PUBLISHED ARTICLES & INTERVIEWS
"'The single most important career decision that a woman makes is whether she will have a life partner and who that partner is.' When I first read this quote by Sheryl Sandberg, the feminist in me was deeply offended. It seemed backward, belittling, and like something my grandmother would say in a "marriage-should-be-your-highest-ambition" sort of way."
Part 3 of a 3 part series on Intersectional Feminism in India.
"Too often I hear "education" hailed as the solution for all of society's problems, especially from the well intentioned but ill-informed. While education is critically important for empowering all peoples, it alone is not enough."
LESSONS ON INCLUSIVITY FROM TRANSGENDER LEADERS
"Akkai and Priya were able to overcome tremendous obstacles and become successful productive members of society and advocates for their community. This kind of representation matters, because it shapes so much of how we understand and interact with the world. It gives hope to those in similar situations and creates empathy within others. Let us highlight leaders like Priya and Akkai, and let us focus on our shared humanity."
UN-GENDERED: COMEDY FOR CHANGE
"Novelist George Meredith once said that the true test of a civilization is how comedic ideas and comedy thrive, and that the true test of comedy is if it “awakens thoughtful laughter.”
In the face of complex and entrenched social issues, such as gender roles and stereotypes, comedy is more than expression; it is dissent. At its best comedy forces us to challenge what is, encourages us to laugh freely, and makes us more ‘thoughtful.’"
INSIGHTS FROM INDIAN MEN: “BUT I’M NOT A FEMINIST”
Male feminism in India is, unsurprisingly, as diverse and nuanced a movement as the country itself. From avid male feminists to those incredibly weary of the “F” word, there are no steadfast rules. This four part article series will explore the topic of feminism through the lens of seven leading Indian men whose work either directly or indirectly correlates with helping women gain opportunity and equality.
"In different ways these seven Indian men help to shape a world that’s a little better for all of us to live in, whether they are making us safer, giving us opportunities, getting us healthy, acknowledging our power to create societal level changes, or simply giving us the space and support to be ourselves and pursue our dreams.
Read more about how our Leading men affect change in society."
"Seven leading Indian men told their stories. They shared what they believe, what shaped those beliefs, as well as their work. Each man, each story, each mission, different but important. Each man and each mission for women. Not synonymous with or exclusive of feminism, how can India encourage and help create more men who support women? After sharing three weeks of insights from Indian men, Shenomics presents our own insights to this question."
10 REASONS TO CELEBRATE GALENTINE’S DAY
"Love is the be-all end-all for most of us. If you have any doubts, just watch any Rom Com ever… for that matter, add most action movies, coming-of-age tales and dramas to the list. Across genres and mediums, the most compelling stories all include love to some degree.
When we talk about love, our first inclination is to reach for romance. But today, I want to reach for a love that’s a little less obvious, though just as meaningful and substantive . That love is friendship, specifically female friendship."
LAKSHMI PRATURY INTERVIEW
"Lakshmi Pratury is the founder of Ink Talks, an annual conference committed to spreading disruptive ideas and inspiring stories — from the most unexpected sources. INK is a movement to change how the young and young at heart view their world, goals and ambitions, particularly in emerging economies. Lakshmi is an entrepreneur, interviewer, speaker, and self-described “people collector”. Prior to this, Lakshmi spent two decades in leading roles in the technology, venture capital, and non-profit industries in the US."
URVASHI BUTALIA INTERVIEW
"Urvashi Butalia is a publisher and writer. Co-founder of Kali for Women, India’s first feminist publisher, she is now CEO of the feminist publishing house Zubaan. With over 35 years of experience in feminist and independent publishing, she has a formidable reputation in the industry in India and abroad. She also has a long involvement in the women’s movement in India, and is a well-known writer, both in academia and in the literary world."
ASHWINI ASHOKAN INTERVIEW
"Ashwini Ashokan left Silicon Valley after ten years working on how cutting edge technology can be useful to people to come back to India and start an Artificial Intelligence (AI) company with her husband. She is a woman co-founder of an AI company, Mad Street Den, and doesn’t write a single line of code. She wears this story on her sleeve to tell everyone to back-off with their stereotypes."
SAFEENA HUSAIN INTERVIEW
"Safeena Husain, an active social worker, is the Founder and Executive Director of Educate Girls – a non-profit organization. Safeena’s efforts to bridge the gender gap in education in India have been widely recognized. Under her leadership, Educate Girls has received the prestigious 2015 Skoll Award, 2014 WISE Awards, the 2014 USAID Millennium Alliance Award and the 2014 Stars Impact Awards and the India Development Marketplace Award in 2011 from the World Bank."
RICHA SINGH INTERVIEW
"Richa Singh is a Co-founder of the online counseling and emotional support platform, YourDost. YourDost is designed to foster mental wellness. It anonymously connects users with experts across various professions including psychologists, psychotherapists, counselors, life coaches, and career guides. YourDost works through completely confidential individual sessions via free online chats, offering emotional support to users as well as breaking down the stigmas of mental health."
