I’m Japleen Pasricha, Founder of Feminism in India, and this is how I Lead from Within
Japleen Pasricha, the founder of Feminism In India, is a dynamic example of the adage ‘be the change you want to see’. What she started as a Facebook page that curated feminist content from the internet, Feminism In India is now a website, a Twitter handle, an Instagram account, a Youtube channel, and a WhatsApp broadcast list with unique content shared every day. The voices on the page are refreshingly diverse and the intent, hearteningly sincere.
The Beginning
I began the Feminism In India Facebook page in March 2013, when I began my own journey as a feminist. I started to look around on the internet for accessible resources on the feminist movement in India but all I found were academic articles that were dense, theoretical and mostly hidden behind a paywall. Or I found content from western feminist platforms such as Bitch Media and Feministing.
Feminism In India was thus created with a vision of providing easy-to-understand, accessible, popular Indian feminist content – written by Indian women for Indian women.
The Feminism In India Facebook page initially contained curated content from all over the internet, as well as my opinion pieces. But slowly, people began to engage with the page and a nascent digital feminist community started to build. When I put out my plans of creating a website, I immediately started receiving offers from people who wanted to contribute. The Feminism In India website, created in August 2014, published one or two crowdsourced articles a week. Over the years it has grown exponentially with now a minimum of four articles published daily, in English and Hindi, on diverse topics under the feminist umbrella, written by an ever-expanding writer community.
Our main objective is to increase the representation of women and marginalised communities on the internet – their stories and their histories. We amplify these stories using digital storytelling techniques, pop culture references and new media.
On Keeping Content Diverse and Inclusive
It is important, when working in the social sector, to keep building diversity and ensuring that the privileged do not speak over the marginalised. In this light, we are extremely cognizant that the majority of our writers, while women, belong to a privileged section of the society. To keep the tone of our organisation from being predominated by upper/middle-class urban public, we have instituted an editorial policy to bring to fore the voices of the marginalised – we actively seek out voices from these communities and work relentlessly to increase diversity amongst our writers.
Today, we have over 2600 articles written by writers from marginalised genders, sexualities, castes, religions and classes.
On Understanding Sexual Harrassment
I’m glad that the wave of #MeToo has started in India. That a lot of stories of sexual harassment and assault are being shared and perpetrators are being called out. Men are finally beginning to understand that sexual harassment doesn’t just mean rape or physically harassing someone but also includes a gamut of verbal and non-verbal sexual cues like staring at someone, whistling, passing lewd comments, brushing against a woman’s breasts, putting a hand on someone’s thigh without asking for consent etc.
The definition of what constitutes sexual harassment is broadening. It is now rightly encompassing every gesture that is unwanted and non-consensual and makes a woman uncomfortable. The basic awareness of what constitutes sexual harassment is extremely important because without that knowledge we learn to normalise a lot of predatory behaviour. Fully knowing what comprises sexual harassment is the first step of many to change things around us.
On Believing Stories of Sexual Harrassment
When someone is sharing their story of sexual harassment, listen patiently and do not question. Do not doubt the story. Nobody wants to put themselves in a position where they’re recounting dreadful experiences of sexual harassment while being counter-questioned on the authenticity of the story or being accused of doing it for fame. No one gets any kind of positive recognition or publicity by lying about being sexually harassed. So believe their story.
My first instinct when someone – woman, man, trans person, someone who identifies as queer – says that they have been sexually harassed is to believe them and tell them that I’m here to listen and support. On the Feminism In India portals we have stories from different people on the spectrum of gender, who have experienced sexual harassment – we try to be a safe, secure space where they can share their stories.
On My Superpowers
Not getting defensive: When someone points out a mistake I’ve made, I don’t get defensive. I learnt this the hard way but I’m so glad that I did. I’ve realised that instinctively becoming defensive is not productive for me especially given the work that I do. I make mistakes and when someone points them out to me, I listen, reflect and gracefully accept if they are in fact right.
Maintaining zero email-ambiguity: In most companies and organisations, people have a habit of responding late or not at all to emails. You will rarely get a rejection email or one that explains why someone cannot collaborate with you. This is a real pain point for me. Since Feminism In India gets a lot of writer and contributor submissions, which we have to review, I have built a policy in my office that all emails must be responded to within 24 hours. When we feel that we need more time to revert, we let the person know via email. And lastly, we always inform when we’re not selecting their contribution. This way both parties get closure and there is no ambiguity, ever.
Being organised: I’m organised and punctual. If I’m not, I get anxious and I can’t function properly. I also expect these qualities in the people with whom I work.
On #MeToo Essentials
Sexual violence is a complicated, behavioural problem. I don’t think we can solve problems of sexual violence – ranging from sexual harassment to rape – by just bringing in stricter laws and having more cops on the roads. We must bring in social reform and education. When we don’t teach children about consent, bodily integrity and respecting others’ choice and comfort, a mere death penalty for rape is pointless – it is not going to deter anyone from touching or making someone feel uncomfortable.
In most stories of sexual violence there is power play involved; the perpetrator is a senior and the victim is a junior. This is possible in a workplace environment as well as in an intimate relationship. Understanding personal and others’ bodily integrity, recognising comfortable and uncomfortable touch and conveying the same are all important steps to making informed choices.
When there is an unwelcome touch, teach your kids and learn yourself to call it out. When we do not convey to the perpetrator that what they have done is not okay, we are essentially normalising is, making it “okay”. And this is how it starts leading to graver degrees of sexual violence. There is a lot of work to be done; we live in a culture where touching someone without consent and making them uncomfortable is seen as okay. It is our responsibility to call out sexual harassment, no matter how small it may seem.
A Message For All Women
Self-care and self-love are extremely important for your wellbeing as well as of those around you. So, my message to young women reading this would be to take care of themselves before they go out to change the world or smash the patriarchy.
On Feminist Role Models
I don’t have role models. I don’t believe in putting people on pedestals, including myself. I believe that every person has something to offer and I learn from everyone.
