" Why Didn't She Leave ? "

Leslie Morgan Steiner 's Ted Talk about Domestic Violence patterns and trap.

Mahila Shasaktikaran ? ( Women's Empowerment ?)

Open letter to the Chief Minister of Gujurat from Mallika Sarabhai.

Mahila Shasaktikaran?

DNA August 28^th 14

My dear Chief Minister,

On Thursday morning I received a picture of a poster  brought out by your government with your photograph on the right corner and the title Mahila Sashaktikaran, or Empowering Women. The main photo is of three or four non Indian women wearing jeans and shirts and the text says, “Ayogya kapada paheri bahar na niklo” or Do Not Go Out Wearing Inappropriate Clothes. The advertisement has been put out by the police department of Porbandar.

I remember a time, oh it must have been forty years ago, when men in Europe pinched the midriff of Indian women wearing saris because they felt that a bare midriff was really sexy and an invitation to be pinched. They were bored apparently of their own women wearing mini skirts and showing cleavage. The midriff was ‘forbidden” and therefor fair game for any man who thought a woman was his for fun. I do not however recall either our own government or those of the European countries putting out posters warning women to cover up, or warning  the men of dire consequences ( though that would have been appropriate). And Indian women slapped off these advances in many cases and continued wearing the sari.

I also know the hundreds of thousands of women in Gujarat who for centuries have been wearing backless cholis and continue doing so. I do not recall a warning of appropriate dressing going out to them either.

How is this poster empowering women? Why does it picture foreign women? What is wrong with what they are wearing? What is wrong with wearing any kind of clothes? If a warning on clothing must be put out should it not be for men as well?

Madame Chief Minister, if this poster has gone our with your knowledge then women in Gujarat need to be warned, for nothing could feed into the sick mentality of our men, who treat women as chattel, more than this. The poster shows the misogynist mentality that says rape and abuse are the fault of women. Any study on violence against women, anywhere in the world, will tell you this is not the case. Violence against women is about men – about male gaze; about patriarchy; about male entitlement; about the way we bring up our sons to think women exist for their use. Violence against women is about telling little boys 'be a man', about their mardangi; about women chastising other women for no fault of theirs as they play out like puppets in the hands of patriarchy; and it is about violence and crime committed, nearly always, by men and boys.

The poster reflects all that is sick in our society, all that leads to the continuing killing of girl foetuses, of the rape of two month olds and 80 yealr olds, of the refusal of police stations to file FIRs, about politicians and so called gurus who say boys will be boys. This poster, Madame, shows why there is no decrease in the rate of crimes against women since NIrbhaya, since the Justice Verma Commission Report. It is a reflection on why, in spite of fast track courts and judges requiring to be more open and fair, there is no conviction rate increase in crimes against women in the last two years, and it reflects this society’s forgetting of the young girls raped and hanged from trees for all to see and as a warning against women who do not wish to be silent when abused.

We live in a State where more and more young women decide to wear odhanis to cover all but their eyes,  like  burkhas,  to protect themselves against roving male eyes. This poster wishes to drive us all to that condition.

Madame, tell the women of Gujarat that this poster is WRONG. Make a statement that crimes against women are rarely, if ever, the fault of women, that they are the fault of misguided men, perpetuated and carried out by men, and that we need to work on the men to stop them. Now and for a long time to come.

As a woman and a Chief Minister, this is the least that the women of Gujarat expect of you. Do not let us down.

Mallika Sarabhai

Letter to Chief Minister in response to this poster
The poster has now been removed.

Hahaha Sangha tool kit for Action Hero Neighbourhoods

About: Hahaha Sangha is an intergenerational community space within a neighbourhood , with the intention to be visible, enable familiarity hence safety. 

Hahaha Sangha is an initiative of Blank Noise;  a global network of  'Action Heroes' committed to building safe spaces/ cities. The first Hahahah Sangha was created in Yelahanka in 2012, with students of Srishti School of Art Design and Technology and with local residents . Together they formed Yelahanka Action Heroes. 

All members of the Hahahah Sangha identify as 'Action Heroes'.  The president of the Hahaha Sangha is Action Hero Yashoda. Hahaha Sangha Mantris include: Renuka, Sampige, Reba, Vishaka , Arushi.

Why the Hahaha Sangha ?

Because we pledge to be visible, fight fear, occupy space, and take a step towards creating safe and welcoming neighbourhoods. Hahaha Sangha establishes familiarity, builds comfort, reduces threat.

How do we create a Hahaha Sangha ?

1.Form a primary group of not less than 3.

2. Identify a park in your neighbourhood. 

3. Go door to door inviting local residents from across communities, background, age groups, sexualities to join the Hahahah Sangha

You could break this process into two parts but remember to be welcoming, inviting, warm and friendly, specially since you're proposing a Hahaha Sangha

1) approach people you already have a little bit of familiarity with, could be the lady selling tender coconut, the 'aunty' running a tailoring shop, beauty parlour, women you see everyday at the same bus stop ?

2) try your luck with someone you don't know at all. aproach them on the streets. For example it could be someone on their way to a temple, yoga class.

How do we invite them?

At first its important that the people invited see the invitation as merely to a laughter club for women and individuals from across sexualities. 

Who do we invite? Can we invite men ?

Men can be there too , but our primary focus is to create a space for intergenerational women to come together. We want to be inclusive of languages, age groups, socio economic background.

Why should anyone join?

Because it is a lot of fun. 

How often and when can we do this?
While you are welcome and encouraged to create this as often as you can, we would like for you to register with us at  _____ info coming up_______ and commit to building this every saturday. We will also be announcing calendar events for the same to occur across regions worldwide on the same day. 15th November, 2014 Saturday.

Does it have to be in a park?

If you're in a neighbourhood, it would make sense to build this is in a park. The Sangha is also an intimate space and sometimes neighbourhood parks can enable that environment.

How long does a Hahaha Sangha session last?

Min 30 minutes. Max 1 hour.

Is it laughter yoga?
No it isn't laughter yoga because the Hahaha Sangha is positioned to build safe spaces, through a network of Action Heroes, i.e you who chose to unlearn fear, laugh out loud, occupy space, claim visibility.

What if people around me get disturbed by the laughter?
Invite them.

Any does and don'ts ?
Do include. Don't exclude.
You are required to send in ten high res photographs of each session. Video is an additional welcome! We would be thrilled to share your reflections on the blog.

Any tips and tricks to make the Hahaha Sangha ?
Include conversations in gibberish , work out the 'chudail laugh' ( the witches laughter). We will send you a detailed version with tips and tricks included when you register with us.

Where else can it be if there is no park?

You decide. Could be under a big banyan tree. A car park or garage.  Near an abandoned post office ?  There are many possibilities. The space should feel inclusive, so please refrain from selecting sites of religious significance. 

Action Hero Workshop With The Tibetan Communty in Exile : Towards the campaign I Never Ask For It

Archiving names shouted at.
Spelling it out.
Taking the power back.

Safe Community Pledge with Action Heroes from Tibetan Women's Association

Safe City Pledge translated as 'Safe Community Pledge' during our Action Hero: I Never Ask For It workshop with TWA.

What is the smallest bit that you can do to make your community safe ?

Pledges below:

Safe City Pledge fb page. Take a pledge. Upload it. Identify the smallest actionable you can take to make your city, community, school, workspace, environment safe. 

In solidarity with Jennifer Lawrence: I Never Ask For It

" Don't take naked pictures is like saying

' don't wear a mini skirt' of the internet ".

Everyday Sexism on BBC Woman's Hour, discusses Jennifer Lawrence leaked naked photos along with street harassment and sexual assault - the connect point is the environment of  'victim blaming'.

To say 'she's someone who takes her clothes off in films, or to question why at all she would photograph herself naked is the kind of question that once again brings focus to what the victim or survivor should do to 'avoid rape' or 'avoid sexual assault'. We need to shift attention to the person causing it. We need to shift attention to stopping rape, not avoiding rape. We need to shift attention to the us and our attitudes that enable rape culture. I Never Ask For It.

Things I Am Not : Word and Meaning Revised 2014

This archive has been built via a Blank Noise Action Hero Workshop
With the Tibetan Community in Exile. Tibetan Women's Association.

First version of 'Things I am Not ' was published in 2007.  Action Heroes send in food names they had been hooted at , songs sung to, and other adjectives/ insults.

We created an Action Hero workshop with the Tibetan Community in Exile, Tibetan Women's Association  in Dharamsala this August. One component of the workshop involved creating a list of names women had been called. Part of the process is in articulating an insult , verbalising it, rejecting it, sharing it. This also leads to building insight for further intervention.

Guideline for submission:
1. Please mention your origin / ethnicity
2. Where did you hear it ? ( place )
3. Who said it ?

Please email in at blurtblanknosie@gmail.com subject titled THINGS I AM NOT

Hahaha Sangha : Tibetan Community In Exile Action Heroes

We're thrilled to build the 'Action Hero- I Never Ask For It ' workshop with members of the Tibetan Womens Association.  That's 60 all newAction Heroes! 

The workshop was held in McLeodganj, Dharamshala as part of TWA's 'Training of Trainers programme'.  More about TWA here .  We will be sharing photos and details of the entire workshop in the next couple blog posts. .

Action Heroes in the Tibetan Community in Exile also launched the Hahaha Sangha at the Mcleodganj square on August 7th.  Photos below. 

Action Hero Workshop : I Never Ask For It

Images from the Action Hero , I Never Ask For It workshop with the Tibetan Women's Association

Dr. Lobsang Sanggay addressed the Tibetan Womens Association gathering.

Participating Action Heroes #INeverAskForIt workshop. 

REPORTING TO REMEMBER : I NEVER ASK FOR IT

Dear Action-Heroes world wide,

We are #ReportingToRemember 
Please add in comments below and or tweet incidents of violence against women,
where women experienced blame. Tweet an incident where sexual violence was justified or excused.
Action Heroes build evidence. 
#ReportingToRemember
#INeverAskForIt