Guest Bloggers are those who want to share their ideas/experiences, but do not have a profile here. Write to us at [email protected] if you have a special situation (for e.g. want anonymity).
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
Women are not permitted many things in our society. This woman had to fight for her right to perform the last rites for her father. #GoodwynTea contest winning entry.
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.
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?
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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."
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.
Sometimes, our stories are told by others, and we have to reclaim them. What would Soorpanakha have said, if she had told her own story? Winner, June Muse of the Month.
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.
A woman, a man and a room. This short story takes place in limited space-time, but speaks volumes about the brain and heart. Winner of May's Muse of the Month theme
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!