The Bombay group - Deepa, Pallavi, Piroja, Rajvi, Shriya, Shreeda, Sonika - distributed testimonials in the VT Subway on Friday, June 16.
Photos and the girls' perceptions of the intervention to follow.
I chose Jasmeen's testimonial for the blogathon because I think this sums up what we're trying to achieve with Blank Noise - Who we are, where we go, what we wear, how we sit, stand, talk, walk in our very own cities. When we demand the need to make our cities non-threatening , I don’t expect anyone to think of me as their sister or mother, but to really look at women as citizens who have every right to be out on the streets, without any explanation. Sometimes we just love to walk, stand around, hang around, without looking ‘avaliable'.
We stood around the subway - such a teeming public space - watching the crowds rush past, staring back at men who stared at us. Some rushed away, some came to take a testimonial, while others seemed to think it was some sort of a game and tried to stare as long as possible. What was empowering was this reclamation, in whatever small sense, of a subway that women use every single day, and get harassed in.
We also plan another Bombay intervention on Sunday, June 25. If you're interested in participating, please mail chininath@rediffmail.com.
Photos and the girls' perceptions of the intervention to follow.
I chose Jasmeen's testimonial for the blogathon because I think this sums up what we're trying to achieve with Blank Noise - Who we are, where we go, what we wear, how we sit, stand, talk, walk in our very own cities. When we demand the need to make our cities non-threatening , I don’t expect anyone to think of me as their sister or mother, but to really look at women as citizens who have every right to be out on the streets, without any explanation. Sometimes we just love to walk, stand around, hang around, without looking ‘avaliable'.
We stood around the subway - such a teeming public space - watching the crowds rush past, staring back at men who stared at us. Some rushed away, some came to take a testimonial, while others seemed to think it was some sort of a game and tried to stare as long as possible. What was empowering was this reclamation, in whatever small sense, of a subway that women use every single day, and get harassed in.
We also plan another Bombay intervention on Sunday, June 25. If you're interested in participating, please mail chininath@rediffmail.com.
