Thoroughly modern millennial

Tag: Misc

  • Guest Post | Who am I? | Prithvi

    Guest Post | Who am I? | Prithvi

    I carry the burden of introspection. I carry the cultures and lives I have been a part of. We are constantly looking to identify our ethnicity and acknowledgement of belonging.

    When I was growing up in the middle east, I was awkwardly attempting to learn more about India, my ‘motherland’. I went to an Indian syllabus based school, hung out with the most popular girls who seemed to have it all and binge watched Indian movies to see and learn as much as I could. To get it right, somehow.

    But I was a coconut; white on the inside and brown on the outside. The casual statement ‘how would you know, you are not a REAL Indian’ will haunt the aftermath of my continuous path to self realization.

    Recently upon reading ‘The Good Immigrant’, I got thinking. Here we all are, questioning who are we and where are we going. But we stand together, as a group of people who have been hurt or lost, in one way or another.

    This year, I had to renew my Tier 2 visa UK work permit. And it hurt. It hurt a lot, to answer questions and suppress the desire to constantly apologise to everyone in charge of the visa application. I heard it in their voices and I saw it in their eyes. I had to apologise. I do not blame or accuse people for their ignorance of what it is like to feel like an immigrant, but I am jealous because it is truly bliss. Coming to a country and steal jobs from the other deserving native people is apparently what we do. I apologise.

    And yet you run into an odd person who would like to share their views on how difficult it is for people from countries like India and Pakistan, to get a visa. Thank you. Again, I apologise.

    I see an elderly white man shout out ‘muslim shoplifter’ to an asian woman wearing a headscarf cause she is walking out of Zara, carrying a shopping bag. I am so sorry.

    The sorrow and guilt we carry binds us together, that is what makes us feel alive and empathetic. I wish I had answers for where we are going, but I can tell you who we are; We are Immigrants.

    A writer who had the most impact on me and whose words I remember, is Warsan Shire. Here’s an excerpt from a poem called ‘What they did yesterday afternoon’.

    ‘i’ve been praying,

    and these are what my prayers look like;

    dear god

    i come from two countries

    one is thirsty

    the other is on fire

    both need water.

     

    later that night

    i held an atlas in my lap

    ran my fingers across the whole world

    and whispered

    where does it hurt?

     

    it answered

    everywhere

    everywhere

    everywhere.’

    — — —

    Oh boy, I’m so happy I have the wonderful privilege to share posts like these with you guys. Prithvi, for those of you who don’t know, is one of the five lovely girls I live with.  She’s actually on this trip to India with me but deserves some comment love none-the-less so let me know your thoughts below. She is sans Twitter – working on that fam ;) – but she has just started her first blog, so go follow.

    Ria Xx

     

  • Your Faves Are Problematic | Why Celebrity Feminism Is Flawed

    Your Faves Are Problematic | Why Celebrity Feminism Is Flawed

    Emma Watson. Chimamanda Ngozi Achide. Selma Hayek. etc. etc. What do all these women have in common?

    They all self identify themselves as feminists. They have all also coincidentally for different reasons have come under fire for their narrow views on feminism.

    There’s no doubt we’re well into the current wave of the feminist movement, especially in a post-Brexit/Tr*mp society. And whilst the negative stereotypes and stigma surrounding the idea of calling yourself a feminist still (sadly) exists, you are now more likely to see public figures aligning themselves with the cause than not.

    But what happens when your fave gets it wrong?

    In the past few weeks alone we’ve had author Chimamanda Ngozi Achide’s recent comments on transgender women. Model and women in STEM advocate Karlie Kloss called out for cultural appropriation (again…and again) in a recent editorial spread in Vogue. Actress Salma Hayek speaking over comedian Jessica Williams at a Sundance Talk celebrating Women filmmakers (oh the irony). Emma Watson pulled out to clarify her criticism about Beyonce and women’s sexuality.

    Again and again our ‘feminist heroes’ fall and we’re left asking, were they even that much of a feminist in the first place?

    There are obvious ways to be a bad feminist *cough* Kelly-Ann Conway, Lena Dunham, Caitlyn Jenner *cough* and we should absolutely hold people accountable for harmful language and behaviour.

    However, when it comes to some celebrity feminists, the problem with holding them as your sole role model for feminism is that their viewpoints will be inherently limited. They are just one person. They will never be the perfect advocate for the cause because their knowledge is restricted to what they know best and sometimes that means they will have gaps in their understanding and knowledge. And the feminist movement cannot rely on one or two celebrities to speak on behalf of everyone.

    So who do we look to instead?

    Here’s what I did after watching Achide’s Channel 4 interview . I was initially confused about how I should process her viewpoints. Achide is, after all, the women who was quoted in Beyonce’s Flawless, has written incredible books on the black experience and championed women in literature. And yet, here she is, making problematic statements and coming back with an equally problematic and defensive apology.

    Instead of trying to navigate this gap in my knowledge through the voices of other cis-feminist writers, I turns to the trans community. I read articles, I listened to their views and I started following them online. They are now my point of call on these topics. They are the people adding to my knowledge bank, not Achide. I can still reference Achide when looking for voices about the black experience, but she should not be the person to call upon when talking about trans-women because she is not trans.

    It’s an age old statement but feminism is not feminism unless it is intersectional. And we must all look outside celebrity feminism in order to get a more rounded picture of what our definition of feminism looks like. We need to seek out the marginalised voices and listen to their opinions, their stories and their experiences. We must be responsible for filling the gaps in your knowledge.

    So the next time you decry ‘Ah my fave is so problematic’, don’t fret. By all means call them out, but look outside that bubble of opinion. It’s only when you seek outside that bubble that you’ll find the accurate depictions of who feminism is fighting for.

    — — —

    Let me know in the comments how you’ve dealt with the viewpoints on ‘celeb feminism’

    Ria Xx

  • International Women’s Day 2017 | #BeBOLDforChange

    International Women’s Day 2017 | #BeBOLDforChange

    Happy International Women's Day!

    As with every year, the organisers have set a theme to help further accelerate global gender parity. This year’s theme is #BeBOLDForChange. Personally I think it’s a perfectly timed focus in the current political and social climate. It’s a call to arms for men, women and non-binary people to take bold proactive steps towards gender equality for all.

    To make it even easier for us the organisers have broken this down into five pledges:

    • Challenge bias and inequality;
    • Campaign against violence;
    • Forge women’s advancement;
    • Celebrate women’s achievement;
    • and champion women’s education.

    They’re not new or groundbreaking pledges but they are fundamental to creating a more gender inclusive world. Of course, everyone will have their own way of taking on a pledge – in fact the IWD website breaks down each action and gives some examples of mini pledges you guys can do in your everyday lives. As it is International Women’s Day and I’m all about celebrating the achievements of ladies around the world, here are five women who already embody the #BeBOLDForChange moto.

    Challenge bias and inequality | Juno Dawson

    Young adult author Juno Dawson has never shy-ed away from difficult subject both within her books and outside of fiction through her social media feeds or Glamour magazine column. Whether it’s tackling LGBTQ topics through her various novels (This Book Is Gay and All of the Above), speaking out against Trans Exclusionary Radical “Feminists” (or TERFs), or advocating for mental health, her voice is the embodiment of the #BeBOLDForChange manifesto. (*whispers* I may also be totally biased because I interviewed Juno a few years ago and she is utterly lovely)

    Campaign against violence | The women behind the Sister’s Uncut movement

    This was the hardest pledge to choose a candidate for, as there are so many organisations and activists out there campaigning against violence against women, men and non-binary people. In terms of impact Sisters Uncut have had some of the most prominent press in the past few years for their political stunts at the Suffragette Premiere, in Trafalgar Square and even back in my old University town. Their manifesto is to ensure self-identifying women are physically, financially and legally supported when faced with domestic violence.

    Forge women’s advancement | Ava Duvernay

    I have no shame in including Ava in another awesome ladies list (again!). Oscar nominated director Duvernay is not only prominent in the fight to chip away at the Hollywood glass ceiling, she is also committed to championing women in film and media. Through her film independent film distribution company ARRAY she has founded an outlet to support, fund, and allow people of colour to tell their stories. In a time where so few women are hired on and off camera, Duvernay’s work is so important for the advancement of women in the movie and media industry.

    Celebrate women’s achievement | Aminatou Sow & Ann Friedman

    What more appropriate candidates for this pledge than the two women who have championed Shine Theory. Individually these Sow and Friedman are wonderful role models for champions women and their voices within their respective industries. Sow is the founder of Tech LadyMafia, a global networking initiative supporting women who work ‘in and around the Internet’. Friedman’s journalism work has had her cover a range of feminist topics such as sexual assault, women in pop culture and US politics. They’re are strongest when working together though on their podcast Call Your Girlfriend, where Shine Theory really comes into play.

    Champion women’s education | Malala Yousafzai

    This woman rarely needs an introduction. The 19 year old is the youngest recipient of the the Nobel Peace Prize and has spent the past few years advocating for education for girls in her native Pakistan and for global access to education. The Malala Fund has raised millions to assist in active learning programmes in Syria, Kenya, Nigeria and Sierra Leon. Malala herself has spoken in front of the UN and dozens of World leaders calling upon them to take up her “books, not bullets” message to heart.

    — — —

    Of course this is just the smallest sample of incredible, hardworking, feminist activists taking bold and brave steps for the advancement of gender parity. I could have totally listed about a dozen more! Why not leave your comments on the women you feel are also already embodying today’s pledge in the comments below.

    Ria Xx