Women describe the challenges in expressing identity

Calicut, Nov. 7, 2020: Women who participated in a webinar on the theme “Who Am I” narrated different challenges they faced when they tried to carve out their own sphere of expression and creativity. The webinar was the third of the four-part series organised by IOS Centre for Gender Studies, Calicut. The women were mostly from central Kerala. 

The virtual seminar was inaugurated by Ad. SM Thara, member of state women commission. In her inaugural speech she hoped that programmes like these would enable women to fight for gender justice and equality in society dominated by backward concepts of patriarchy, which was fountainhead of attacks against women.

Ad Nisa Fazila delivered the keyword address on “Laws on Crimes against Women”. She advised women to become brave enough to go for legal redress and asserted that it was heartening to note that the state government had many programmes and agencies to help women in distress.

Sheetal Shyam (member of Board for Transgender Justice) Lissy Jose (psychologist), Gomathy (founder of Penpillai Oruma, a movement for women’s empowerment), Mitra Neelima (poet) and Saritha Rahman (gazal singer) were members of the panel which moderated the lively discussion.

Laila Rasheed (state president of Jwala, a women’s collective), Ad K Nandini  (feminist thinker and activist), Balqis Banu (writer), Vahida Nisar (state president, National Forum for Peoples Rights), Bindu Fatima (auto driver), Shobana Ponnad (differently-abled short story writer), Dr. Priya Yusuf (critical care specialist) were among many women representatives who participated in the three-hour programme. Sheena VS presided over the function. S Bushra welcomed delegates and Sufayja P proposed a vote of thanks.