Ritika Ruminates

Image Source- BookMyShow Recently, Kiran Rao's Laapata Ladies was released on Netflix, and it is worth every appreciation and hype there is for the movie on social media. My Instagram is filled with it, and many reels end up being shared on my Instagram stories (gonna be obsessing over the movie for some time now). It is a movie that rightly depicts feminism. Laapataa Ladies explore and respect the choices of both the lead female characters, along with Manju Mai (dadi). The feminist dialogues are on point. The only problematic statement was from Mai that women don't need men. Maybe not husbands, as marriage should be out of choice, but surely progressive fathers and brothers who are not threatened by women's independence, opinions, and professional work. The movie proved that feminism isn't about drinking, smoking, and cheating alone, as portrayed in a series on Amazon Prime and partly in Lipstick Under My Burkha. Feminism, as a concept/movement, is simple and aims for ...

Image source - India Today  With what recently took place in Iran- beating a woman named Mahsa Amini to death for "inappropriately wearing the hijab", it yet again brings the grave issue of inability to practice basic freedoms and the morality police into picture. This incident was followed by the President of Iran, Ebrahim Raisi refusing to get interviewed (outside Iran) at the last minute because the journalist/interviewer declined his condition for her wearing a hijab/headscraf, which his aide described as "matter of respect" and as it was the holy month of Muharram and Safar.  This enforces the morality police that people often impose on others, women often being the primary victims. "Dress like this..", "Sit like this..." and "Don't laugh loud.." is xxxjust some of the examples of moral policing women face in daily life. Unlike Mahsa's case, morality police may not take someone's life, but it is often subtle...

Image source - IG account of girl_respect_  A little ago, Ranveer Singh had shared nude pics on his Instagram, which very soon created a stir on social media. People on social media had 2 polar views- while some supported him, some went out of proportion to even file a case for this. We do not know whether Ranveer posted the nude pics to attract controversy or not, someone who is already a meme material for his unconventional clothing. Keeping the intention of creating controversy or not, this has surfaced already existing double standards when it comes to gender. Though he received support by people, which I didn't really bothered about, it exposes the hypocrisy when a girl or a woman posts half-nude or "too revealing" photos. When a women posts photos or is physically at a place like beach, in bikini or similar clothing, she is subjected to slut-shaming comments, creepy/judgemental looks, unasked advices to get changed into "more appropriate" clothing, to even...

Image source- Indian People Times In past few years, period leave has became an important point of discussions. While many people agree on its need in educational institutions and workplaces, and any other institutions/organizations, government or private, it's unfortunate that there are still many who do not agree to it, and it not being implemented nationwide (and even worldwide). With periods being very painful on average of 4-5 days of the month (differs in every menstruator), rest of a day or two is really needed. From period flow, cramps, headaches, bloating to mood swings, stains and back pain, it is surely a torturous pain for 4-5 days on a monthly basis. Why do we need period leaves? That too hopefully paid for women in workforce.  Rest from pain - Going through so much pain but still working will affect her/their productivity for the day. Rather than pushing the body, can give body a rest for a day or 2, which can save her energy and she will be able to be mor...

Image source- Healthline Period stains are something that are still stigmatized. Girls and women who bleed are excluded already (especially in small towns and rural areas), and when they get a period stain, people look at her and at the stain with disgust or laugh it away. Irony I find is that in a action scene where there would be quite a representation of human blood with all the action, we just watch the scene with interest. But when it comes to menstrual blood stains that a female gets on her clothes (or even blood in sanitary napkins ad), we get disgusted.  Instagram handle named Feminist has uploaded a social experiment reel where a teenager got her pants stained and people just walked away looking at it, not bothering to let her know or give her help until a girl in the ends does it by giving sweatshirt to tie around the waist. Though this was most probably staged, but this is reality of a lot of girls.  There was also this video long time ago where boys ar...

Image source: New Indian Express Honour killings. One of the worst crimes that have been taking place in our society. Honour killing is killing of a relative, especially a girl or woman, who is perceived to have brought dishonour on the family More often than not, honour killings kill women more than men (men in case one's daughter married a boy from 'lower' caste) and it mostly happens in the cases of inter-caste or inter-religious marriage, or when girls/women do not obey the strictest of rules laid down for them by the patriarchal society. To logically think over it, there is no honour in honour killings. You are murdering someone, over stupidest of things. Caste, religion or patriarchal rules set up (for females) matters more than someone's life🙂. When it comes to inter-caste marriages (or even inter-religious), often the accused is girl's family. Even more so when the boy is from 'lower' castes. But mostly do not have an issue if their girl...

Image source- Times Of India Union Cabinet has decided to raise the legal marriageable age of women from 18 to 21 , but would it be much beneficial to the women at the first place? Though the intention may be good to protect girls from child marriage and forcefully becoming a mother in her early or late teenage, in my opinion and ground realities, this wouldn't change the scenario much. Maybe some girls can get to study till her graduation (considering she is not any year behind) if her family is supportive. She can have her lifelong responsibility delayed by a few years. But unfortunately, child marriages still exist. Women are still forced into getting married below 18 and become mothers at quite a young age, where she may not be able to take responsibilities of kid(s). In some places, girls are even sold to groom's family as a bride. And not just in India, but some parts of the world too. And there is no guarantee her family will let her study till graduation because of fear...

After  Karnataka's health minister Dr.K Sudhakar's comment  on woman not wanting to get married and not wanting to have kids, much in a judgemental and shaming way, this raises another question- why do we feel it's valid to interfere in woman's personal choices about marriage and kids, like we own their bodies?  It's okay if one wishes to get married at some point and wish to have kids. But it's also okay to - not wish to get married and not have kids or get married and not have kids or not get married and have kids.  As long as the individual consents to it, is willing to take the risks associated and responsibilities that come with marriage and kids, and are informed about the pros and cons of each choice. It's not only the western influence because of which woman wishes to not get married and not have kids. Now a days, even many men do not ever wish to get married or have kids. And as long as you want it, are informed about the pros and cons and are will...

Image source- SheThePeople After women being asked (a.k.a pressurize, forced or manipulated) to marry, the big another pretty unrealistic expectation of society is for women to drastically change themselves into some other woman altogether. Those distant relatives whose face you see once in three years, neighbors and the society, and sometimes even parents and in-laws start acting like they own the woman and have every right to pass judgments on her, and give advice she never asked for in the first place. But what is up with asking women to change so drastically after marriage? And why aren’t men expected to change either after getting married? A few changes here and there are expected and understandable after the big step in life. But asking or expecting a woman to change altogether after marriage is something very unrealistic and toxic, which might even end up causing mental health issues in the woman and a bruised ego to the society if she denies to follow. Not just the women who ar...

Image source- Wikipedia I do not write reviews on my blog about books or films, but this movie has intrigued me to. The Great Indian Kitchen is a Malayalam movie on Amazon Prime Video which very well depicts the patriarchy in Indian households.  Though the movie is in Malayalam language, subtitles are available in English for people who cannot understand Malayalam language. Set in a South Indian town or rural area, it shows the male privilege prevelant in the the small towns and villages in India (also in metropolitan cities). The female lead character, an educated woman and dancer, raised in Bahrain, is married to a guy in a regressive family. The movie shows her struggle of fitting in to a family where she doesn't belong in the first place. The instances in movie like expecting the girl to hand the toothbrush to her father-in-law, make rice in firewood, having to manually clean one person's clothes seperately, etc She is also expected to clean up the mess at the...

Image source- Times Of India Woman. A ever-strong species. A homo sapien who is complete by herself. Words fall short to describe it. On this woman's day, here is my message to all the girls and ladies. Be yourself. Live your life your way. Take your own decisions which makes you happy and take responsibility of it too. Be carefree of the society's judgements. The person who will be with you always is you. So give yourself loads of self-love.  Do not take any decision under force. Wear (or not) whatever you wish to, be financially independent or a home-maker (just let the groom know before getting married, if you CHOOSE to marry), with make-up or without make-up, being a virgin till marriage or not, to choose to be a mother or not, carrying the pregnancy till term or aborting it (as long as it isn't gender biased), travelling the world or cozing out at home, and so many other things! Do not let societal and familial expectations rule your life. You have the powe...

Image source- Dictionary.com Feminism. People have created their own notion and opinions about feminism, suiting their perspectives and their interests. This has made feminism lose its actual meaning. People have started misusing feminism according to their wants. This is the reason people have started hating feminism now a days. And why it has turned into something like an abusive or shaming word now.  What's feminism in true sense? It is equal opportunities, equal independence to take decisions and choices (as long as they are legal and morally right and doesn't harm anyone), and equal fundamental rights. It is respecting those decisions of others. Feminism is equal independence, equal rights to all the genders, equally with what is given to men. Feminism is not above or below men, but equal to it.  Feminism DOESN'T promote misandry or misogyny of any kind, nor even any phobia related to LGBTQ+ community. If you see some so called feminist spreading such hatre...

Image source- Google "A fair skin is attractive and epitome of beauty." "No body hairs, especially on women. Shave/wax them off." "You need make-up to look preety." "Girls and woman should have hourglass figure, looks so hot and attractive".  "Bikini is only for thin girls/women, with no body hair." "Long hairs suits girls better. Be feminine, girl!" "If you wanted to wear boyish clothings, why you were even born as a girl/woman?"  "A perfect jawline is so charming." "A beard makes a man. Grow up a beard, man!"  "Dude, grow 6/8 pack abs. Girls and women will come running behind you." And well, the most popular "Lose weight by this diet, that diet".  The list is endless, I cant even note down all. We all have come across this beauty standards, be it for women or men. This beauty standards has often costed people their sanity, their physical and mental health, and the...

The crime against women has been ever increasing. Every new day comes with various kinds of crime against women- ranging from as small as eve-teasing (which is uncomfortable too) to as big as acid attacks, rapes, and murders. There has not been a stop to these rapes since it has started. Every day, many girls and women have become victims of these crimes. The monsters and evils in the body of humans have been the reason for these crimes. Their lust has become more important to them than the moral human values. These evils have been satisfying their lust by committing these crimes against women. It is ironic that in the world where women are worshipped as goddesses, the crimes are committed against women. The reason for the crimes committed against women is many. The main reason is the lusty behaviour of these monsters. Every woman looks like a sex object to these monsters. They satisfy their lust through these heinous acts. The second reason is that they don’t understand what ...

Here is my 1st try at a poem. This poem is based on acid attacks and dedicated to all the acid attack survivors out there. What a shocking moment it was for her, when a stranger proposed her for marriage, though she didn't feel anything for him, she politely rejected his proposal, but what she did'nt know was a storm that was awaiting her, the very next day, he threw acid on her face, spoiling her entire face, and later to be found laying at a hospital bed after hours of surgery, thoughts started looding her mind, 'was this his love?', 'was his ego more important than love?', and so does the other thoughts occupied her mind, months and years went by struggling, struggling through physical pains, through the comments of society and the fake sympathy, depression chased her, negativity chased her, but with support of family and friends, she slowly learned to accept and love the new lo...