axe ads (“spray more get more”), or Slice of Katrina Kaif, or Durex commercials. Why does Valentine’s day have to top that?

Parent tree discusses the four funny facts about misbehaving children. Reminisce your childhood with your misbehaving child!

The quality of life of Breast Cancer patients and survivors is significantly compromised with psychological and physical distress. The UCLA Newsroom spreads awareness about life before and after the treatment of Breast Cancer.

Rajaputhran comments on the intentions of corporate organizations directed towards profit and lack of sincerity when talking about love.

Studies have shown that language development varies between the sexes, with males generally gaining language skills at a slower rate. Researchers from the U of Western Australia explored this issue in a large cohort of children.

Diabetes may impact hearing loss more in women according to a new study fromHenryFordHospitalinDetroit. The study also shows significantly worse hearing in all women younger than 60 with diabetes, even if it is well controlled.

Weight loss isn’t about magic or secrets, it’s about basic biology. Understand what’s happening in your body [...]