This is the second in the two-part edition celebrating #WD2021, and I want to talk about women who through their experiences, life lessons and changing perspectives in a so-called man’s world, are all for this paradox.
In a life, where someone’s existence is defined only by her roles and responsibilities, I am certain she wished there was a moment when life took a pause, time stood still, rationality abated and snapping out of a routine her consciousness dissolved & reality consummated into unbounded happiness. Wouldn’t that be her moment, her day, her celebration?!
So, I say, if we must celebrate a day for you, then let us celebrate freedom from stereotypes, from expectations, from idolisation, from sacrifices.
Let’s stop congratulating you for being the secret behind a successful man. Instead, let’s start saluting you for being successful!
Let’s stop saying the mother is sacred for all the sacrifices she makes. Instead, let’s try to reduce those sacrifices!
Let’s stop telling you how beautiful you are. Instead, let’s say that it's not important to be beautiful!
Let’s stop praising your roles as mother, wife, daughter, or sister. Instead, let’s celebrate you as an individual, a person, independent of relationships!
Let’s stop justifying your necessity to multi task. Instead, let’s give you a chance not to!
Let’s stop these constructs which are aimed at making you strive for an impossible balance. Instead, let you be inadequate!
Let’s stop making you look at yourself through a convenient male viewpoint. Instead, let you be imperfect, whimsical, irresponsible, boorish, lazy, fierce, opinionated, loud, flabby, ungroomed, adventurous, unpredictable, unprepared, impractical….and a very very happy you!
In the sections that follow we're commemorating social, economic and cultural achievements of women, and the tremendous efforts by them accelerating gender parity.
Here's celebrating you for being just YOU!
Ashish
A deep dive into a story that's arcane, thoughtful, and sometimes humorous!
In today’s world, we pay heed to the marvels set in sand, stone or metal, and of course the natural wonders of the world. Simultaneously, we look at new-age architecture and wonder as to its intricacies, admire it for a few moments and move on with our lives.
We seldom talk about the people behind these monumental works who have spent countless hours making sure every rivet and line is shaped to perfection. It is to this cohort of masterminds that Zaha Hadid belonged.
2020 turned out to be a good year for women and gender!
The UN Women’s Division published a post that was a ray of light for women, femininity and also the LGBTQIA movement.
While 2020 was shaping up to be a bad year for women owing to the pandemic, there were also several pieces of good news from various parts of the world.
It's YOUR time, ladies! Don't let anyone say otherwise!
Movies about the women that have changed the world.
From director Theodore Melfi comes a story about a unique segment of NASA history that almost no one knew about!
The space race between the United States and Russia was in full swing, but most of America was still rather old fashioned in that women and people of color were looked down upon to be seen leading normal jobs, let alone a space program.
Enter Katherine Johnson, a mathematician and scientist. Along with two other black female researchers, she proceeds to prove every single stereotype wrong and becomes responsible for the success of one of the earliest human powered spaceflights in history!
Lost And Delirious may seem like a desperate attempt to showcase (and normalize) lesbianism. It is a lot more than that!
Mary (Mischa Barton), known as Mouse, arrives at boarding school after her mother's death and finds herself sharing the room with her senior roommates, who draw the shy new girl into their friendship calling her “Mary B. for Brave” when she shares her story about her lost mother in a round of confessions. We then witness the journey of self discovery, heartbreak and love that a young girl takes!
The film is a story of innocence and experience, it takes a rather bold stand on adolescent (homosexual) passion in all its glory, yet it is severely heartbreaking at the end, which will leave most of us moist in the eyes!
What seems like another chick flick on the outside is actually a much more nuanced tale of women achieving their dreams!
Most of this series revolves around 3 women working for a feminist magazine, Scarlet. From juggling personal lives and their dream career to a much more intrinsic journey of self discovery, The Bold Type lives up to its name as it showcases women who are bold, badass and bravely take on challenges that the world considered unfit for them to do.
Liberally mixed with humorous elements throughout, this series has enjoyed critical success for portraying women's aspirations and fears in a comedic light without being an over-the-top skit where the women are the sole butts of the joke.
Women have had plenty of firsts in human history too!
Throughout history, we’ve heard of the men who have achieved the impossible or discovered the new.
With all due respect, however, we do not know of the women who have accomplished the same feats or even outdone the men.
Men reading this, why don't you try making your own meal for once instead of asking her again?
One of Korea's most celebrated chefs is a woman nun who renounced everything to seek perfection in her food.
In a life filled with complexities and nuances, when you come across a simple story, the cynic us tends to be dismissive. As a culture, we are all in love with pathos, the tragedy, the strife, the struggle is what marks a great life and lore for us.
But in paradisiacal corners of the world, simple stories do exist and they are beautiful! Wonder why we are talking about stories in the food section? Well, are not stories the true Food for Thought? Soul food if you wish.
A new selection of female artists and composers that have come to define music!
Puzzles to get your neurons firing.
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