Being My Age Is A Feminist Act
I’m often told I don’t look my age. What is complimentary about that?
Beauty
The Politics Of Smile
You should smile more, women are told, it makes you look good. This is said as a compliment but is erasure.
AgentsOfIshq: ‘You Should Wear Maroon For Your Skin’ And Other Advice I’ve Ignored As A Non-Fair Woman
AgentsOfIshq ran a story of mine on dark skin pride and my love of colour.
Style 101: Alter You
Alter who you think you are. Who is that? Find out and your skin will fit.
Saadgi: The Indian Plain Jane ideal
Western feminism talks about the infantalisation of women. Childish behaviour is rewarded, glorified and in some cases, forcibly attributed too. I think the Indian counterpart is a bit different – but there is an Indian counterpart. The Indian culture, across states idolizes the Plain Jane. In general conversations among my…
MayShortReads13: The Fad
A short story about the fads of belief and authenticity and the law. And uh, beauty.
MayShortReads 09: The Beautiful Face
Selena’s best friend was her mirror. She began her day with it and it was the last thing she looked at, before she turned off her lights. Her mirror showed clear skin pulled taut over large, dark eyes, that topped a straight, defined nose, which led down to perfect Cupid’s…
My Looks Are Not Your Excuse
I wasn’t a pretty child. Oily skin, stringy hair, gangly long limbs. Then puberty came along, and like a fairy godmother, bestowed me with a complete makeover. Suddenly I had the passport into BabeLand. That was an eon ago, long enough anyway to make me wonder whether the fairy godmother…
Hair Raising On The Tube
I’m practically de-sensitized to the trash overload from the television set. After all.. Got thirteen channels of shit on the TV to choose from… But every now and then there comes along something that makes me sit up and take notice. It would have been a normal, frenzied rush-hour day…
Beauty Parlour
Planning a rendezvous with a girlfriend. She is at the parlor and I have to wait till she gets done. I sit tight elsewhere and am most amused to hear her say, I think it will be an hour before I’m released!!! And if that sounds like parole from jail…