Cultural Commentary

Inverting Myths, Subverting Authority: Women and Resistance

Zobia Salam The flaming red of the headscarf matched the defiance of her pointed finger, as Ayesha Renna, a student of Jamia Millia Islamia sent out a clear message to the Delhi Police personnel attacking her male friend – no. Ever since, she and female students across universities in the country have become the defining …

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Chitra Banerjee’s ‘The Forest of Enchantments’ Narrates the “Sitayan” – The Untold Epic From Sita’s Perspective

Rashmi Chakravarty Ramayana, the epic Hindu mythological tale holds a revered and prestigious position in not just India, but also in several other countries, like Nepal, Thailand, Indonesia, Laos etc. And while Valmiki” Ramayana, probably the oldest one, continues to be the most famous one, it is by no means the only one. Several other …

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The Pretensions of Kawaii: Schoolgirls and Cute Sexism

Swastika Jajoo This article examines gender performativity of Kawaii entrenched in the Japanese culture. Through her piece she explores various facets of this sexist culture leading to infantilisation and objectification of young school girls and women in Japan. I. INTRODUCTION Didier Andre Guillot writes in an opinion article published in The Japan Times in July …

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“What have you done, what could you do against harassment? I try to be careful in public spaces and to make my limits clear.”

by WISCOMP These words from The Clothesline, a work of Monica Mayer (Mexico, 1954) at the Kochi-Muziris Biennale found resonance at the WISCOMP workshop 14 kilometers away from Fort Kochi at the Seminar Hall of St. Teresa’s College. A participant at the workshop said, “I went for my morning walk today at 5:30 am. I did …

“What have you done, what could you do against harassment? I try to be careful in public spaces and to make my limits clear.” Read More »