Gender Question

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Gender Question is a weekly podcast in which Associate Editor Dhamini Ratnam addresses blindspots around gender and sexuality, by taking an issue that's in the news, and looking at it differently, with the help of experts. This is a Hindustan Times production brought to you by HT Smartcast.

Hindustan Times - HT Smartcast


    • May 31, 2022 LATEST EPISODE
    • monthly NEW EPISODES
    • 18m AVG DURATION
    • 43 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Gender Question

    Who's affected by the crisis in Sri Lanka?

    Play Episode Listen Later May 31, 2022 23:15


    The island nation of Sri Lanka is facing its worst economic crisis since its independence in 1948. As with any economic crisis, the roots of the problem lie in economic and policy decisions taken by successive governments over the years. However, it was only towards the end of March that the world began to wake up to the trouble brewing in the country. Hit by a shortage of everything from paper to fuel to medicine, common people took to the streets in protest. In early April, most of the cabinet resigned. Gotabaya Rajapaksa remains the president of the country even as protestors call for his ouster. When the protests turned violent, the president Mahinda Rajapaksa, resigned from the prime minister's post earlier this month, and Ranil Wickremesinghe, who has held this post before, was sworn in.     The root cause of the country's economic problem is its inability to pay back its debt, which runs to trillions of dollars, because its foreign reserves are at an all-time low. But what exactly does this mean? Who does it affect the most? And how are those most affected reimagining their lives right now? Women form the core labour of some of the biggest sectors of Sri Lanka's economy, including tea plantation and garment-making. They also form the bulk of the migrant labour going to other countries to work. Feminist economists in Sri Lanka are concerned that even as the country finds its way back, most likely through a debt restructuring arrangement with the International Monetary Fund, women will still bear the brunt because social spending will be hit. But this is only one part of it.   To understand the situation on ground, I spoke to Sarala Emmanuel, a development practitioner and researcher based in Batticaloa in eastern Sri Lanka, over a period of two months. Sarala is associated with a women's rights group called the Suriya Women's Development Centre.  She works on issues of food security and reproductive healthcare for rural women and women who are part of the informal workforce.   The first time I spoke to Sarala was at the start of April, when large parts of the country were facing long power cuts as the government's supply of fuel was running low.   Part 1 00..00 to 1.04 (So Sarala, what is happening on the ground right now? .. petrol transport, etc.) 02.04 to 02.36 (Women have cut down on meals…children are not having milk) 02.50 to 03.02 (The other thing… transport costs are too much) 03.41 to 04.45 (Are there some parts of the country… stocks are running out) 05.56 to 06.27 (Another group I work closely with.. may not be prioritized) Early on in April, a group of feminists came out with a statement that presented a succinct analysis of the unfolding humanitarian crisis, and also drew attention to some of the ways in which the crisis can be addressed. These suggestions were both long-term and short term. Sarala was one of the signatories of this statement.   9.33 to 11.24 (The socio economic impact … so that's the backdrop) 11.28 to 12.21 (The statement itself makes… which currently aren't existing) 12.27 to 13.21 (Since the end of the war…in this mess) 13.44 to 14.34 (So some of us knew… almost every year) 14.49 to 17.30 (So some of us had been talking about…those undone) 22.02 to 22.35 (We in our statement chose to call it …only way we can face this crisis) Part 2 The next time I spoke to Sarala was after nearly a month. By then, the protests against the government had ballooned. GoGotaGamas had come up. Shortly after our conversation in May, within days, violence broke out between supporters of Mahinda Rajapaksa and the protestors. Several were injured and at least 8 people died. The previous time, Sarala said that while she was fully behind the protests, she feared that a collapse of the government would leave no one accountable. 07.11 to 09.09 (What were the first signs of the impending crisis …things are functioning, you know?) 00.00 to 00.39: Why is it necessary to look at this crisis from a gender lens? 1.21 to 2.57 (There is an invisibility anyways, which is systemic and structural … on their plate)   Part 3 01.01 to 1.34 (The last month has … fear and panic) 07.03 to 7.23 (The last time we spoke, you had mentioned … for instance, food security) 7.57 to 09.09 (The govt has put out a proposal … from those cash grants) 20.40 to 21.07 (In terms of the feminist responses…so that's one part of it) 21.31 to 22.00 (I know that groups are talking about…rural areas)

    Two Muslim Women Tell Us What The Hijab Means To Them

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 18, 2022 24:05


    On March 15, the Karnataka high court held that the hijab – or the headscarf worn by many Muslim women and girls – was not essential to Islam, and so educational institutions had the right to ask their students to not wear the hijab and only stick to the uniforms prescribed. In this episode of the Gender Question, we speak to two Muslim women, one of whom wears the hijab and one who doesn't, to comprehend the issue at hand.

    Shelter in Mumbai

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 25, 2022 24:34


    In this episode, Dhamini Ratnam is being joined by a trans man - Rohan and deconstructs his past experiences, how the "Maya Nagari" Mumbai gets very conservative to provide shelter to both the lovers as he comes from the City of Joy hoping something better happens to him. He also speaks about how this "Abnormal Love" as termed by the society has affected his mental sanity. Despite all this, his courage his love, and hopefulness has so much to offer to us. Tune in to get motivated!

    Same sex marriage: In conversation with a petitioner

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 21, 2021 23:05


    One such question pertains to ‘same-sex marriages'. India does not recognise same-sex marriages. None of the marital laws expressly recognise same-sex marriages. One of the petitioners are Joydeep Sengupta, an OCI, and Russell Blaine Stephens, a US citizen. Sengupta and Stephens been in a loving relationship for nearly 20 years and even got married in New York on August 6, 2012 which is recognised in the US, France, and Canada. Tune in as our host speaks with Mario Dpenha, an Indian citizen and a queer rights academic and activist pursuing a PhD at Rutgers University, USA who talks about the case of Joydeep and Russell and answers the questions of our host.

    Being a woman artist under Taliban rule

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 26, 2021 29:18


    After 20 years, the Taliban have swept to victory in Afghanistan. Since then the questions were being asked about how this group will govern the country, and what their rule would mean for women, human rights, and political freedoms. In this episode, our host had a conversation with Malina Sulaiman, a graffiti artist, painter and metal worker from Afghanistan who had to leave the Taliban earlier due to the threats. Tune in the episode to know about her inspiring journey full of courage and struggles.

    5: On the frontline of the pandemic

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 3, 2021 9:26


    A year on, as Covid 19 continues to spread widely in the second wave, we speak to social workers tasked by the government to track the pandemic. The all-women workforce called ASHA workers, battle people's resistance and low pay and put their lives at risk every day.

    How a judge learnt about queer lives

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 16, 2021 29:45


    In this episode, host Dhamini Ratnam talks about how a high court judge made an effort to learn about queer lives. What he learnt, speaking to a counsellor and members of the LGBTQIA community turned his perception, and led to a very progressive judgement.

    ME TOO: What a court case said about women's testimonies

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 15, 2021 18:04


    The defamation case against journalist Priya Ramani has been one of the most high-profile Me Too cases in court. What was the case about? And what does it hold out for women's testimonies?

    2: What are women farmers really protesting?

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 5, 2021 20:09


    Women's participation and role in the agriculture sector is one that has historically been overlooked. With issues ranging from lack of recognition to absence of land rights, the agricultural sector has given rise to decades of struggle for women. After the announcement of the new laws, women farmers fear that the farm laws will further deepen gender inequality in the sector. Tune in to know more.

    1: Look who lost their jobs, and didn't get it back

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 19, 2021 18:51


    Work, unemployment and economic recovery are gender issues. And there's data to prove it. The new season of Gender Question kicks off by talking to women about their experience of working in the pandemic and how tough it's been to get back on their feet. We also speak to academicians who explain why women have it harder than men when it comes to work. If it's economic recovery that we're aiming for, then we need to go deep into the gender question to resolve it.

    33: The state of transgender prisoners Part 2 (a petition)

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 21, 2020 18:48


    A Delhi-based legal journalist and researcher, Karan Tripathi filed a petition in the Delhi High Court last month, seeking the inclusion of data on the number of transgender prisoners in the upcoming Prison Statistics of India report, brought out regularly by the NCRB. In response, the central body under the aegis of the ministry of home affairs, said it would start doing that with immediate effect. In this episode, Dhamini speaks to Karan to understand why he filed the petition, and what he hoped would come out of it.

    32: The state of transgender prisoners Part 1 (a report)

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 7, 2020 26:49


    A report released by the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI) found that prisons across the country lacked policies and awareness about the needs of transgender inmates, leading to denial of their rights. Tune in to this episode as @dhamini discuss the state of transgender prisoners.

    31: Is a law enough to deal with child abuse?

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 23, 2020 27:13


    In this episode, Dhamini is in conversation with Enakshi Ganguly who is an Indian children's rights activist about the recent Chitrkoot case. Enakshi shares many incidents like this, which brings up a very important question 'Is a law enough to deal with child abuse? '

    30: Who is Kamala Harris?

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 9, 2020 8:10


    In this episode of Gender Question, Dhamini will talk about the new Vice President-elect of the United States of America - Kamala Harris who gave a speech for the ages on Saturday, after it was confirmed that Joe Biden will become the next President of USA. Tune in to know more.

    29: Chroniciling the Queer movement | Part-2

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 2, 2020 43:39


    In this episode, we'll listen to Arvind Narrain, an advocate and one of the founding members of the Alternative Law Forum talk about the struggle against 377, the same-sex marriage petitions and the other issues that confront marginalised gender and sexual identities.

    28: Chronicling the Queer Movement | Part-1

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 27, 2020 20:55


    In this episode of Gender Question, Dhamini exchanged words with Parmesh Shahani the author of Queeristan. They thoroughly discussed the Queer Movement, the story behind chronicling it and the changes witnessed in past few decades. Tune in to witness the changing world.

    27: In conversation with Devaki Jain about her encounters and anecdotes in battling against Gender Inequality

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 12, 2020 18:05


    In this episode of Gender Question, Dhamini speaks to renowned feminist economist and academician Devaki Jain about her latest released memoir: The Brass Notebook, a riveting account of her own life story and her lifelong efforts for Indian women into recognizing their rights in society, in asserting a visible presence and discarding their earlier imposed invisibility.  

    26: When Dutee Chand faced Hyperandrogenism: Test of Testosterone level

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 6, 2020 29:06


    Back in 2014, an 18 year old girl was ready to leave for Commonwealth Games , but her Hyperandrogenism medical report were still awaited. Soon the reports arrived and the young Sprinter Dutee Chand was dropped from the team. In this episode, Dhamini will be speaking with Dr. Payoshni Mitra, an athlete's rights activist on her experience with Dutee Chand. 

    25: In conversation with Gregory Nott about Caster Semenya's case at the Swiss Supreme Court

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 21, 2020 12:37


    On September 8, 29-year-old South African track field athlete Caster Semenya lost an appeal in a case that pertains to one of the most significant issues of our times today: the right to self-identify one's gender and the slippery slope called science that one faces each time one tries. In this episode of Gender Question, Dhamini speaks to Caster's lawyer Gregory Nott.

    24: Engaging with the book 'Sex and the Supreme Court' with Saurabh Kirpal

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 14, 2020 30:03


    In this episode of Gender Question, Damini speaks to Saurabh Kirpal about his book, Sex and the Supreme Court. The book is a set of essays that deal with the idea of choice, dignity, autonomy, and freedom, intersecting with sex, sexual identity, and gender. Tune in for more..

    23: The second anniversary special: Decriminalization of homosexuality

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 8, 2020 24:10


    As September 6 marks the second anniversary of the decriminalization of homosexuality, it is a good moment to reflect on all that has been achieved outside the courtroom. In this episode of Gender Question, Damini speaks to Parmesh Shahani who recently came out with a book, Queeristan: LGBT Inclusion in the workplace. It not only speaks about his personal journey in corporate India but also comes across as a handbook for corporates who are keen to learn about LGBT inclusion. Tune in for more.

    22: Women's health, nutrition and marriage

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 1, 2020 14:29


    In this episode of Gender Question, Damini tackles the ongoing question of introducing the women's task force and engages with the topic of marriage trends among women. She elaborates and links the age of marriage to health outcomes. Tune in for more.

    21: Gender and Sexuality education : Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 10, 2020 14:41


    In this episode of Gender Question, Dhamini elaborates on the history of gender & sexuality education, and the importance of awareness among the adolescent. The conversation also delves into the place of gender and sexuality education in the NEP 2020. Tune in and find out.

    20: Gender and Sexuality education : Part-1

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 4, 2020 16:41


    In this episode of Gender Question, Dhamini speaks to Rituparna Borah, the co-founder of Nazariya, a queer, feminist resource group, and Manak Matiyani the executive director of "the YP foundation". Listen in as they discuss gender, sexuality, and identity with respect to sexuality education. 

    19: Gender, Disability and COVID - Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 27, 2020 16:08


    We continue our discussion between Damini and Nidhi. Dhamini speaks to Nidhi Goyal, founder, Rising Flame, and one of the authors of the report - ‘Neglected and Forgotten: Women with disabilities during the COVID crisis in India'. Nidhi is also a woman with a disability. They engage with the question of access to digital spaces for women with disability. Discussions around difficulties faced by disabled women involved in providing essential services. Tune in for more details! 

    18: What happened to women with disabilities during the lockdown?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 20, 2020 11:12


    As the coronavirus epidemic began to spread, the Indian government immediately established a lot of protocols. But how was all of this to reach persons with disabilities? In this episode of Gender Question, Dhamini speaks to Nidhi Goyal, founder, Rising Flame, and one of the authors of the report - ‘Neglected and Forgotten: Women with disabilities during the COVID crisis in India'. Nidhi is also a woman with a disability.

    17: Domestic Violence and the Workplace

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 13, 2020 20:01


    In this episode of Gender Question, Dhamini speaks to Madhumita Venkatraman and Dr Arunabala, two of the five authors who worked on the report called Eight Questions Answered: Domestic Violence and the Indian Workplace. She asks them about the current work from home situations and shouldn't domestic violence also be seen as a workplace issue? 

    16: Pride Month 2020 | The 2010s and the death knell to Section 377

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 6, 2020 22:31


    In the final episode of the Pride Month series, Dhamini Ratnam talks about the LGBTQ+ movement in the 2010s, the Naz judgement, the Nalsa judgement, and finally the death knell to Section 377.  

    15: Pride Month 2020 | The 2000s, and the Naz Judgement

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 29, 2020 11:50


    In this episode of Gender Question, Dhamini Ratnam talks about India's struggle with trans identification and how groups across the country fought stigma and influences politics.

    14: Pride Month 2020 | Living through the 90s | Lesbian groups - Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 22, 2020 15:13


    Continuing with the special series on Pride Month, in this episode of Gender Question, Dhamini Ratnam talks to the some of the country's most influential queer activists - Lesley Esteves, Shals Mahajan and Chayanika Shah on lesbian movements and communities across the country in the 1990s. 

    13: Pride Month 2020 | Living through the 90s - Part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 15, 2020 12:10


    In this episode of Gender Question, Dhamini Ratnam talks about the journey of the pride community in the 1990s. She talks about how their struggles and initiatives helped them destigmatize the community and gain recognition across society.

    12: Pride month 2020

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 8, 2020 11:47


    In this episode of Gender Question, Dhamini Ratnam talks about the story of the Indian queer movement through the month of June.

    11: How Conversion Therapy affects the LGBTQA+ community | Part-2

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 1, 2020 11:26


    This week, Dhamini addresses the issue of Conversion Therapy that haunts the members of the LGBTQA+ community. This practice has prevailed for longer than we can imagine and even has the backing of institutionalised science but is slowly being exposed. 

    10: How Conversion Therapy affects the LGBTQA+ community | Part-1

    Play Episode Listen Later May 26, 2020 10:26


    This week, Dhamini addresses the issue of Conversion Therapy that haunts the members of the LGBTQA+ community. This practice has prevailed for longer than we can imagine and even has the backing of institutionalised science but is slowly being exposed. 

    9: Trans communities seek to protect their rights | Part - 2

    Play Episode Listen Later May 23, 2020 13:43


    A draft ruled out for the empowerment and safety of transgender persons by the government has given the trans community time till May 18 to respond with their suggestions. Tune in to know what they're doing!

    8: Trans communities seek to protect their rights | Part - 1

    Play Episode Listen Later May 18, 2020 17:13


    A draft ruled out for the empowerment and safety of transgender persons by the government has given the trans community time till May 18 to respond with their suggestions. Tune in to know what they're doing!

    7: Bois Locker Room: How does consent draw a line between sexism and sexualness?

    Play Episode Listen Later May 11, 2020 22:57


    In this episode, Dhamini addresses the outed Instagram group, Bois Locker Room. She talks to Bisakha Datta @busydot, Jaya Sharma, and Fareeha Iftekhar about issues like consent, adolescence, and sexual freedom. 

    6: Ghar ki Baat | Domestic Violence | Help available in Lockdown

    Play Episode Listen Later May 1, 2020 14:57


    During the lockdown, domestic violence has been of particular concern especially because the survivors have not been able to access the usual channels of help. How did the situation come to this point? Let's find out with Dhamini. 

    5: Gargi College Sexual Assault: A classic example of attitude towards masculinity | DU | Cultural festival | Women's college

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 18, 2020 16:26


    This week, Dhamini addresses the issue of what happened on 6th February, the last day of a cultural festival at Gargi, a women's college in Delhi University. She also spoke to Nandita Gandhi, who is the co-founder of Akshara Centre & also has been part of the women's movement since the 1980s.

    4: Violence and Masculinity: How are they correlated? | Riots | North-East Delhi | Entitlement to power

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 11, 2020 14:56


    This week, Dhamini addresses the issue of masculinity and its manifestation in violence. Taking the example of the recent riots in North-East Delhi, and conversations with Manak Matiyani, she explores the overwhelming messaging of "being protectors" spread to young boys is correlated to their sense of entitlement to power.

    3: Consent: Not just a No. Also about a Yes, and a Maybe. (Part 2) | Jaya Sharma | LGBTQ | BDSM |

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 19, 2020 15:01


    In this episode, Dhamini speaks to Jaya Sharma, a queer feminist author, an activist of the LGBTQ community & part of the BDSM community continues her conversation form the previous episode. She also talks about consent as a messy desire and the research she did for her books.

    2: Consent: Not just a No. Also about a Yes, and a Maybe. (Part 1) | Jaya Sharma | LGBTQ | BDSM |

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 12, 2020 10:58


    In this episode, Dhamini speaks to Jaya Sharma, a queer feminist author, an activist of the LGBTQ community & part of the BDSM community talks about consent and discusses what it is about consent which makes it difficult to pin down. 

    1: What are Muslim Women Telling Us about Themselves? | JNU | CAA | NRC

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 5, 2020 13:54


    In this episode, Dhamini speaks to Ghazala Jamil, an author and a professor at JNU about how Muslim women, who are leading protests around the country against CAA and the NRCs are challenging our deeply-held perceptions about them.  

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