Several international media outlets have praised female politicians for their leadership in curbing the coronavirus. But when this is done at the risk of promoting gender essentialism, there is cause for concern regarding how these opinions might implicate the larger goal of equality.
As a woman of color, my first interactions with feminist organizations and activists are not my best memories. I wasn’t born a feminist but I became one despite all the odds and the toxic feminism that I came across along the way.
For International Father’s Day, I shared this little message from the heart with my father, who is a wonderful parent but who I’ve lost that deep connection with as I’ve gotten older. Fathers and daughters have a complicated relationship anywhere, but especially so in the oppressive, patriarchal society of India. Thank you dada.
Rather than picturing trans and non-binary people as victims in need of saving, it’s time to appreciate the enormous potential for social change that we represent; act in solidarity with us.
