Gita Aravamudan
The archaic, patriarchal mores at the heart of suggestions that women can marry their rapists as 'compromise'
These attitudes have the support of not only society and families, but also the courts themselves.
Pregnant elephant's death in Kerala symptomatic of wider malaise of escalating man-animal conflict in India
Elephant specialists and wildlife conservationists have since observed that the Kerala elephant is the latest victim of a steadily escalating, years-long man-animal conflict. The solution lay not in online petitions but in something almost unattainable: a proper, well-planned nationwide land use policy which took into serious consideration the needs of wild animals and forest dwellers.
With roots in democratic socialism, how the 'Kerala model' ranks well-being above wealth for its people
How did Kerala become a model for development and social reform? The answer lies in its several movements that worked in tandem over a period of time, slowly eroding the old unjust power structures, and working towards establishing a more equitable society.
With Kerala's nurses on frontlines of coronavirus fight, a brief history of nursing profession in the state
Historically, intrepid nurses from Kerala travelled to remote corners of the country and the world — a trend that continues today, as they are on the frontlines of the fight against the coronavirus outbreak.
Assisted Reproductive Technology Regulation Bill addresses regulation lacunae in fertility industry, but its non-inclusiveness is troubling
When it comes to women and their wombs, legislators don’t seem to understand the necessity of having well thought out, supportive — and timely — laws. The Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) Regulation Bill 2020 is a case in point.
Mohan Bhagwat may 'blame' education, affluence for incidents of divorce, but most vulnerable remain trapped in difficult marriages
Despite the rise from 0.50 per 1000 in 1988 to 3.0 in 2015, India still has one of the lowest divorce rates in the world. It is the educated and affluent who have the means and the social support to go through with a divorce.
Exploitation, trauma and sexual anarchy: Sister Lucy Kalappurakkal and Jesme's stories shed light on a church engulfed in moral turmoil
Karthavinte Namathil (In the Name of Christ), the tell-all autobiography of Sister Lucy Kalappurakkal, has come out at a time when the church in Kerala is going through a phase of intense moral turmoil.
Sabarimala row: Women devotees bear the brunt as politicians, interest groups continue to weaponise temple entry issue
It’s still early days — the Sabarimala season continues till mid-January. But the message has already been delivered: No person in authority, no government official, no police personnel is going to protect a woman who is of “menstruating age” if she tries to enter the shrine.
Bishop Franco Mulakkal case mirrors trajectory of #MeToo movement, how backlash has impacted survivors
In cases like that of Bishop Franco Mulakkal and many men named in the #MeToo movement, the all-powerful male professional network kicked in months after the allegations were made public, and the women who were courageous enough to speak up lost jobs and assignments. It has now reached a stage where the survivors who complain against the powerful are vilified and the accused are ironically projected as victims.
As an AP woman bears children at 74, ethics of fertility treatments and necessary restrictions must be grappled with
Fertility experts strongly feel that this growing trend of using IVF to satisfy the demands of over-aged parents is setting a detrimental precedent. The Assisted Reproductive Technology (Regulation) Bill, 2017, which continues to lie in cold storage, is the only proposed legislation which deals with a situation like this.
Mission Mangal undermines hard work of ISRO's women scientists by oversimplifying science, focusing on personal lives
Mission Mangal is like a well-made ad film which successfully uses every possible trope and well-tested stereotype in order to reach a larger audience. Its focus remains the domestic issues of its characters, who bond over solving complicated technical challenges using some sort of naive "scientific" jugaad
Surrogacy Bill 2019 disempowers women, supersedes more pressing legislation on artificial reproductive technology
It is obvious to anyone acquainted with fertility treatment that it is the whole process of Artificial Reproductive Technology (ART) which has to be regulated. Surrogacy is just one small aspect of it. Passing such a Bill before passing the ART Bill (which has been in cold storage for more than a decade) is meaningless.
Evolution of Bangalore: From Garden City to Silicon Valley, how immigrants made the city their own
Bangalore, or Bengaluru, a city of immigrants founded by Kempe Gowda, stands tall as one of India's fastest growing metropolises, housing a whopping 12 million people on its gradually shrinking land. Here's taking a closer look at how it went from being 'Garden City' to the Silicon Valley of India, in the matter of mere decades.
Taapsee Pannu's Game Over delivers an important message at a time when MeToo movement is going through turmoil
The Taapsee Pannu starrer Game Over is a well-scripted and tightly edited movie with minimalist sets which cuts across genres.
Do Ilaiyaraaja's repeated, misplaced outbursts detract from magnitude of maestro's accomplishments?
Music maestro Ilaiyaraaja made news last week, but not for his music. The incident in question happened at a live concert, during which he shouted at a security guard for bringing water to the thirsty VIP singers on stage.
Nayanthara's response to Radha Ravi's sexism may have jolted Kollywood, but will male stars break silence?
Last week, when Radha Ravi spoke in the same crude vein about Lady Super Star Nayanthara, he probably didn’t expect his sexism to rebound and hit him
Pollachi sexual assault case shows how social media makes survivors vulnerable, can be misused by predators
The circulation of the videos made by those accused in the Pollachi sexual assault case have made both the perpetrators and survivors identifiable.
Pollachi sexual assault case: Questions about police's conduct at press conference, nature of investigation loom large
Many questions remained unanswered in the Pollachi sexual assault case, including why other survivors have not come forward, and why the police revealed details about the first survivor
As Vatican summit on sexual abuse yields few concrete measures, Kerala's survivors face anxious future
The papal conclave ended with vague promises of concrete measures and special programmes. For the survivors in Kerala, this means nothing — except a continuation of their trauma and uncertainties.
Kerala nun rape case: Rebellion within Church is new, but women in convents have long suffered abuse
Nuns often find themselves in suffocating and tough situations within convents. Many have spoken up about the low salaries they are paid, and about how they cannot complain about the sexual harassment they have faced at the hands of seniors in the church, for fear of ostracism