The Finger Wrap: Rural Ladies, Unreported Rapes and Riddick Beauty Standards

Here’s how women have borne the brunt of the transformation of rural India these past two decades, and how they may play a role in solving some of the greatest problems of our times such as food security, environmental justice and developing a solidarity economy.

Haryana and Maharashtra have voted in the highest-ever number of women candidates during the recent Assembly polls. Haryana will now have 13 women in Assembly (of 90), while Maharashtra will have 20 of (288).

New research confirms the view of activists that sexual violence against women is grossly under-reported in India. Estimates show that just 1 percent of marital rapes and six percent of rapes by men other than husbands is reported.

Abey yaar, Chetan, why is your female love interest in Half-Girlfriend mostly missing?

The BJP’s Manohar Lal Khattar, now Haryana’s new chief minister, thinks that “if a girl is dressed decently, a boy will not look at her in the wrong way,” and that “freedom has to be limited”. We wholeheartedly agree with the latter: his freedom should be very limited.

In response to the ABVP’s campaign against live-in relationships in Delhi comes this beautiful, brave letter from a woman who refuses to have her life choices dictated to her.

Why has everyone got ants in their pants about Renee Zellweger’s appearance?

Meet Rawat, footballer extraordinaire.

Despite ceasefire talks, Boko Harama has kidnapped 25 more girls.

A peek inside the world of women bodybuilders.

(Images “water, hodko banni” by Nevil Zaveri via CC by-2.0, Half-Girlfriend book cover by Rupa, “Renee Zellweger Head Shankbone 2010 NYC” by David Shankbone via CC BY-2.0)