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Is the death penalty truly going to stop these crimes? Or should we be looking at more long-term solutions? A thoughtful look at this.
What is the NCR-CAA combination all about? How will it affect various marginalised communities? Here's how.
Crowds baying for the blood of rapists and murderers should remain in movies like Simmba - we need to consider legalities if we have to remain a civil society.
The recent words of an ex-army man supporting the rape of Kashmiri women as revenge for the atrocities that had been perpetrated on Kashmiri Pandits is a malignant example of rape culture in Indian society.
If you’ve ever wondered why more survivors of sexual violence don’t report the crime, this article should put any last dregs of those doubts to rest. Or I hope it does, at least.
We keep resorting to essentialism in Bollywood - stereotypes of how a woman should be and how she should behave, to portray them in our popular media, even that which claims to be 'feminist'.
In April 2018, an 18 year old girl accused MLA Kuldeep Sengar of rape. Since then, her family has suffered a horrific series of mishaps, that have been alleged to be a conspiracy to destroy them.
#MeToo panel set up to re-examine laws of workplace sexual harassment has been quietly dismantled by the new government, and this came to light only after The Quint filed an application under RTI.
Kidnapped is a difficult read. Arita Sarkar makes no bones about her presentation either, and that’s virtually non-negotiable because of the topic she addresses.
Uttar Pradesh MLA and Minister Upendra Tiwari demonstrated with his crass comments that he does not care about women - or that rape is a crime based on power, more than anything else.
Most of the cases where Government authorites are involved, it isn’t just about the crime as an isolated act, but the power that backs it, too! A look at the Vachathi case.
Many Bangalore colleges have said they have a problem of "too many girls", so they're going to "fix it" by having higher cutoffs for girls, between 2-5% higher than boys. This is illegal!
Game Of Thrones is turning out to be a misogynistic series much like its popular counterpart, Avengers: End Game. Why can’t we be true to our women characters for once?
In a clear travesty of justice, CJI Ranjan Gogoi has been given a clean chit by a 3-judge panel, which he set up himself, to investigate a sexual harassment case against him, and the details will not be made public. What faith should people have in 'due process'?
Women have always been told they are second class citizens, their birth unwanted, always 'belonging' to someone else as if they are objects, not full human beings.
Madras High Court recently ruled on amending POSCO to consider consensual sexual relations between a girl 16 yrs and above and a boy not more than 5 years older. But is it enough?
CJI Ranjan Gogoi has been accused of sexual harassment by a junior court officer, and made himself part of the "investigation" of the case, defeating its very purpose. How can we trust such a judiciary?
The Chennai Super Kings did not find it problematic that Scott Kuggeleijn has been accused of rape, and faced a trial that revealed many disturbing things. Can men say any more clearly, women, you don't matter?
A horrific incident in a school in Ranipokhari, Dehradun involving the brutal torture and murder of a child is painfully telling of the apathy, disrespect, and callousness that we as a society have become capable of.
A recent talent show on television mined the #MeToo movement for the sake of a 'prank', making light of the very real experiences of harassment that women and girls everywhere go through.
Are we so bereft of humanity that we can only sympathise with a survivor of a heinous crime like rape if we see it happen? Or are there uglier reasons for our watching and sharing the video of the Pollachi gang rape that's doing the rounds?
As a demisexual, I can't ever feel sexual attraction for anyone - unless I am really close emotionally. But does Indian society care about that? No. I'm called the 'finicky, choosy' woman.
Radhika Tabrez's The Emancipation of Farzana Siddiqui is the story of a 30-something woman and the Indian marriage system. What happens?
War movies like Uri glorify the dehumanisation of soldiers and their targets, no matter how patriotic we feel about them. Is this what we want to teach our kids?
Indian popular media like movies cannot abdicate responsibility of creating more sensitive and mindful cinema if we are to decrease crime against women. What tests can we apply?
A new Gillette ad encourages men to eschew the violence and aggression considered stereotypically 'masculine', and guess what, so many men got very, very angry...
Perhaps you want to ask me why I have any expectations of a commercial Hindi film by Rohit Shetty. Perhaps you think I'm nitpicking about a mindless watch. Perhaps, I'm taking this 'feminism shmeminism' too far.
A man on the cleaning staff at SRM university masturbated in front of a student in a lift as she was going up to her room in the hostel. The authorities have since done everything but support the student.
A teenage girl gang-raped by seniors in a Dehradun boarding school has been denied admission in many other private schools. How responsible are school and school staff for her plight?
"I found my power because I was a girl," says Kirthi Jayakumar, despite being told as a girl what she couldn't do. Because she questioned all those stereotypes.
Whether low, moderate or highly dangerous sex offenders, the National Sex Offenders Registry in India is meant to help law enforcers keep track of them all.
Widows have long been discriminated against. After being deprived of social and economic standing, inheritance laws for widows have aimed to set things right, through economic emancipation.
Filing a rape case can in itself be harrowing, but what happens after that? What are the roadblocks and also enabling factors? Here's a quick look.
While awareness on child sexual abuse is rising, most work still happens only with privileged communities, within cities. How can we change that?
Dera Sacha Sauda by Anurag Tripathi is an expose of how organised patriarchy and crime cartels work hand in hand for exploitation of the gullible.
Heartbreaking as the brutal rape of a child in Kathua is, it is part of the larger pattern where women are sacrificed in a 'strategic' use of violence.
Children's capacity for unbridled courage and empathy make them great role models for us. A personal account of how kids are a hope for our nation.
This recent Gujarat HC order on marital rape is welcome, although it remains to be seen whether Parliament will follow suit and take action.
Are we uncomfortable if the 'maid servants' are well dressed, aware of their right, etc.? Are we likely to be more suspicious of them?
Raya Sarkar's list of men in academia accused of harassment has created ripples. When 'due process' hardly works, can we blame women for going public?
Women going on Haj may soon be able to dispense with the requirement for a male relative to come along. Good news or more to be done?
Will The Recent SC Decision On Section 498A Dilution Help Women Access Justice?
There is such a thing as voluntary sex workers in India - it is not always about trafficking, and what they want for themselves will surprise you!
Yesterday, the Supreme Court of India ruled that Right to Privacy is a fundamental right. Let's examine the ramifications for Section 377.
Driven by a need for a simple way for women facing gender based violence to find help easily, Kirthi Jayakumar created the Saahas App.
Marital rape is still not a crime in India; we continue to justify it in the name of culture. Sign this petition against marital rape now. It's time to stop.
Shadow in the Mirror by Deepti Menon is a fast paced whodunit with fiercely feminist women characters that is a must read for any lover of this genre.
The stringent anti-dowry law was arrived at after arduous effort by women. This new judgement may make justice harder for victims of dowry harassment.
Child sexual abuse happens. It's time we deal with child sexual abuse rather than hide it under the carpet.
Why do we find ourselves and the media justifying men, particularly famous men, for their misdeeds, no matter how grotesque they are?
This article has been taken down in view of a request by the interviewees. Liked this post? Join the 100000 women at Women’s Web who get our weekly mailer and never miss out on our events, contests & best reads – you can also start sharing your own ideas and experiences with thousands of other […]
The girl names we prefer in India are very telling of how we perceive women. An interesting discussion that is an eye-opener.
The Supreme Court today upheld the death penalty for Nirbhaya's rapists, and has furthered the cause of feminism, in one baby step.
In the recent child sexual abuse case where Pascal Mazurier was acquitted on charges of raping his own daughter, the prosecution believes they need to appeal.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s comments on women may be in the garb of 'Indian culture', but there is nothing particularly Indian or even Hindu about them.
Kriti Sanon's new video on International Women's Day went viral. But guess what? We're not done talking. We need to talk - and act!
The proposed amendments to the Maternity Benefit Bill has been cleared by the Parliament. Now all it needs is strict ground-level implementation.
Rape threats against women, whether in the ‘real world’ or on social media, are society’s way of shutting women down when they ‘cross the line’.
Why do folks find it so hard to accept that patriarchy (and its emphasis on power) is often behind attacks on women? That it's not just 'some bad guys'?
Popular cinema has been grossly irresponsible about the portrayal of mental illness in movies, but there is a growing trend towards more sensitivity.
Female politicians, unlike men in power, don't usually have a spouse to handle everything for them. Instead, female friends are critical to their lives.
While questions over her probity (and of those close to her) lingered over her political career, one cannot help but applaud the late CM, J.Jayalalithaa for her pro-women policies in a sea of misogyny.
Farhan Akhtar's poem addressed to survivor of rape has caught the fancy of many, but here is one person who isn't really impressed. Find out why.
In it's recent judgement, Bombay high court stated that pregnant women inmates in India have equal abortion rights like any other woman. Here's more.
There was a huge buzz on social media about Hillary Clinton not smiling enough. However Indian women leaders are accepted more easily for their public image. Read on.
Gagan Thakur has celebrated women leaders of India, through powerful images of women leaders in the interiors of his designer autorickshaws. Here are the details.
The Supreme Court has ruled that the government must ban Sterilization camps in India. This prioritizes women's healthcare and puts it on the national agenda.
The movie 'Pink' talks about the true meaning of consent along with myriad challenges that loom large for women in India.
British couple whose visa expires shortly, might have to leave their new born surrogate child in the orphanage. Would regulating, rather than banning commercial surrogacy, be a better step?
When Soha Ali Khan visited the Golden Temple, her personal religious beliefs were questioned. Every individual has the right to religion, to choose how and where they worship.
The increasing rate of suicide, among Indian women is alarming. Read to know about the factors that contribute to this dangerous trend.
Women are targets of sexist jokes even in sports-films like Freaky Ali. What's more baffling is that the audience seems to enjoy the sexism portrayed in these movies.
Rekha's biography has some shocking revelations. There is a sense of 'righteousness' in passing value judgment on the life of a woman be it Rekha or any other woman.
The rape of a eleven month infant, shows that women in our country are still perceived as tools to be abused and an infant(girl) is no different.
Sexualized violence and objectification of women in Tamil movies, is sending out negative patriarchal ideas to the youth, especially young boys and girls. Here's why.
Did you know that there is a link between female foeticide, infanticide and human trafficking? Learn more about it here.
The recent Tarun Sagar's speech created quite a stir. Leaders need to be responsible, while delivering speeches, as their ideas have a huge impact on the society
The Bombay High Court's ruling on the entry of women into Haji Ali Dargah has reinforced the status of equality of women in religion.
Discrimination against the girl child is very much alive – and continues to subsist in the form of female infanticide and foeticide in India.
A recent article in a leading newspaper revealed that older women in India face more discrimination. They do not even raise their voice against it. Here's why.
The new Maternity Benefit Act amendments offer a ray of hope. Yet, has enough been done to help women get back to work?
Athlete Shanthi Soundarajan had been banned from running as she failed the gender test. Are we free, if we fail to conform to the norms of 'gender'?
Here's how the Madras high court's ruling on cases where a couple decides to divorce can be in favour of women. Read to know more!
In the Pallavi Purkayastha's case the judge blamed the victim for tempting the accused. A woman shouldn't be held responsible for a man's sexual behaviour.
Actor Tisca Chopra recently opened up regarding her casting couch experience. There is a constant notion that a woman's body is public property.
Stereotypes about Muslim women still rule! The views Donald Trump holds on Muslim women were clear when he pointed fingers at a grieving Muslim American mother's silence.
The recent news of a minor girl allegedly molested by a female warden in Mumbai came to light. Can women be sexual predators too?
Sextortion is a rapidly growing new cyber crime where the perpetrator uses nude photographs of victims to gain even more sexually explicit content from them. Read on. If you thought extortion had nothing to do with your privacy, then you’re in for a rude shock. Sextortion is a new form of cyber/online harassment that appears […]
Charges of 'foeticide' in the Purvi Patel case have been dropped by the Indiana court. Read on to know why this case is important.
Maneka Gandhi once commented that marital rape laws cannot be applied in India. Why are we so clueless about Consent?
How we use language says a lot about our mindset. Our choice of words can reveal a conditioned bias even while speaking of gender equality.
We need to get to the roots of patriarchy and weed it out if we are to get anywhere close to attaining gender equality.
While changing patriarchal mindsets is important, better and easily accessible facilities for women in rural India can increase their safety.
When relics of our cultural heritage like temple carvings show the prevalence of the various sexual orientations, then why are we criminalizing them?
Letting the juvenile accused in the 'Nirbhaya' case walk free does not serve the cause of peace or justice, believes the writer of this post.
A woman talks about the crisis she went through, when she started menstruating during these heavy rains. She makes a point,why it is so important to talk about it.
That viral Fanpage video of boys being asked to slap a girl? It falls short in three ways.
The author introspects on how the media covered the murder of Aaarushi Talwar and how the country assassinated her character.
What is Indian culture anyway? Ours is a country whose people worship female goddesses but who still don't tolerate women going out late at night.
The Indian Penal Code talks about protecting the modesty of a woman, but conveniently forget the woman herself. A woman is still treated as a property.
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