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yself have never been able to find out precisely what nism is: I only know that people call me a feminist never I express sentiments that differentiate me from ormat.� - Rebeca West
A lot has changed in the past 100 years, the world has become less of a man’s world as we knew it to be. Enjoying this new world’s equality and freedom, we often forget about the 100 years before us that ought us these rights which were unimaginable even as a privilege. us talk about the women of the past 100 years, the women of the ury who have relived booth, men and women of the watertight ments we were forced into.
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Recomendations
Editorial
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sted in others. And I think, intelligent. sk is to get to know people and to have them interested in knowing me.
bt whether I would marry again and live that close to another individual, but I remain ble.
pretend for a minute as you look at me, that I am not as alive as you are, do not suffer from the category to which you are forcing me.
k, ed down, I look more attractive than my ex-husband am sexually and socially obsolete and he is not.
e a capacity now for taking people as they are, I lacked at 20. h orgasm in half the time and I know how to please, do not even dare show a man that I find him attractive.
, ay react as if I have insulted him.
upposed to fulfil my small functions and vanish. --Zoe Moss (1970)
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of 1950, where in India, ng for dawn. ain opens, SHE is standing at the doorstep of a house…a middle class house whose door s to an open space) Oh, and I thought someone knocked at the door. s time? Who could it be? All the Hes must be trying to catch up on their last spell of sleep ng her as his. And all Shes? Thinking of those arms wrapped around them as a safety cocoon g to breath calmly one last time before they gasp for life for the rest of the day. (sigh)
embraces and cocoons haven’t changed for centuries now. Will they ever change? sters from the last century are now able to free themselves from the embraces of death that knocking at their doors at the moment of their husband’s farewell. can now come out of the cocoons of those dark rooms which they embraced with spotless attires and bald heads. They have now been able to accept the warmth of words from books. have come out of fetters of fear of being tied to an old widower in the middle of the night. only yesterday that some of them could see the sunlight for the first time in basking glory of old Mahatma. could, for the first-time express loudly…loud enough to be heard far away by that viceroy. was then that they saw the azad maidan in Mumbai for the first time! ’t it an ‘azaad’ maidan literally? was someone like Phule who was also holding a sister’s hand from the most discarded dark rs of the society. She, for the first time was holding a graduate degree donning a robe, coming out of the ons of her nine yards. And alas! lakhs thought they all were free from cocoons of misery and y.
rom? Free to? Free of? rom the cocoons of his awkward gaze? His unwanted embraces? His constructed shackles of
ons of a transparent ceiling? of that palm placing her in the open market? From shackles of hands of a clock ticking 7, 8, no! (oh yes Cinderella was in a better position though). s of fear of someone near and dear? rom being embraced by him along with a truck load of glitter at marriage? o choose her own existence and arrival in the world? to live, free of shackles? edly looking at the open space from the door) Oh, it’s dawn…. oh, it really is? -Dr. Khevana Desai
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Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher, was the longest-serving British prime ministhe 20th century, and the first woman to have held the office. She was dubbed as The Iron a nickname that became popularly associated with her unshakeable politics and leadership
As the Prime Minister, Thatcher battled the country’s recession by initially raising interest to control inflation. She was best known for her destruction of Britain’s traditional indushrough her attacks on labour organizations such as the Miner’s union, and for the massive ization of social housing and public transport. When she came to power in 1979 she wantmake drastic improvements in the government and the way it worked.
She believed that private companies would run the services better and thus, she made f the biggest changes by hiring them and not officials, to run government-owned compake British Gas and BT (British Telecom).
Thousands of ordinary people were able to buy their council houses, giving them more in the society. Under her rule, the city of London became one of the world’s most sucul centers for banking and business. Although Thatcher was very firm in her decisions and she bordered on the verge of being dictatorial and rigid. She was strongly criticized for ecision of abolishing the universal free school milk scheme. Due to this, she was dubbed as cher, milk snatcher”.
Those who remember what Britain was like before Thatcher took control in 1979, rememdrastically different world than that of today. Most people my age don’t have any opinion t her because they either know nothing about her, or only know that she was a milk stealer helped win the Falklands war. Even though I don’t agree with some of the things she did, uts to take charge and employ a vision that developed her country is something to apfor.
After Thatcher, there were many politicians who adopted her methods and techniques came to be known as ‘Thatcherism’. Having such an influence on one of the biggest nais what makes her worthy of the title ‘The Iron Lady’. -Rifat Sayed
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The nine o’clock shift begins for these women at seven as soon as they board the loains of Mumbai. These are the women of Mumbai local trains: running late, scampering the footboards, pushing, elbowing, digging into soft flesh, creating spaces with their bags d in the front, hanging on the bars with one hand, wind in their hair if they are doting the of the doors or sweat trickling down between the skin and the kameez if they are squeezed g others. These are the women who everyday blend their private and public spaces fluidly, oning on the edge of exhaustion. Their lives are lived out in the four-hour journeys they every day to maintain their financial securities and at times their personal dignities and ties.
These train journeys create a life time of relationships for these women who are regulars ese locals. They celebrate their festivals, carry elaborate tiffins with sumptuous meals for friends on the train, sort and chop their vegetables while chatting with their friends, knit curtains and sweaters without batting an eyelid while engaging in a tête-à-tête about daughter’s marriage plans with other women. The train provides them a space to carry out ersations beyond age, religion, class and caste. The bonds that are formed by women in bogies are strong and territorial, to the point that strangers are treated as intruders in the c space of a public transport.
Many share the tales of woes and age-old battles of women against the suppressions of atriarchal society. Some of them are highly educated and some barely. They all reveal to extent the conditioning of their minds and acceptance of their gender roles and position. times, a woman with a spark among them ignites a possibility of change within them. She d generally be treated as the bold one and the other women would look forward to her on on most of the matters of their lives. Though they would not be able to act upon her adthey vicariously live their fantasies of freedom from the situation through her vocalization otest and her strong revolutionary ideas about their lives and how it should be led. Women varied backgrounds become a long chain of throbbing life in a ladies’ special which houses reds of women rushing to reach destinations.
The ladies’ special locals that run every hour during the rush hours of morning and eveare flights of dupattas and colourful pallus as it comes on a platform. The aggressive rush ours as women jostle among themselves to climb and make it into the compartments each tipping points where the day’s frustration can easily escalate into all out fights. These always carry hints of deep seated darker anger and pent up repression bubbling to ge. The targeted woman bears the brunt of rage reserved for somebody else but pelted on hese moments observed in the locals narrates the profound oppression that these women rgo and the battles they wage every day to survive in the private and public spaces. Their ing determination is what goads them on to board the locals like clock-work and their atigable spirit is what makes them celebrate these four hours of journey every day of their uctive life. -Dr. Vidya Premkumar
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Several prejudices have clung on despite pioneering women breaking down essentialism ender stereotypes. Public spaces and ‘unconventional’ professions have gradually opened ‘the second sex’. Defining woman’s body and what it should look like are primary among ktats set out by the society. Additionally, going by the fact that women were considered weaker sex’ their physical prowess, capabilities and endurance have always been assessed deep skepticism.
Talking of physicality, girls are known to have been raised by families to be delicate, slight, nd fair. ‘Good’ women therefore had more rounded and soft bodies. They had to be prod from physical harm and injuries. Muscular, toned, tanned or bony bodies among womas automatically associated with those of dancers, performers, entertainers—basically not groomed, decent’ women that ‘good families’ wanted to be associated with. So, the apnce of one’s body automatically decided one’s character. Sports were not a woman’s thing it demanded complete dedication, discipline and extremely high levels of fitness with a potent anticipation of injury at some stage in one’s career. Many real barriers were broken e gender-markers switched incrementally from sportsmen to sportspersons.
While we could look at any sportswoman of the 20th century and point out how signifishe has been to our discourse, I choose to focus on Serena Williams.
Serena and Venus entered their sport in the latter part of the 20th century. One believed hese young women would have faced fewer challenges given that Althea Gibson had alset the tone for women (particularly of colour) in tennis in the 1950s. One only graduealized that spectators, media and professionals alike, tended to forego on-field skill and rmance for their appearance. In addition to the inherent misogyny, Serena (and Venus of e) was additionally judged on the basis of feminine criteria of beauty, appeal, skin and hair r and sexuality. So, while a contemporary Martina Hingis and Maria Sharapova became a darlings, Serena Williams broke the status quo. She has been outspoken, bold, dominatearless and more importantly consistently unashamed of these qualities and refuses to fit
Body shaming is something that Serena has lived with for the decade or more that she een around. People have attributed her success to her “manly physique”, have likened her orilla and have speculated whether she is on PED. Her biceps, quadriceps and movement urt have defied all conventional norms set out for a woman. It brought to light the fact that en even choose to avoid weight training for it builds their bodies and defeminizes their
So, while the media talks about her“savage” 125mph serve, we quietly ignore the fact that still not the fastest. And when Shamil Tarpischev, President, Russian Tennis Association red to them as “the Williams brothers” as late as in 2014, we know the turn of the century has urned the mind-sets of the people towards women in sports. -Dr. Anuya Warty
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1917
hey said that we will crowd the streets with our flags and banners. If a Man went to the space, he would see how red Rashia had become. “If Man Went to Outer Space” we are no and we have no outer space. All we have is Russia. long have we suffered under the rule of men we don’t even get to choose. So, like what the h once did, it was time for us to fight. And if men won’t stand up to Nicholas, we will. Fight ll, and fight we must! We rose for freedom from whatever was left of our womanhood like erstick Phoenix rising from its own ashes.
March 1917
My son was on the front lines with the army that day. He would have stopped me if he what I was going to do. The military would have stopped us from achieving our goals as omen from the textile industries marched the streets of Petrograd. As we walked with our ags waving in the sky, the Bolshevik men joint our march, chanting ‘Peace, Bread, Land’ and ower to the Soviets’. We were angry but not violent. Unlike the French or the American inndence, no life would be lost in the name of our revolution. No freedom will be taken away us.
e monarch interferes, this peaceful march will become a riot. And as our revolution suc, Nicholas will eventually be replaced by some other man. But the fact that the formation e first ever socialist nation will have the legacy of women bringing about justice with peace quality will remain.
in Russia, I will continue breaking the power of patriarchy that has chained us to the centuf oppression and inequality. The only way is by being able to choose who gets to rule my n. Both men and women must be allowed to choose who rules them. Let’s fight for this!
a Kuznetsov
piece of work is fictional. Though the story or the characters are not real most of the hisacts are precise and accurate. -Snighda Rana
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Women of the 20th century have contributed so much to the society that the 21st cenhas been reaping marvelous benefits out of it. Women have comparatively more dignity espect in today’s society for the simple reason that they are capable enough to run the singlehandedly. The world has started to open up and understand women, where men and en are almost treated on equal grounds in every aspect. But this reformation didn’t evolve night. The seeds of change had been sown centuries ago which showed a drastic change in 1st century.
A well-known figure in today’s world is, Mary Temple Grandin who was diagnosed as an ic person. The traits of autism differ in every individual. As a child, she was shunned away r school and her friends. Her own family doctor had advised her mother to put Temple in ental asylum. But her mother did not lose hope. They were fortunate to have a supportive who took Temple in her care. Temple had to undergo a long and a tormenting period as chool mates ridiculed and taunted her. She was expelled for throwing a book at a school who happened to be making fun of her. In spite of all these hindrances she chose not to up. At the age of 18 she invented a Hug Machine, a device used to relieve stress. An autistic n trying to invent a remedy for self-aid, one can’t even imagine the intellect she possessed. y, Temple is involved in the field of Animal Science and Human (Autism) Rights. She is a ssor of animal science at Colorado State University and also a consultant to the Livestock try.
‘The Way I See It’ published in the year 2008 happens to be one of my favorites. There has
been a movie dedicated on her life. She has been one of my role models because I’ve acledged, understood and learned a lot from her experience and hence, developed myself. rst thing I learned is, never give up no matter what the circumstance is. There is always a o succeed, it all depends on your perspective. Give the best you have, and you’re sure to ed. The second lesson is to be focused. Our focus should be on the target we desire to ve. The surroundings are immaterial. The third lesson is self-confidence. One needs to trust elieve that they can do their work and surely succeed. Temple was ridiculed by her school s. But she didn’t let those thoughts cloud her judgement about the way she chose to be. was confident about herself and that made her happy. Reading her amazing books will give n insight in her every detailed work. Her personal experience towards all these incidents motive and inspire you to plan and achieve your goals. She’s not only an inspirational person uly an amazing soul in today’s world.
-Nikita Nunes
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“Land of joy, freedom and love. Arms open to all people.” You’ve probably heard something like this about my country Brazil which is often sold as a paradise or as a mess. However, this isn’t true. Brazil’s history is marked by contradicThe open-armed people are also racist, sexist, and intolerant towards minorities, including They are hesitant, just like others in front of change.
Looking at this, there is no surprise when it comes to Women’s rights. Throughout the century, Brazilian women have fought and conquered what we call today as Civil Equality. ugh things like women not being allowed to vote, have a bank account, and work are nowunimaginable, this freedom is actually a recent victory, a fruit of Brazilian women’s strugBrazil could have been the first to guarantee women’s vote, but the legal project made in was rejected and only in 1932 the women were able to go to the polls. In 1962 “The Statf the Married Woman” was created, which guaranteed among other things that the womlonger needed authorization from her husband to work or receive inheritance. In case of ation, she could request the custody of the children. In 1996, political representation was ed, through quotas.
Brazil was a Portuguese exploration colony since the 16th century. Thousands of African e were brought against their will and forced to work, especially to produce sugar. Slavas legal up to 1888, until the country became a republic in the following year. During this e of time, a stain of prejudice and social inequality was left on the masses. No support was to the people that suddenly found themselves free, so they continued to live marginalized. Brazilian women achieved in the 20th century was therefore, what White and/or Wealthy en achieved. Only they could enjoy the privilege of having good education and build a r. Poor women, essentially Black women, always had to work outside and commonly in the houses where emancipated women lived.
The women, at least a part of them, after the 80-90’s, experienced a kind of freedom that , which come before them, could only dream about. On the other hand, they had the right heir bodies constrained; the freedom to come and go demanded a lot of courage. Even reproductive rights are a neglected subject. These subtle things, claim for a deep change of in the whole society, which most Brazilians are not open to do yet. -Júlia Nunes & Murilo Oliveira
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There are so many things that my mother doesn’t understand about me- Why do I admy female friends as “bro”? Why do I enjoy looking like a dog on Snapchat? Why do I r momos over her modaks? But the one thing she has the hardest time understanding isdo I feel the need to wear shorts?
My mother once fought with my grandmother because she wouldn’t let my mother into tchen while she had her period. She thought it was unfair. The same woman now doesn’t rstand how me showing my skin is going to ensure gender equality in anyway. there are people who don’t understand the meaning of feminism, there are people who understand the need for it and then, there are people who practice Selective Feminism. he other day, my friend described her maid as heroic and empowering after she kicked runk and physically abusive husband out of their house. Ironically, the same woman disses from her neighbourhood who comes home ‘late’ and who apparently has a lot of ‘male ds’.
On one hand, this woman is condemning social subordination and breaking unfair norms n the other hand is depriving another woman from doing so. women pick and choose when they want equality in and disregard relatively smaller issues t to choose what a person wants to wear or what time they want to come home, whether ve a plethora of male friends or not-deeming them insignificant to run the race for equality. n, what they do is nothing but reinforcing gender inequality.
“Lose the small battle in order to win the war” they say.
With Feminism, we need to win all the small battles and only then we can win the war. True ism is equality for all and equality in everything, indiscriminately. - Shreddha Patil
Ink Recomends This week we look into some of the most inspiring and truly valuable quotes from some of the most influential women in the 20th Century.
I paint my own reality. The only thing I know is that I paint because I need to, and I paint whatever passes through my head without any other consideration. - Frida Kahlo
More people, especially young people, are realising that if they want change, they’ve got to go about it themselves - they can’t depend on a particular person, i.e. me, to do all the work. They are less easy to fool than they used to be, they now know what’s going on all over the world. - Aung San Suu Kyi
Our mistreatment was just not right, and I was tired of it. Racism is still with us. But it is up to us to prepare our children for what they have to meet, and, hopefully, we shall overcome. -Rosa Louise McCauley Parks
As a woman leader, I thought I brought a different kind of leadership. I was interested in women’s issues, in bringing down the population growth rate... as a woman, I entered politics with an additional dimension - that of a mother. -Benazir Bhutto
Flags are bits of colored colath thet the goverment uses first to shrink-wrap peoples brains and then as cerimonial shrouds to bury the deads. -Arundhati Roy
Editorial
One day in Feminaland, the sun shone bright where the pink sky burst into a million pieces and formed a blue horizon. The feminists of Feminaland knew that one day this would happen but no matter how prepared you are, when terror strikes nothing can stop the panic. You see! the Feminists believed that they lived in the big blue Eye of a Giant. The wise priests of the Femistearit, had foretold that one day, the big Giant would wake up and change the fate of the feminists forever. No one knew what would be the result of this undesirable awakening, it could be good or it could dangerous. Change is always frightening, so rather than waiting for it to happen, they prayed to the great mother goddess of Femistearit to protect them from this evil day and and keep the Giant asleep at any cost. Even with the protection and love which was provided by the great mother of the feminists, the inevitable couldn’t be stopped. No one knows what happened to the great prosperous Feminaland, but the rumours are that some particular species of the feminists turned savage. They started enslaving the other species and called themselves Patriarchs of the new kingdom Patriarchland. They en slaved the remaining species other than the Patriarch until they disappeared from the Eye. It is said that the great mother goddess forgot how to love and in anger, annihilated the Eye. This is of course a legend. What I believe is that no species could have lived without the other which is why they all went extinct, but I also believe that the feminists went into hiding and still live with us in our Eye. One day they will bring love back to to their Eye and restore Feminaland to its former glory. -Tanisha Metha & Suraj Subramanian
Editor: Tanisha metha Suraj Subramanian Designer: Suraj Subranian Cover page: Tanvi Jani