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The summer of my discontent: the far-reaching impact of being bullied
When you’re bullied as a child, the scars can last a lifetime. Social anxiety, low self-esteem, and lack of self-love are just some of the impacts of having being bullied. In extreme cases, it can also lead to PTSD. But with timely intervention and a supportive environment, healing, growth, and success are possible.
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The cages you live in: Understanding social conditioning
Human beings are social animals. A large part of how we show up in the world is influenced by our social and cultural conditioning. This is both a good and a bad thing – on one hand, it helps us become functioning members of society; on the other, it leads to the development of unconscious…
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Asking for it: we need to talk about consent
The underlying assumption in most cases of sexual abuse is that the woman was asking for it. She’s the one who needs to be on guard and constantly vigilant, while society continues to say that “boys will be boys”, i.e. that they are entitled to sex, whether or not it is consensual. This needs to…
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“Comfort women” and the cost of war on women’s bodies
Women have long been seen as spoils of war, and violence against women is increasingly being used as a weapon. But even during World War II, women were forced into prostitution by Japanese invaders who still refuse to officially apologize for their crimes.
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Tawaifnama: A brief history of Tawaif culture in India
From elite performing artists to a marginalized community living on the fringes of society, the tawaif community has undergone numerous upheavals through the years. Saba Dewan’s Tawaifnama traces the impact of colonialism and the nationalist discourse on the marginalization and erasure of India’s Tawaif culture.
Shinjini Mehrotra 