Gender Issues

Music, identity, and pride

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11-year old me was watching MTV and Adam Lambert’s Whataya Want From Me came on.  I liked the sound; before I knew it, I loved the song.

I’ve been listening to it for the last decade & the track has meant so much to me in the process of figuring myself out. The icon Lambert is, both as a personality & as an openly gay musician has helped me understand myself.

A few months ago, I was browsing through Spotify & discovered another song; this one, titled Fuimos Amor (“We Were Love”), is by Colombian singer Esteman, from his album Amor Libre (“Free Love”). Since I first heard it some six months ago, it’s been a constant on my drive playlist. Like Lambert’s track, I love everything about Fuimos Amor: lyrics, video & aesthetics.

This June, I was in Vienna on summer break & later, in New York City for a university program. In Vienna, our bus passed by buildings celebrating pride.

A building in Vienna with the pride flag (June 2019).

In New York, I witnessed the Pride parade & I danced as the procession did. I saw the Camp exhibit at The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Walking around the city, I noticed graffiti & street art that celebrated pride. I tapped my feet & swayed as performers going home after the parade sang & danced in the subway.

“I Choose Love”: street art in New York City (June 2019).

These experiences have been monumental in navigating my identity. I can say now, that I am bi & not be afraid or disgusted by it.

Gender Issues

Gender Equality in the European Union: a study

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A few days ago, a report about gender equality in the European Union was released. It looks at the changes in gender equality between 2005 and 2019, with a focus on work-life balance.

The report highlights a glaring issue – while there is progress for women in terms of job opportunities and pay, as well as healthcare, the large share of power (political, economic or otherwise) still remains with men.

Further, even as countries like Sweden and Denmark have made remarkable progress , others like Greece and Hungary, are trailing. Meanwhile, per the study, countries like Lithuania  have not progressed since 2005 in achieving gender equality.

The report concludes, “In some domains, progress has slowed, stalled or even regressed. We are still far from the finish line.”

Gender Issues

Joker: a female version and Viola Davis’ In A Man’s World

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Todd Philips’  Joker, starring Joaquin Phoenix in the titular role, has generated a mixed reception from fans and critics alike. While some have lauded Philips’ direction and Phoenix’s portrayal of depression, isolation and mental illness, as how the movie deals with the class struggle, others have expressed concerns about the glorification of violence.

Despite that, the movie is being lauded as a serious Oscar candidate – coming second only to Heath Ledger’s take on the character in The Dark Knight. 

But as I was scrolling Twitter earlier today, I came across this on my timeline, from user @knittaphd

Here, there is an interesting prospect, as women are still behind men when it comes to wages, rights and recognition, among other things. The idea of a character experiencing women’s real-life issues onscreen, and then revolting through anarchy as Phoenix’s Joker does is indeed, powerful.

Just as this concept appeared on my feed, I next saw the trailer for Viola Davis’ upcoming series In A Man’s World, which suggests that in the fight for equality, women, have to disguise as a man, albeit the trailer for Davis’ show plays it for an unconvincing characterization.

However, once you look beyond the absurdity, there is a serious undertone – that, in the pursuit of equality, women have to transform and disguise themselves as men. To produce a show or film on that premise is bold, just as it is a social commentary of our time.

Gender Issues

On the Gender Pay Gap

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Last week, I was watching an episode of Vox’s Explained series on Netflix. While they recently launched their second season, I am still catching up with the first. The episode I was watching, “Why Women Are Paid Less,” examined the gender pay gap.

Credit: IMDB

Narrated by actress Rachel McAdams, the episode features former First Lady and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, among others, as they talk about the issue and their experiences.

In the episode, Clinton says: “I never met a woman doctor [growing up].”

As McAdams explains, in the 50s and 60s, there were several aspects to pay gap – it was legal for women to be paid less, women had lower education rates and participation in the work force, and even when they did, it was often in “feminine” industries. Plus, there were cultural constraints on women and their roles in family and society.

Among these, the major one still persists – women are expected to have children and look after them.

According to a Pew Research Center study, men are increasingly taking domestic roles. Despite this, 78% of Americans think new fathers should be working full-time, while another survey (NBER, Kleven et al, 2018) shows that only about 20% of people believe new mothers should work full-time.

As Explained points out, the gender pay gap is a complex issue and even as there is progress being made, a history of inequality, coupled with social pressures means that fixing it is difficult.

Gender Issues

Size doesn’t matter, until it does: being 5″3′ & content with it

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In grade 5, I was among the taller kids in my class.

Four years later, most of my peers towered over me. While the teasing and jokes were all well, deep down, it was humiliating.

At 5″3′, I am some way behind India’s average of 5 feet 7 inches, which has always bothered me, even if it doesn’t as much now.

While I have mostly come to live with it, there are moments that (painfully) remind me, and then, I go back to being miserable.

Like the time I went to this party and the host (who’s a friend of a friend), greeted me saying “Wow, you’re short.” (Safe to say I’ve had better moments.)

That’s a single moment in time, among others, that takes me back to my own confrontations with height dysphoria.

I’ve looked at limb lengthening procedures, or considered wearing shoe insoles, and I’ve watched videos on “how to dress to look taller.”

But none of those methods seemed viable, either because I didn’t have the resources for some, or the nerve for the other.

Growing up on the Harry Potter movies, I came to admire Daniel Radcliffe,  who played the titular role in the series. Radcliffe has spoken about his experience with self-image, saying in an interview “I used to be self-conscious about my height, but then I thought, f*ck that, I’m Harry Potter.”

It’s taken me constantly repeating the quote to myself to accept that I don’t have to be taller to fit in/feel good/be a man.

Gender Issues

Modern tech and women: a case of invisibility

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In 1962, mathematicians Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan and Mary Jackson helped send John Glenn to orbit the planet.

Image: pinterest.com

Seven years later, Margaret Hamilton’s (below) codes took us to the moon.

Margaret Hamilton with the code she and her team wrote for the Apollo 11 mission. Image: Wikimedia Commons

These are just two cases of women pioneering science.

Yet, the bias against women in modern medicine exists and is a documented fact. As journalist and writer Caroline Criado Perez points out, this bias has also seeped into modern tech.

While she talks about the issue more extensively in her book Invisible Women: Exposing Data Bias in a World Designed for Men, here are some ways that illustrate the same:

    • The average cell phone – at 5.5 inches long – is modeled around men’s hands.
    • Speech recognition software is trained with male voices, and less likely to understand women.
    • Fitness tracking devices underestimate steps during housework by up to 74%.

Here is a clear issue with representation and recognition of women. Given where we are as a tech-heavy society, the implications of bias against women in science and tech are real and visible.

As Criado Perez suggests, we have a problem – and the data proves it.

One fix is to go back to the Katherine Jonhson era and hire more female data programmers – today, women just make up 11% of software developers and 25% of Silicon Valley employees. Another is to rely on women-specific methods of drug testing & diagnoses.

But, as a man, who am I to say?

Gender Issues

Hedy Lamarr: Hollywood Actress & Tech Innovator

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As a digital native, the only world I have known is one with internet.

To imagine a time before that technology is unimaginable and almost unnatural (even as internet penetration has not seeped all over the world).

I was researching women in science and technology as that’s what I wanted to focus on this week. It was then that I discovered a most interesting character in Hedy Lamarr.

Image: pixabay.com

A 1940s actress, Lamarr is also credited for her contributions that led to the creation of WiFi.

As I looked for information about Lamarr’s work, I found out about the American Innovations podcast. I started listening to the episode on her life and work, which is one of most amazing stories I have heard.

Lamarr’s story is about more than a pretty face; it’s about an inventor and a passionate innovator and it’s about how that second part was left behind, just as with several women in history before her (and after). But that’s for another post, maybe. Here, I want to reflect on the podcast, and on Lamarr.

Even as the 46-minute run feels too little given the impact of Lamarr’s work, this episode is a great listen and a better learning experience.

So, if you haven’t already, go ahead and listen!

Gender Issues

A cab ride, a nap and privilege

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Usually, I would drive to an interview for a story. But on Thursday, I didn’t. I was unwell and I took a cab.

As I often do, I sat in the front passenger seat. As I was tired, I soon fell asleep.

The view as we exit EC, moments before I dozed off.

 

When I woke, we were just outside my destination. Fairly normal.

However, this commute reminded me of when a friend who, on her way home, hopped into the backseat of the Uber instead.

Now, the context here is that:

  1. My use of cabs has declined significantly since I got my license last year.
  2. What felt so familiar and almost natural (a front seat nap) to me may not be the same for another passenger.

I had read Twitter threads earlier about how women feel safer with female drivers.

I wanted to explore why so. To find out, I did a poll on Instagram and Twitter, asking which seat would a female passenger take and why, later asking guys the same.

Most female respondents said they prefer the back seat (either right behind the driver or across).

When asked why, some said they felt safer right behind, and others cited being away, closer to the furthest door, felt more secure. Others said it didn’t matter.

However, that women often have to think before getting in a cab says something about safety, both actual and perceived.

That I and most guys don’t have the same consideration shows our privilege.

Gender Issues

Dolls and inclusivity: Mattel’s new line offers promise

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I don’t remember having one of Mattel’s dolls as a kid, but I still knew of them.

Especially Ken and Barbie – the iconic pairing that has defined beauty ideals for well over the past 5 decades.

Image: pixabay.com

However, given where we are as a society, inclusivity and representations matter. Mattel’s new line, Creatable World – a series of gender-neutral dolls, is a welcome addition in this regard.

In 2016, the French toy-maker had a landmark overhaul to their products, when they added three new body types to the Barbie line.

Creatable World, then, is another step in the right direction, because dolls are more than toys: they are mediums of expression and identity and that involves gender-neutral, gender-fluid; everything beyond and everything in between. As the first of its kind, the series is immense for representation, and this is just one example.

It’s only been two days since the line was announced, but there is promise here. That an eight-year-old boy who is gender-fluid, or a seven-year-old girl who is non-conforming can have a toy that represents them and looks like them is huge.

In a few years, someone will study the impact of these toys, but for now, Mattel can pat themselves on the back. Well done!