N E W S L E T T E R / / J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 8 / / I S S U E 1

T H E F E M I N I S T C O L L E C T I V E

IN THIS ISSUE

COVER STORY

THE YEAR 2017 FOR EDITORIAL WHOSE FEMINISM IS IT ANYWAY? FEMINISM 101:-A FEMINIST'S VOCABULARY

UNSUNG WOMEN DID YOU KNOW THEM OR THEIR WORK?

CROSSWORD

"WHY SHOULD BOYS HAVE MISSION STATEMENT ALL THE FUN?"

The Feminist Collective is a newsletter established by a group of diverse students who, united in their belief of an equal, free and inclusive world, give expression to their feminist opinion on a range of internal and external news and events. This platform is a space for the sharing of experiences and to amplify the many feminist voices that are so often silenced or sidelined. Through the process of writing, we are putting a frame to our own feminist perspectives and welcome input from others.

Through the process of writing this newsletter and creating this platform, we strive to uphold the diverse strands of feminism wherein lies the overarching quest for equality. We are putting a frame to our own feminist perspective and welcome input in any for from others.

CONTRIBUTIONS ARE WELCOME ON THE FOLLOWING: [email protected]

1 COVER STORY

raised red flags a gainst an authentic portrayal of a on her period. When the depiction of menstrual cycles became taboo, it was an indication of a kind of censorship that respected no individuality of thought or the equality of the two sexes. Too protest this very intimation, Delhi saw the rise of the “Pinjra Tod” movement that was a protest against the severely restrictive curfews imposed on women hostels.The irrationality of the curfew was infuriating. The irrationality of the curfew timings was also a crystal- clear reflection of the gender bias The # urged that has been weakening the threads 2017 : A RUNDOWN victims to step up and declare the of a society built on deceptively OF THE YEAR FOR injustice meted out to them. It virtuosity ideals of equality and proved to be an act of inexplicable fraternity. FEMINISM freedom to many who embraced it. movement doesn’t guarantee The Harvey Weinstein accusations, immediate legal remedial measures, the , the election of Donald When Tarana Burke first initiated but it promises a safe space, one Trump felt like a major defeat in this the #Me Too movement all the way that lets you share, listen and battle of feminism that we are leading back in 2006, little did she understand. And the evolution of anticipate the transformation of the movement proved that perhaps this phrase into a widespread there is no better way to go about movement with a raging pulse of its the process of healing. The year of own. We’ve lived in closed spaces 2017 was also the year of the for far too long, sealed off from the biggest women’s march in the world outside. We live behind history of mankind. locked doors and cleverly constructed lies. We try to conceal the rips in the fabric of this society by blocking them out of view.But #ME TOO the year 2017 shook us out of our CAMPAIGN reverie. Suddenly I was surrounded by victims of sexual assault, abuse After the 45th president of the and harassment.My neighbours, my United States of America was old class mates, the friend of a sworn into office, thousands of friend I once met at a social women marched as a sign of against the regressive system of gathering, my best friends, my protest.It was a refusal of being that has entwined itself cousins and me, we were all victims silenced, it was, in fact, a sign of around our psyches, the choices we of draped in the proud the times we were living in, a sign make, the words we say, occasionally veil of power and violence. The of the times yet to come. The cornering us in a world of deceit and confessions of the victims crowded internet has been brimming with silence. But it’s always the darkest my newsfeed on my social media micro movements of its own.The before the dawn. The movements we accounts. These accounts that were “Free the Nipple” movement aims saw in 2017, of the women and for the once a platform for different people to remove the stigma attached to women, were an impaling of the to come together and acknowledge female bodies when publicly aforementioned system with swords of the vastness and the variety of the exposed to an audience unwilling courage and compassion. These swords world we live in, now became a to accept a rupture in the usual have now created a rupture in the terrifying window into the darkest societal norms. There was an normal, these swords have created a pitfalls of patriarchy, of gender uproar on a popular social media world away from the normal, a world roles seeped in relentless rigidity. platform when that platform aiming at creating a new normal.

2 WHOSE FEMINISM But I also realise that this wish of mine may be next to impossible. WE BELIEVE IS IT ANYWAY? Thus, I write this article to bring to If these truths have shaped us, the light some of the most fundamental idea that men and women are and To me, a student of English principles of feminism that I hold to should be equal in all walks of life is Literature, Simone De Beauvoir’s be true. Perhaps, the true nature of an idea that needs to be inseparable declaration of “ One is not born a feminism isn’t grounded in the from who we are.The most elementary woman, one becomes a woman”, is concepts of identity or ideology. definition of the one of the most important Perhaps, it’s to do with a notion of describes feminism as the political, sentences written in the history of justice and humanity that is much social and economic equality of men English Language till date. I’m aware more innate than this selective and women. The internalisation of this that this is a contentious statement embracing of identities and definition metamorphoses it into a to make, simply because it may not ideologies. I only speak for myself guiding principle. There will be times strike a similar chord with everyone when I say that the principles of when and cultural else reading this article or those equality and justice which form the feminism won’t see eye to eye and the reading Beauvoir’s book. Similarly, premise of the feminist movement essentialist argument won’t let you Kate Millet’s “”, a text find their bearings in various sleep at night. But in these diverse prescribing to the notions of radical philosophies and social and strands upheld by this movement lies feminism received appreciation and political activism. For those who an overarching quest for equality. It is censure in equal parts. The second find it difficult to ascribe to an what you carry with you, the part of wave of feminism saw the rise of identity or ideology, ruled by the you that holds on to the unshakeable many branches of feminism. Each fear of such an adherence becoming belief that men, women whether cis or rooted in different contexts, each too restrictive, I suggest looking at transgender, deserve to be treated propounded upon by writers shaped the feminist movement as a call to equally, in all fairness, across the by those very versatile contexts. your rational selves. The very spectrum regardless of the economic These different branches of understanding of the functioning of class they belong to, irrespective of feminism were accompanied by the human race and collective the colour of their skin, that makes all conflicts and dilemmas of those psyche is rife with assumptions. We the difference. We choose to believe individuals who did not know which assume that we are rational, we in equality because we choose to type of feminism they agreed with assume that we are best equipped believe in being just. the most. My dilemma and conflicts to live as a community and we continue till date only to be assume that we work towards the intensified when exposed to this greater good. These are the truths diversification of the idea of the of the human race that we have We choose to believe in being human. If feminist movement. I want to be the chosen to believe in. not that, then maybe there are worse best kind of feminist, I want to demons yet to be conquered. embrace the most irrefutable kind of feminism to exist in this world of dogmas and identities.

THE COVER STORY

3 Cultural appropriation: When members of a dominant or THE VOKE-ABULARY privileged group exploit the culture Androcentric: Dominated by or of a marginalized group, often emphasizing masculine interests or a without understanding the latter’s masculine point of view. According to history, experience, or traditions. the rules of androcentrism, men and In Australia, there was a period women alike are rewarded, but only during which it was common for insofar as they are masculine (e.g., they Aboriginal art to be copied by non- play sports, drink whiskey, and are Aboriginal artists, often marketed lawyers or surgeons). Meanwhile, men and sold as authentic. This led to a are punished for doing and renewed movement to authenticate women… well, women are required to Aboriginal products. do femininity and simultaneously punished for it. Double standard: A set of principles that applies differently Asexuality: The lack of sexual and usually more rigorously to one attraction to anyone, or low or absent group of people or circumstances interest in sexual activity than to another; especially a code FEMINISM 101 of morals that applies more severe Benevolent : A subjectively standards of sexual behavior to FREQUENT BUZZWORDS positive orientation of protection, women than to men idealization, and affection directed toward women that, like hostile sexism, Fat-shaming: Unkind and usually Feminism has grown to be a movement that serves to justify women’s subordinate public criticism of someone for has gained momentum in the past few status to men.”Women Have Motherly being overweight. "Usually, when I Nurturing Instincts” OR “Men Are decades. Over the years, the movement has meet a person after a long time Assholes” faced many adaptations and changes with -mostly relatives - they will regards to its objectives, goals and comment on my weight. 'Oh, you have put on more weight. Oh, you collective masses. The first wave, focused have lost weight. What have you on the legal inequality. The second wave been doing to lose weight?' dealt with the violence that women face. Heteronormative: Of, relating to, The third wave began with the aims at or based on the attitude that creating the freedom to define feminism as heterosexuality is the only normal per a woman's own ideals. These waves, and natural expression of sexuality constituting to feminism's successes, have : Irrational fear of, led to a vocabulary that deals with aversion to, or discrimination definitions that are created to define the against homosexuality or that communities face. homosexuals

Internalized misogyny: The involuntary internalization by women of the sexist messages that are present in their societies and culture; the way in which women Biphobia: Aversion toward bisexuality reinforce sexism by utilizing and and bisexual people as a social group relaying sexist messages that or as individuals. they’ve internalized. ‘I Would Rather Hang Out with Boys Than Bisexuality: An identity for which sex – Girls Are So Much Drama!’ and gender are not a boundary to attraction : Presentation of media, such as films or advertising, from Christian egalitarianism: All people the perspective of a heterosexual are equal before God and in Christ; man have equal responsibility to use their gifts and obey their calling to the glory of God;

4 Institutional : Societal Patriarchy: Social structure markedby patterns that have the net effect the supremacy of the father in the clan or of imposing oppressive or family, the legal dependence of wives and otherwise negative conditions children, and the reckoning of descent against identifiable groups on the and inheritance in the male line; broadly, basis of race or ethnicity; in the control by men of a disproportionately United States, institutional racism large share of power results from the social caste system that sustained, and was Privilege: A set of advantages (or lack of sustained by, slavery and racial disadvantages) enjoyed by a majority segregation. ‘Opposing public group. Two cisgender, neurotypical school funding is not necessarily women of similar levels of poverty might an act of individual racism. One be treated differently due to race. The can certainly oppose public school woman who is treated slightly better due funding for valid, non-racist to (conscious or unconscious) bias in reasons. But to the extent that favor of her race would then be said to opposing public school funding has possess that privilege, even though a disproportionate and detrimental overall she is still treated poorly. effect on minority youth, it : furthers the agenda of Purity Culture: The view of any discussion of things of a sexual nature FREQUENT BUZZWORDS institutional racism” outside of the context of heterosexual Kyriarchy: A concept first created marriage as taboo; adherence to a strict Concept often used in critical theories by Elisabeth Schüssler Fiorenza in hetero-normative lifestyle that forbids to describe the ways in which 1992 to describe her theory of most physical contact with significant oppressive institutions (racism, sexism, interconnected, interacting, and others, as well as engaging in self homophobia, , classism, self-extending systems of pleasure, or holding lustful thoughts etc.) are interconnected and cannot be domination and submission, in about another person that is not a examined separately from one another; which a single individual might be spouse; includes an insistence on female first came from legal scholar Kimberlé oppressed in some relationships modesty and responsibility to shield boys Crenshaw in 1989 and privileged in others. and men from sexual temptation.

Men’s Rights Activists: While "men's Misandry: A hatred of men Sexism: Prejudice or discrimination rights" is often used as a cover for based on sex; especially discrimination sexism, there are men's advocacy Misogyny: A hatred of women against women; behavior, conditions, or groups that genuinely promote equal Nice GuyTM: Men who view attitudes that foster stereotypes of social rights. The Good Men Foundation, themselves as prototypical “nice roles based on sex. promotes activism on men's issues, guys,” but whose “nice deeds” are supports charitable foundations such as in reality only motivated by Slut-shaming: Attacking a woman or a boys' and girls' clubs, and publishes an attempts to passively please for being sexual, having one or more online magazine dealing with men's women into a relationship and/or sexual partners, acknowledging sexual issues that also acts as a forum for sex. feelings, and/or acting on sexual feeling dialogue between feminists and men's rights advocates. Nice Guys™ seem to regard a man's relationship with a woman Rape culture: A society in which rape is as successful or valuable only if it pervasive and normalized due to is romantic or sexual in nature, i.e. societal attitudes about gender, sex, friendship is failure. and sexuality. Due to cultural beliefs, spousal abuse and especially rape is Objectification: The treatment of rarely considered a crime in Pakistan. someone like an object instead of a This is due to Pakistan's patriarchal person. In advertising, specially society and gender roles that expect those of Tom Ford often equate men to be violent and dominant and women to objects of desire, for women to be fragile and weak. Religious example, a perfume bottle kept on norms familiar to Pakistan also embrace top of the vagina, which is violence and discrimination toward unnecessary and outrageous under women, emphasizing that women would the garb of ‘artistic freedom’ not be able to live without men.

5 Straw feminist: A made-up version of a feminist that doesn’t really exist, used HOW MANY DID in straw man arguments against YOU KNOW? feminist ideas. "There are now women IF WE MISSED SOME, WRITE politicians, women soldiers, women scientists, women astronauts. But our TO US mission is only half-done: we still : A set of beliefs haven't prevented men from doing that allows for the exclusion of those things!" issues that specifically affect women of color; a “one size-fits all” : Socially- feminism, where middle class white constructed attitudes that describe the women are the mold that others masculine as violent, must fit. A brand of feminism unemotional, sexually aggressive, etc. centered around the ideals and “You cannot lift up the load? What kind struggles of primarily white women. of a man are you?” While not outright exclusive, its failure to consider other women Transgender: Af, relating to, or being a and its preoccupation with Western person who identifies with or standards and the problems faced expresses a gender identity that differs by the “average woman” is often from the one which corresponds to the alienating to women of color, non- person’s sex [assigned] at birth straight women, trans women, and women belonging to religious or Transphobia: Intense dislike of or cultural minorities.” prejudice against transgender people Victim-blaming: Here the victim of a Wage gap: The difference between crime, an accident, or any type of the amounts of money paid to abusive maltreatment is held as wholly women and men, often for doing or partially responsible for the the same work wrongful conduct committed against them. "Was There Alcohol Involved?" : A form of feminism ,“She Cares Too Much About Her focused especially on the Looks”, “Character less woman because conditions and concerns of black she had boyfriends and went out till women. Womanism is simply late at night, is why this happened, it another shade of feminism. It helps was inevitable” give visibility to the experience of black women and other women of Sexism: Prejudice or discrimination color who have always been at the based on sex; especially discrimination forefront of the feminist movement against women; behavior, conditions, yet marginalized and rendered or attitudes that foster stereotypes of invisible in historical texts and the social roles based on sex. media”

Cisgender: Denoting or relating to a Creep(er): A strange person who person whose self-identity conforms you strongly dislike; an unpleasant with the gender that corresponds to or obnoxious person; someone who their biological sex; not transgender causes you to feel nervous and afraid.

6 . UNSUNG WOMEN Throughout history, we have grown to idolize 'heroes', and men who were victors in their field, silencing the other communities that were easily subdued. These are a few stories of phenomenal humans that need to be known of.

SUREKHA YADAV At 51, she is driving hard and running miles. She became the first woman train driver in 1988. She has grow from one position to the other through her hard work and dedication. In 2011, she was appointed the driver on the railway line at Western Ghats, and promoted as ‘Express Mail Driver’.

SUMITHA KRISHAN A social worker, her impetus to help and change lives began from the young age of 8 years. She was gang raped by eight men at the age of 15, while working on a education drive among the Dalit community. Ms. Krishnan went on to scale magnanimous heights in her life, rising against all odds and social dogmas. She created an organization called the Prajwala, that has till date saved and recovered 12000 survivors of sex trafficking. LAXMI AGARWAL She was 15 when she was attacked by a stalker with acid. After 8 years of clinical depression, she rose as a phoenix and began campaigning for acid attack survivors. She became the director of the Chhanv Foundation to fight against the injustices of acid attacks and likewise.

ARUNIM A SINHA First female amputee in the world to climb the Everest, Arunima embodies courage and valor. She was a national volleyball player, before she lost one of her legs while trying to stop a train robbery. She was pushed off the train, but her enemies could not cave her into submission. She went on to conquer the world’s highest peaks across five continents. 7 CROSSWORD AND OTHER THINGS : Why Should Boys Have All The Fun

Across Down

1. First Woman Musician to get 1. Current women’s Indian cricket 'Bharat Ratna' team captain.

2. The only woman to win two 2. First Woman to get Ashok Nobel prizes (1867–1934). Her Chakra. first award was for physics and her second was for chemistry. 3. The first woman to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize was 3. The first state in the United (1860–1935). States to grant voting rights to women. It was also the first state 4. This country recently lifted ban to elect a female governor. from women driving on roads.

4. The first country to grant 5. First Indian woman in the women the right to vote in the International Olympic modern era in 1893. Committee.

5. Overarching theme of first 6. The first woman to receive a wave of feminism in late 19th and Pulitzer Prize in 1921 for ' The Age early 20th centuries. of Innocence'

CURATED BY:- THE FEMINIST COLLECTIVE

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