Please note: we do not support the use of weapons. Kindly do not misinterpret us. "Weapons" here is used as a rhetoric. The point of this is to figure out what kind of everyday objects make us feel safe or prepare us to defend ourselves. We propose to build an online museum of street weapons with your response.
Weapons are objects of defense used by you to feel safe and protected. What are these objects and things that you carry which make you feel safe? And- how do you propose to use them?
Please send us a list of things you carry that prepare you to walk on the streets. If you like you could also send us photos of your defense weapons. If you cannot relate to it- think again- it could be in the way you hold your bag, books across chest etc. Or how many times have you pretended to talk on the mobile phone when out alone? or kept a clenched fist ready?
Think. Remember or simply look in your hand bag and send us your list.
Men are invited to participate as well- you can participate by speaking to women you know about their street weapons and add to this list. Don't just limit it to bloggers- in true Blank Noise spirit- speak with family members, friends, colleagues, domestic help, vegetable vendors- every woman you know! Share this poster on email lists, college and office walls, apartment buildings, neighbourhoods and markets- let's get this going!
You can also confirm/ join in on facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2703755288#/event.php?eid=46016327805&ref=mf
Blank Noise Team
disclaimer: Blank Noise does not support "weapons and violent activity" unless absolutely required for defense. Blank Noise is interested in understanding fear , addressing fear and generating discourse around it.
Contributors:
Kismet Nakai, Mandy Van Deven, Ritambhara Mehta, Anasuya Sengupta, Hemangini Gupta, Dimplicious, Maya Singh, Ratna Apnender, Lindsey Rieder , Sravanthi Dasari,Megha Joshi Bhagat, Sravanthi Dasari, Chitra Badrinarayan, Ritu A Kamath, Maya Hussein Kovskaya, Radha Pandey, Amrutha Bushan, Aastha Gupta, Alaphia Zoyab, Katheeja Talha,Kritika Sharma, Marjorie Barboza, Nabila Zaidi, Annie Zaidi, Arushi Singh, Shaheema Shaw...
supporting text from the blogathon(2006)
She cocoons herself and turns a blind eye to the truth that several men are gazing at her, with not-so-friendly eyes
A training in martial arts is not every woman’s cup of tea. So, that leaves us with just one weapon - COURAGE!”
Street Tales of Hyper Women between the age group of 11 to 80 years : Manchester. UK. Cornerhouse
