Freedom lost at the hand of sexual harassment
Freedom: The dictionary defines it as ‘the state of being free or at liberty rather than in confinement or under physical restraint; exemption from external control, interference, regulation, etc.; the power to determine action without restraint; political or national independence; personal liberty, as opposed to bondage or slavery’. My first memory of being harassed on [...]
Q&A with Writer Hugo Schwyzer
Hugo Schwyzer is a writer, activist and professor who regularly covers issues of gender, sexuality and rights. He’s taught history and gender studies at Pasadena City College in California since 1993, where he developed the college’s first courses on Men and Masculinity and Beauty and Body Image. He serves as co-director of the Perfectly Unperfected Project, a campaign to transform [...]
Is Ignorance Really Bliss? A Female Perspective on Sexual Education in India
My decision to conduct a research study on HIV and female sex workers (FSWs) for my dissertation in Delhi two years ago provided me with some unforgettable experiences. These experiences taught me so much about ignorance, not just others but also my own. Having completed my MA degree in social work, I got the [...]
The Ticker 12.19.11
Here’s a weekly digest of important news stories from around the world: How Are Vaginas Doing Fifteen Years After “The Vagina Monologues?” 12.14.11, Huffington Post Globalization: Has it Helped or Hurt Women? 12.16.11, Huffington Post To say emotional abuse is as bad as violence insults every battered wife 12.15.11, Daily Mail
Playing Twenty Questions With a Mumbai Sex Worker
Random guy: “Have you experienced an Indian gigolo or stripper?” That’s not what I expected to hear a stranger ask me as I was sitting with a friend, eating at a family restaurant. This strange incident prompted me to do some research which led me to this statistic from the Times of India: “Every month, [...]
Making Delhi Sweet Again
I’ve lived in Delhi my whole life. And it’s here that I have always heard myself say, “home sweet home.” Now, 24 years later, I only say “home.” So the word sweet is gone. Why? What has changed? It’s not that I don’t want to call my home sweet anymore but the scars and unpleasant [...]
Let’s Write a Better Beginning For Our Children
The earliest memory I have of my childhood is probably from when I was about two. I was standing on a stool and trying to reach for an egg on a shelf and in the process I broke it in two. Some people claim having a memory as early as nine months old. This was [...]
And the doodle award goes to…
This month, Youth Ki Awaaz and Bell Bajao held a doodle making contest based on the theme “gender abuse and domestic violence” and we received dozens of inspiring and beautiful entries. A BIG thank you to everyone who submitted for sharing their artistic talents with us! Without further delay, here is the winner of a Lecoanet [...]
Global News Roundup 12.12.11
Here’s a weekly digest of important news stories from around the world: ‘Mother Robin’ Wins CNN Hero of the Year 12.12.11, CNN Missrepresentation: Are You a Part of it? 12.6.11, Huffington Post 179 journalists jailed worldwide 12.1.11, Committee to Protect Journalists Social Media Voices for Freedom and Justice 12.8.11, UN Women Where Are India’s Working [...]
Empowerment Starts With You
Empowerment is a relative term that can inspire different meanings depending on the individual. But at the core of the word is courage. For it takes courage to let that spark ignite within yourself. My personal journey of empowerment from the time I joined Breakthrough follows this sentiment. I’ve grown accustomed to Delhi life, being [...]
Video Volunteers: Women, The Second Sex In Media
Here’s a fantastic clip from the Video Volunteers team: Description of the video: Female journalists in Bihar bemoan the fact that Media remains a male-dominated space. Varsha, our Community Correspondent in Bihar, has herself been exposed to gender violence. This made her particularly sensitive to gender discrimination, and inspired her to fight for women’s rights. [...]
Afghan Women’s Writing Project: Stop Violence Against Women
By Seeta Dear Readers, From November 25 through December 10, AWWP is joining with the global 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence Campaign. Living in Afghanistan, I have witnessed many kinds of violence during my lifetime. Afghan men always say that they respect women more than men in Western countries. This may be true, but [...]
