Gender and Society – Page 2 – NICKELED AND DIMED

The Silence Spell

By – Muskan Hossain Abstract Throughout the course of history, women’s voices have been silenced, controlled and dismissed- whether through the demoralisation of ‘gossip’ or the policing of ‘TMI’ (too much information). Gossip, once a term with positive connotations signifying sisterhood, has now been rebranded as deceitful in order to suppress female autonomy, as can…
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The Gendered Panopticon: How Surveillance enforces Binary Norms

Foucault’s Panopticon reveals how gender norms function as invisible systems of control, compelling self-regulation through surveillance. Women police their bodies under the male gaze while men perform stoic dominance, both, internalising disciplinary power. Institutions from beauty industries to workplaces reinforce these norms as natural choices.
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Walking the Tightrope: India’s Strategic Engagement with the Taliban amid a Women’s Rights Dilemma

By Vaidehi Sharma Abstract The recent meeting between Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and Afghanistan’s Acting Foreign Minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi, on January 8 has set the stage for active high-level engagement between India and the Taliban. However, the meeting comes at a time when the Taliban is continuing its brutal crackdown on women’s rights. This…
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FROM SACROSANCT TO SHUNNED: LEGAL PERSPECTIVES ON HIJRAS

By : Gauri Yadav Abstract: Hijras, once revered, were systematically marginalised under colonial rule through laws like the Criminal Tribes Act of 1871 and Section 377 IPC, which criminalised their identities and livelihoods. While NALSA v. UOI (2014) marked legal progress, the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019, continues to echo colonial biases, prioritising…
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Patenting Women’s Health Products: Ethics, Access, and the Innovation Divide

By : Meghana Narayanan Abstract: This article explores how the commodification of women’s health products, driven by patent protections, restricts access to essential hygiene and medical innovations. Patents, as social instruments, shape public perception and the quality of women’s health products, often facing limited resistance due to the dismissal of women’s pain and needs. However,…
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The Absence Of a Legal Mandate For Paternity Leave In India

By : Manya Singh Abstract Paternity leave remains an overlooked aspect of India’s labour laws. Unlike maternity leave, which is a legal entitlement, paternity leave lacks a statutory mandate, leaving new fathers with limited support. This article explores the absence of a legal framework for paternity leave, its implications on gender roles, workplace equality, and…
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Legitimacy of Traditions and Customs under Hindu Marriages: A Feminist Approach

This article examines the evolution of judicial interpretations of restitution of conjugal rights under Section 9 of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 in India, highlighting its patriarchal roots and impact on women’s autonomy. Through cases like Swaraj Garg v. K.M. Garg, it explores shifting legal perspectives on matrimonial domestice decisions. While progressive rulings have challenged…
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The Fall of Triple Talaq: A Legal Victory?

The year 2017 witnessed a pivotal landmark in the legal- and social struggles- of Muslim women’s rights through the Shayara Bano v. Union of India case which led to the abolition of talaq-e-bid’ah (triple talaq) in the nation. This article looks closely at the monumental case’s background, Shayara Bano’s petition along with the Supreme Court’s…
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PoSH Act from the perspective of Abolitionist Feminist

The Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 (PoSH Act, 2013), aims to prevent workplace sexual harassment but faces criticism for being inefficient and not victim-centred. This article highlights its reliance on retributive justice, which often neglects victims’ needs and systemic issues. Incorporating abolitionist feminist perspectives, it advocates for restorative…
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Women’s Health, Safety and Choice: The Handmaid’s Tale Perspective

Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale explores a dystopian world where women’s bodies are strictly controlled under an authoritarian regime, drawing unsettling parallels to real-world restrictions on reproductive rights. Her themes resonate strongly in light of the overturning of Roe v. Wade, which has led to abortion bans across the United States, disproportionately affecting marginalized communities.…
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Intersectionality in India’s Legal Framework

This article discusses the inclusivity of intersectionality in Indian legislations, expanding on its efficiency through judicial decisions and the effect of not taking intersectionality into consideration. The article also discusses the further scope for intersectionality in India’s legal scenario and recent developments related to this inclusivity.
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The Intersection of Gender, Class and Caste in Access to Justice

Gender, Class and Caste are inseparable parts of the society without which the society can not function. Therefore, any rights or service provided depends heavily on how the people are placed in the hierarchy of the society. Access to justice is a fundamental human right, yet it remains elusive for many individuals, particularly those from…
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