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As a young woman who's labelled a lot of things just because she believes in living life her way, the author gives vent to an outraged, well-earned rant.
As a young woman who’s labelled a lot of things just because she believes in living life her way, the author gives vent to an outraged, well-earned rant.
I’ve been am told a lot of things lately, including how I am a person who rants away her life, so consider this another rant, by all means!
I have been told I am:
Because I believe I can deal with things myself without any external help.
Because I always have a plan in mind and know exactly how to be the lead character in my life.
Because I believe in being polite, and usually nice to people who are nice to me.
Because duh! I believe in guys and girls being on the same level instead of promoting patriarchy.
Because obviously, I expect earthlings to stand up for each other, and to coexist respectfully and joyously!
Because I believe in giving a fair number of chances before I am completely done with anyone.
Because I unfurl real quick and let you peep in what’s actually going on with me!
Because I am blunt and totally upfront about how and what I feel!
Because I am opinionated and pretty vocal at that!
Because I know what I want, and I am in to do whatever it takes!
Because I do not take crap from anyone, and have ample self-respect and self-love in a society that despises it!
Because I expect people to treat me the way I treat them. If they can’t treat me the same way, or something close to that, I am not afraid to drop out of the team!
Because I do not misuse the term “sorry” and I will only and only use it when I really mean it. Which is when I am convinced I have committed something to be guilty of, something which needs to be apologised for!
Because being a feminist is considered fiction, and the idea of a woman speaking for her tribe is intolerable to many.
Because when I speak my mind, a few actually manage to listen and appreciate my trail of thoughts.
And the list goes on and on and on! As I said, I am told what or who I am way too often, but if you ask me who I really think I am or what I am? I can sum it all in one word, brief and crisp! And before I do, I would ask you to shove all them pointers in (well, you know what), because more than anything, I am outraged!
I am outraged: to be misinterpreted to be tagged to be shamed for who I am to be someone you’re biased about because of how society is conditioned to be the one you hold everything against to be judged to be validated to be someone whom you try to shatter in ways which are unfathomable/simply cruel and most importantly I am outraged to be the one you keep trying to snatch the reigns from!
But you know what else I am? Strong! Because I certainly am not handing over my power so soon, hon.
And if you are having a tough time absorbing that~ May you be blessed; because if I’ve been Teresa and Betty and Susan and Sati and Gauri, I have also been Elizabeth and Cleopatra and Nefertiti and Manikarnika and Durga and well, you got the point, didn’t you?
~ From the one who wouldn’t mind fuelling her warrior spirit with the woods of your bones set aflame
A version of this was first published here.
Image source: a still from the movie 2 States
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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.
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