HONEY

SPRING 2020 | ISSUE NO. 1

THE FEMALE GAZE

SOUTH ASIAN WOMEN RECLAIM THEIR NARRATIVES

Source: Ra Abta By Rahul

 contents
TABLE OF

3 EDITOR'S LETTER

Q/A WITH REEMA ZAMAN

6
12 BETWEEN TRADITION AND MODERNITY

INTERVIEW WITH RIDA I. MANDAVIA

14
20 THE CURSE OF COLORISM

FEMALE POWER: SOUTH ASIAN WOMEN

LED MOVEMENTS 26
30 JASMIN RAHMAN INTERVIEW

OUR CULTURE IS NOT YOUR COSTUME

36
40 VAIDEHI GAJJAR INTERVIEW

PROFILE: TRISHA SAKHUJA-WALIA 44

Source: Sabyasachi 2
As you flip through the pages of this magazine, think about any other space these identities,

these stories or these faces dominate. You’ll find that it’s pretty hard to do so -- if not

impossible. The diaspora of South Asian women rarely has their stories told authentically,

unfiltered, and unedited.

Having been raised on a fairly mediocre diet of primetime American television and movies that

dominated pop culture, I think I can confidently count on a single hand, the number of

characters I saw that accurately portrayed my experience as a South Asian woman. I found

myself being okay with the bare minimum, which would be a repetition of the same thing over

and over again: a palette of Caucasian actors with a token brown character created to be

inferior to their white counterparts. Whether it was to add diversity or comedy, I was growing

more complacent in any way my community was portrayed because of the ideology that at

least we were being represented, right?

Even within South Asian films, women have only recently been

portrayed as independent and bold. Before that, the film industry

recycled the notion of the “coy brown woman”, a character whose

life’s purpose is to be married. This notion remained in a variety of films

and was only changed in the way we consumed it. The film and

television industry are not the only perpetrators here. Media in general

distorts and misconstructs brown voices and identities-- especially

those of women. It leaves girls like me yearning to feel noticed and

seen in a world that seems to reduce our narratives to insignificant

generalizations like colorful outfits and pretty jewelry.

This reality has created the inception of this magazine; it comes from a

void I’ve been trying to fill for my entire life. This magazine is my love

letter to South Asian women around the world where brown women

are documented claiming their rightful place in society. The symbolism

of the word honey ranges from prosperity and sweetness to rebirth and

goodness. This magazine serves as the rebirth of South Asian stories

and narratives. Through good and bad, we continue to prosper and

grow.

We have been underrepresented, mischaracterized, restricted, and

silenced for far too long. Today is a great time to be a brown woman.

Today is about celebrating our culture, our stories, and our existence

as we emerge from the darkest parts of the shadows we have been

forced into and into the golden light. Thank you to every single woman

featured in this magazine, as well as the work of many other South

Asian artists and creators. This is for us.

3
"Underrepresented" Photo Series feat Rushika Patel, Nidhi Bandra, Shreya Tumma
Photo Courtesy of Simrah Farrukh. 
4
 as sweetas honey

Deconstructed Sabyasachi Photoshoot Graphic Representing Unconventional Design and Modernity

Source: Sabyasachi 5
 R
E
E Born in Bangladesh, raised in Thailand

and currently living in America, Reema

M
Zaman holds various titles that span

from award-winning author to public-

speaker and actress. Her work reflects

the powerful transitions and

&
transformations that have

encompassed her life. Through her

voice she continues to fuel the

revolution of empowering women to

with

end the limits put on them and fight to

create a space for themselves in the

world. Her memoir, I Am Yours, serves

as a prime example of how, once we

end our silence, our voices will be our

Z
source of power and freedom. Through

writing each chapter, she took back

control of her own narrative and

A
encouraged women everywhere to rise

from the ashes. Zaman spoke to me in

an exclusive interview to discuss her

M
journey to empowerment and the

process of healing through writing.

A
N
6
 You started off as an actress, and while
you still continue to act, what drove you to
also pursue writing?
I’ve kept a journal since I was nine or ten, and had a

specific goal about publishing a book. When I was in my

mid-20’s and I was going through an abusive marriage, I

started writing what became initial chapters and notes

for my memoir, I Am Yours.

In your memoir, you write about an abusive

marriage. How did it feel writing about
something so raw and honest while coming
from a South Asian background?
Considering this is something that we don't
talk about a lot within the community and
something we keep silenced, it must’ve felt
different to be open about a topic that we
tend to slide under the rug in our
community.
I’ve never been someone who had adhered to the

negative rules and restrictions of South Asian culture.

That’s just a part of my personality. I’ve always been very

outspoken; I’ve been a feminist since I was a little kid.

Feeling social shame or the need to stay silent because

of adhering to culture; it's just not in my personality. I

know about shame culture, and shame culture

compounds on trauma. It persuades people to stay

longer inside of abusive relationships because of that

enforced violence and shame. I knew of that

intellectually, even though I didn’t feel it myself. That

was all the more incentive to be publicly outspoken and

actually write a book about it in order to help other

people unpack and release their shame.

Your memoir was adopted into a high

school curriculum. How do you think high
schoolers are impacted by reading this and
how do they apply it to their own lives? Is it
something you feel that any age can
resonate with, even teenagers?
Yes definitely. I think that’s one of the reasons it was

adopted. I think when you witness someone else claim

their truth, especially if you think the action or the story

that they are putting out into the world is an act of

bravery, even if it doesn’t feel like one for them, but just

a life or death kind of need to do so, if the audience

feels that it is brave, they will feel all the more

encouraged to do the same in their own lives. Courage

begets courage so if we see somebody do something

that we see as brave, it gives us permission to do

Reema Zaman something similar in our own lives.

Photo Courtesy of Reema Zaman

7
 I Am Yours is your journey of finding your voice and helping
others who read it to find their voice. How have your roots
and background enabled you to do that? It takes a lot of
bravery to do this so do you tie some of that courage back to
your Bengali heritage?

It actually didn't feel like an act of bravery. It just felt like this is very natural to

who I am and in one of the closing chapters of I Am Yours, I talk about how

Bangladesh came to independence. We pursued our war for independence

from Pakistan, not out of differing religions or desire for natural resources, but

through a language movement. We instigated that revolution because we

wanted the right to speak our own language, to be formally acknowledged and

call ourselves our own country.  So that is how I live as an artist, woman and

human being. I claimed my right to speak my own truth and I will not be

punished or shamed for it. I don’t think any human being should be for speaking

their own language and in a figurative way and tangible way, those are my

roots and heritage.

When you started writing, was it openly accepted by

your family? Were acting and writing occupations that
were accepted by your South Asian family? 
Those kinds of things were never permitted initially at all. I mean now

my family is like my biggest fan but I never had the social or familial

validation or encouragement when I set out to be an actress or tackle,

of all genres, a memoir. My family was like why don’t you just do fiction

because in a memoir you’d be exposing yourself naked to the world.

My entire life I’ve done these kinds of things. I had eight piercings in my

ears by the time I was in seventh grade and I got my first tattoo when I

was 17. I just went after school one day to a tattoo parlor in Thailand

and I just didn't tell my parents and I got it. By that time, I had already

chopped off my hair when I was 15 and it was purple and bleached so I

was already known as a very troublesome kid who never adhered to my

parent’s rules. At the same time, I made sure to get straight A’s so I

was always arguing and pushing the boundaries and while doing so, I

excelled at school. There’s never been anything in my life that I waited

for permission for, much to their discomfort.

A memoir is said to be apocalyptic because it can destroy your family

or relationship and it's a very narcissistic genre. I just tried to argue

and debate calmly like no I’m not going to destroy the family and no

this isn’t a narcissistic endeavor. I realized it's kind of like telling a

person about the book without writing it so I was like I’m just going to

go ahead and write the book and you can see what it is about by the

impact it has on other people. I just forced myself to be patient for

five years. I’ll have my family be angry at me for five years but that's

nothing new in my life.

The book came out and everyone’s been reading it. It validated the "I Am Yours" by Reema Zaman
usefulness of my voice in a public sphere. That’s when my parents and Photo Source: Reema Zaman

siblings had their aha moment. Being South Asian, they had to see the

results before they believed but that's also how most human beings

work and so now they’re so proud and they love my work. My sister

finished reading the book and she said it's a love letter. It's helped so

many people.

8
What was your main driving force It’s very true. In our community, we are so caught
through the entire process, even up with seeking approval that sometimes it
when things became more difficult becomes easier to just do what feels comfortable
with your family? and get by instead of disappointing our parents.

I knew that much of why I had been silent from

Right. I’ve looked into my narrative and that of other speakers as
certain adults or cruelty that has been flung on
well. I am exposed to many people's narratives and looking back
me was because I had been told to remain
the people who grow up with childhoods that were filled with
silent about these things. This kind of suffering
approval from parents, they end up being adults that crave and
and silence led to anorexia for me and I had
need approval before going after their dreams and I’m always
incentive to break that silence and I had very
like let that go! Stop waiting for someone else's permission
clear evidence that suffering in silence leads to
because it will inhibit your creativity and your productivity since it
self harm. It doesn't have to be anorexia but it
is based on someone else’s approval of you versus you just being
can be some kind of self harm, even if it’s just a
able to pursue what you know needs to be pursued independent
loathing self shaming monologue you have
of social reward. Parent’s approval is never in my mindset when I
going on in your head.
go after something.

I knew breaking that silence

and encouraging others to do Can this way of thinking affect you in other parts
so was such an invaluable of life as well? If we grow up in the shadows of
activity to commit my life to. what our parents expect and want from us, then
That overtook any kind of I’m sure that will lead to us compromising our
argument or pain I was happiness for other things.
feeling from my family. I had
good enough incentive to It can be very suffocating. Like I said, it can inadvertently be the

rationale people use to stay in toxic relationships, to not get a

move forward to take on the divorce, to not pursue their dreams because of this phantom of

pain of being not accepted by parent disapproval. That’s actually the deeper work. If you know

my family for a while. you have that phantom on your shoulder all the time, tackle that

first by pursuing the thing you know that you're pursuing for your

own approval and become your own couch and guardian.

For any South Asian person or anybody feeling

that there’s cultural stigma attached to you

Do you have any advice for women trying to go
along a nontraditional path and how they should
pursuing your deeper dream, live in your truth.

Identify the deeper value of pursuing the thing

or person you need to be and then continue.

overcome the fear and backlash?
Let the deeper value be your ambition, let that

drive you. If you identify the deeper service you I feel that so often a parent's disapproval usually traces back to

will be doing for the world, should you pursue fear that they really believe that if you go down that path or you

the dream that other people don't see the value don't go down a particular path, it will cause you pain. So try to

in yet, commit to the deeper service, keep that understand that, have compassion for that and then initiate a

in your sideline as opposed to getting social conversation with your parents or siblings and say why you

validation and the service will override fear. The believe the opposite and give your argument in a very loving

promise  of service and the knowledge that you way.  Understand that another person's fear, when projected

will be of service to others will help you override upon you, is nothing personal. It has nothing to do with your skills

the momentary fear or pain. for success or their beliefs that you will fail. It has everything to

do with their underlying fear. The best way to break a cycle is just

to do it.

9
Ramya Rajagopal Adorning Traditional Jewelry
Photo Courtesy of Ramya Rajagopal 10
Udaipur Collection By Sabyasachi
Source: Sabyasachi 11
 between
tradition
and
modernity.
The same region that boasts women like Indira Gandhi, the their possible old roles of housewife, child bride, and the victim of

former prime minister of India, Benazir Bhutto, the first female male abuse, privilege and objectification. By renouncing each

prime minister of Pakistan, Sheikh Hasina, the longest-serving role, they leave behind a culture once dominated by a

prime minister of Bangladesh and more women occupying heightened reliance on patriarchy. As blasphemous as the elders

places in the government, also is the same region to lack and the men of the community found it, women did not hesitate

universal equality. Many women in South Asia have been to continue their migration towards modernity. With every woman

confined between four walls serving their husbands until their that escapes tradition and finds herself paving a new path, the

dying breath. This dichotomy has defined the South Asian patriarchy begins to crumble.

diaspora for years. There is no denying the fact that in recent

years, our community has seen trailblazing women fight their

According to VOA News, there are certain determinants that push
way towards independence and recognition. However, that
women forward or hold them back within the South Asian
doesn’t negate the women that fall victim to gender bias and
community today. Traditionally, women are controlled in every
male dominance on a daily basis. As barriers are broken for
aspect of their lives beginning with the long-term investment that
some women others only have theirs built higher. Tradition is
a woman becomes when she is married off from one family to
beautiful as it encapsulates culture and values, but with that,
another. That serves as her only purpose in life, along with serving
it also normalizes sexism, patriarchy, female inferiority and the
her husband and family. This has been perpetuated as families
overall suppression of women. 
continued to invest in their sons only. From education to jobs, sons

were meant to lead the family while the daughters lagged

Women are a representation of established practices and old
behind, completely dependent. Even as infanticide was outlawed,
school values within the diaspora. As modernity sweeps
the ingrained male preference in families continued to exploit the
through the region, diminishing many notions of tradition, the
norm of males ruling the family and the females becoming
community clung onto women as the last resort to uphold the
completely subservient. Educating women allows them to leave
old fashioned and outdated  standards. Despite the strict
this cycle, get a job to provide for themselves, escape their
guidelines women are often told to live by, many chose to
dependency and begin their trek towards modernization.
leave behind

Namrata Tripathi
12
Source: JADE by Monica & Karishma
 Women obtaining jobs is only the first aspect of bridging the gap between tradition

and modernization. The fact is that more than ever, South Asian women are

becoming visible in fields that are traditionally all male. Finally, it is making its way

towards normalization as more and more women join the workforce and assimilate in

fields that were exclusively for men. The rules for women are changing through

education, economic aid, jobs and giving women the tools they’ve been denied for

years.

With that being said, women are still forced to stay within the bounds of this limbo

through the laws and restrictions years of patriarchy have created. The recent

incident of gender-based violence of which Priyanka Reddy fell victim is just one

case of thousands that sweep across the South Asian diaspora and go unnoticed.

The taboo behind rape culture shames women to such a degree that they fear being

ostracized by their loved ones and looked at as a burden by all of society. That is

why men continue to get away with it. This is how perpetrators of gender-based

violence in the South Asian community have chosen to “punish” women who

supposedly leave tradition behind. This culture has become so prevalent that before

we have the chance to mourn a loss, we see headlines for yet another attack

against women, including sexual assault, domestic violence, acid attacks, and honor

killings. 

Methods of power and control, such as

having women forced to ask permission
before completing tasks or working, are
used to force women to remain the dutiful
wives that South Asian women are often
portrayed as. This cycle of gender-based
violence continues to control and bind
women forcing them to remain dependent.

For women who reside in more rural areas of South Asia and have little to no

opportunity to receive an education and obtain a career is vital. It draws women

into a public space that they may never have had the chance or way to enter

before. This gives them leverage and enables them to be independent and start a

business of their own. With that, more women going to college, and more women

taking over male-dominated fields, the rules are changing. Modernity is transitioning

to become the new norm and traditional ways are in the past. With every South

Asian female soldier, police officer, lawyer, doctor, executive or engineer-- women

are bridging the gap and carving their rightful place in the world.

Underrepresented Series
13
Photo Courtesy of Simrah Farrukh
Rida Islam

Mandavia

Rida I. Mandavia
Photo Courtesy of Rida Mandavia 14
If we should look to someone to learn how to be a
Clinical Psychology
female hustler that wears many hats and still has

time to pursue her passions, I nominate Rida Islam Despite her passion for the creative world, Mandavia

Mandavia. Based in Dallas, Mandavia works as a knew she wanted to enter the medical field. As a high

digital strategist for Children’s Health, after having school student, she found herself working as a patient

made the switch over from behavioral therapy. In tech at a rehab center and that formed her interest in

addition to her full-time career, Mandavia  also the clinical side of things. It wasn’t until undergrad

runs Dallas Intuitive, a style-centric culture platform where she recognized her love for psychology.

that highlights her Indian heritage and elevates the Recognizing the lack of mental health treatments for

South Asian voice. She also runs Rida’s Pop Up the patients she worked with and also the lack of

understanding, Mandavia found herself even more

Shop, a South Asian online resale boutique that
inclined to study clinical psychology.
serves as a thrift shop for desi clothes.  While each
 
pursuit is a result of Mandavia’s various passions,
“I worked at a clinic on campus, doing a lot of pro
for her, finding the common thread amongst them
bono work and practicum. That was where I did
all allows her to stay motivated and manage them
psychotherapy. I’m certified in marriage and family
efficiently.
counseling; I just felt like that was a space where I
 
was needed and where my skills were coming into
“That’s one of the things I work with Brown Girl play. The skills I gained, to communicate, to
Magazine on for Slashie Summit. Being a understand and to listen, have allowed me to
slashie that has their 9-5 as well as different segway into other fields of work as well.”
sides hustles is hard to make sense of in a
clear and concise way. It takes a lot of drive On the flip side, as Mandavia was discovering her

and energy,” Mandavia said. calling, her community was still trying to understand it.

Ten years ago, mental health wasn’t as heavily spoken

Since childhood, Mandavia remembers constantly about as it is today so it was a challenge for most

being in and out of hospital rooms and doctor’s people to grasp the concept. One of the biggest ways,

offices, which made playing sports out of the for Mandavia, that helped them bridge that disconnect

question. All she would have is a pen and paper on was by the understanding that therapy is just like

hand most of the time, and naturally, curiosity medicine. Similar to how you would go to the doctor for

a cough or cold, you would check in with a therapist

would get the best of her. Art and music have been
when you’re emotionally or mentally not in a good
heavily integrated in her life from playing guitar
place. 
and piano to listening to classical Indian music with

her family and doing oil paintings and sculptures.

“My family is really supportive and having them as
Her passions followed her all the way to college as
my buffer has helped me field a lot of those
she minored in music and continued to take art
questions from society or our social circle about
classes in graduate school. Creativity has remained
what I’m doing and all those comments made by
a constant in her life, as both a form of expression
aunties that don’t understand mental health.”
and an outlet. Mandavia recalls times when work

would become heavy because, while working with

In a way, her parents have become advocates within
children on the spectrum, it is difficult to see a
their own social circles for mental health awareness.

child have a relapse and go back to square one Anytime someone is going through something,

after countless months of work and progress. It has Mandavia mentions that her mom would tell them to

made her step away and cry on various occasions maybe see a therapist to talk to them and she would

and in those moments, she finds it best to use her continue to give them helpful advice that she had

creativity as an outlet. learned from Mandavia.

15
“By having someone in their peripherals that can give some kind of insight has been so helpful. If
you continue pursuing mental health, if you continue talking about it and if you have advocates in
your social groups, it will have a ripple effect. It’ll change their thinking on what mental health is.”

After working with children for a while, Mandavia had to make a difficult decision in regards to her

career. Realizing that children tend to get sick more often and

carry more germs, she knew it would only exacerbate her own health issues that

she has dealt with her whole life. She had to make the heartbreaking

decision to step away from working with children and starting her

digital career. She knew continuing would risk her own health, but

even with this change, she is not finished with psychology or

therapy.

Fashion

The move into the fashion world was natural for

Mandavia. During her highschool and university

undergraduate days, she found herself doing runway

shows for designer that came into town and immersed

herself in the fashion scene that way.

While it does serve as a creative outlet, fashion was

also a place she's been able to find a great

community of people that share and think similar to

her and have the same aesthetics and interests,

which is why she joined the fashion blogging scene.

For her, it is not about being able to monetize and

grow a business. She has no interest

in promoting things for other brands or making a

profit. This is not something she wants to see as work

but as a platform where she can create, feel

inspired, open discussions and build a community.

“If you turn it into work, then you’re just kind of like
‘Oh I have to post this and I have to meet this
deadline for this brand.' It just is not fun anymore Rida I. Mandavia
it will always be for someone else and that is not why I Photo Courtesy of Rida

started this. It is an extension of the creativity I’ve been Mandavia

cultivating. It is not about getting people to buy what I’m

selling, It is about seeing how many people are down for
what I do and how they're invested in my style and aesthetics
and what I discuss."

The world of fashion blogging has also seen a surge in South Asian bloggers more

recently. This is the representation this community has always wanted 

and each person is able to do different things and do what they’re passionate about.

Mandavia says that anytime people claim it is overdone, she believes that is the complete opposite of what

we have always asked for. We cannot ask to be involved and make it exclusive again. For her, it is about being

comfortable, confident and continuing to represent.

16
 Through her Instagram, various people would want to buy her clothes and ask about her outfits. Considering most

of the shopping was done in India from local bazaars, it was not something that could be bought online or in

retail. South Asian fashion still has a long way to go in terms of thrift shopping and e-commerce. Not only that, but

Mandavia found herself wearing desi clothes only a few times before they just sat there, and 

even the mosque wouldn’t take her clothes as donations because they were too heavy and

fancy.

“In February/March of 2014, I launched Rida’s Pop Up Shop online.

The response was crazy. I not only sold my own stuff but was able
to sell other people’s clothes on there too. I wanted to give people
access to stuff they might not have been able to access if they
live in small towns where there isn’t a market for
desi clothes. I also wanted it to be cost effective so you
wouldn’t think twice about spending the money. I wanted to
change the way
people think of desi clothes. The coolest part is that
Rida's Pop Up Shop has been able to donate a
percentage of the proceeds to Haji Ali in India. I
took the money and was able to feed people in their
soup kitchen."

Another big mission for Mandavia, when creating

Rida’s Pop Up Shop, was to cement desi fashion as a

market that has been focused on sustainability since

the beginning. No one ever discusses the

sustainability behind Indian fashion that is all

handcrafted and sourced locally and ethically. She

wanted her business model to present a sustainable

perspective on desi fashion and make it more

prevalent in the space.

Rida I. Mandavia
Photo Courtesy of Rida Mandavia

17
 Digital Platform

Dallas Intuitive began as a center of style, culture and thoughts for Mandavia, before it expanded into a

platform.

“Dallas Intuitive works with the local fashion scene, Dallas film festival, and Fashion Week Dallas.
My team is reporting and doing media coverage alongside bigger platforms. It has been amazing
to see it grow. I love that it is still a small operation where I feel like my voice can be heard and
can provide a platform to South Asian brands that need it, but I also hope that it continues to
grow. It has been heartwarming to see people reach out from my community and hear about how
happy they were to see desi women being represented.”
Dallas is so diverse and Mandavia speaks from first hand experience when she says that there is a

lot of culture here and people are open minded. She wishes these voices were uplifted a while ago

but the hesitation may have come from not understanding the necessity to do so.

While juggling so many projects and passions, Mandavia has

still managed to find that common thread that holds it all together.

"Communication and understanding. It is the overarching theme

for everything that I do. It is the name of the game in the
digital world because it is a new medium through
which we communicate. Through fashion and art
and music, I want to be an advocate. We have
so much in common with people and while
we want to highlight our differences and
what makes us unique, it all ties back
to the idea that the same things that
differentiate us are the same
things that bring us
together. That
should be
celebrated.”

Rida I. Mandavia
18
Photo Courtesy: Rida Mandavia
PANTONE Graphic Depicting Colorism
Photo Courtesy: Simrah Farrukh 19
 The
Curse

"Underrepresented Series"
Photo Courtesy of Simrah Farrukh
20
 of
Colorism
Fighting for an accurate representation of the South Asian

community in mainstream media continues to be an uphill

battle. For every Mindy Kaling, there are five Apus. Every

time the American community makes a stride towards

having South Asian culture showcased, it is often met with

backlash, crude humor and a pretty degrading accent. For

years, South Asians have remained complacent with

whatever depiction they have received in the white man’s

world; with many made to believe any representation

mattered, whether or not it was negative.

It did not take long for a pattern to rise. In the quest for

portrayal, despite the diversity the subcontinent

represented, South Asians only chose to represent a

handful of people. Eurocentric beauty standards, resulting

from years of colonization, seeped into the cracks of South

Asian foundation and forced generations to succumb to

the barriers that held us back in the first place; straight

hair, light eyes, thin, tall, and most of all - light-skin

remained the ideal standard of beauty and the ideal

standards of representation.

The ideology that light-skinned individuals are more

beautiful stems from the concept of colorism. Colorism is a

form of discrimination within a racial or ethnic group in

which individuals discriminate against another based on

one’s skin tone. It has plagued the South Asian community

for generations. Even today, as the diaspora finds itself

trudging forward, those with fairer skin seem to be leading

the march. An authentic representation cannot be

achieved if we hand-select the few people who we believe

are the ideal choices to represent South Asia while hiding

the underlying issues of shame culture. A community can

only get so far in its fight if it chooses to ignore the issues

of internal and systemic marginalization that has plagued

its own people. The community can only be liberated and

progress as one if it accepts the realities and

discriminations it perpetuates.

"Underrepresented Series"
Photo Courtesy of Simrah Farrukh 21
 The disturbing part about it all is the fact that none of this was even

transparent to me until the dialogue surrounding colorism was

introduced. From when I was a kid, advertisements would play when

my parents would watch Indian television shows for products like skin

lightening creams. The model would put on this magical cream, and

her skin would be shown gradually lightening until she looked almost

Caucasian, as if dark skin was something that needed to be fixed or

altered. She would be a darker shade in the beginning and look

seemingly unhappy and depressed. As her skin lightened, a smile

formed on her face and her confidence exuded. It hit closer to home

when I saw these exact creams on my mother’s vanity.

Even in the Hindu religion, the demon Ravana is dark-skinned,

reinforcing the notion that dark skin is wrong and must be defeated.

A BBC News article about a campaign where Hindu deities were

reimagined as having darker skin quotes filmmaker and founder of

the “Dark is Divine” project, Bharadwaj Sundar, where he reinforces

this notion, “The unhealthy obsession with light skin has continued

and, as ad filmmaker Bharadwaj Sundar says, it’s not just limited to

earthly beings, it includes the divine too.” It is one thing to not be

able to identify with someone on the big screen, but to feel excluded

by the divine as well? All it does is heighten the notion that fair skin is

superior and dark skin is a flaw that must be corrected.

"Underrepresented Series"
Photo Courtesy of Simrah Farrukh
22
The number of television shows and movies that show dark-skinned women as less beautiful,

self-hating, and inferior were part of the reason so many young South Asian girls grew up

wanting to hide beneath the shadows. From a community that has much experience with

underrepresentation, we still seem to continue the marginalization, but this time on our own

accords. How do we continue to perpetuate internal racism when we already feel how

vicious and cruel it can be to be a victim of it ourselves?

The unfortunate part is that this prejudice is nothing new. It is steadily ingrained in South

Asian culture today and has been prevalent since my childhood and my mother’s. This

ideology passed down for generations, dates back to even before the colonization of the

Indian subcontinent. The Hindu caste system, in particular, reigned and it left Indian society

heavily divided. This social hierarchy allowed the most wealthy and privileged members, the

Brahmin, to have the power to stay away from the sun and remain indoors. The Sudras on

the other hand, the lowest caste, were the manual laborers who were less fortunate and

thus forced to work outside in the heat and sun. Through generations of this classist

repetition, light skin became a dominant feature in the affluent, upper class and dark skin

became synonymous with the lower class individuals. Then, this mixed in with the effects of

colonization which left India desiring western ways of life, particularly their appearance.

Merge the two together and it makes for a heavy influence on South Asian society that

lingers until today. 

Prejudice and discrimination against dark skin are not just a habit or opinion. It is a deeply rooted

fact that society was conditioned to believe and accept. It will take generations to reverse the

effects but thankfully, the work has already begun. With trailblazing work like the ‘Dark is Divine’

project, the ‘Dark is Beautiful’ campaign or the #unfairandlovely campaign, our community has

already set out on its path to reclaiming our melanin. We will no longer remain hidden, forced to

hate our skin, and think poorly of ourselves because society wants us to resemble our colonizers.

Dark-skinned models are finally claiming their rightful place on magazine covers and on the

runway. South Asian makeup artists have started gearing makeup towards all shades of brown

instead of just the lighter tone. Skin lightening cream is finally becoming something that we frown

at instead of idolizing.

Anti-melanin notions have haunted each generation from childhood until old age. It never goes

away. Somehow we can be everything, but if we are cursed with dark skin, then we are nothing.

Countless South Asian women are put down in all parts of society, especially the media, because

of the community’s unreasonable and Eurocentric beauty standards. These members who are not

represented in already marginalized communities are truly underrepresented members of the

world. A community cannot attempt to combat a lack of representation if it knowingly continues

to diminish a large part of the diaspora. That just makes them part of the problem, not the

solution.

23
South Asian Woman of Darker Skin Putting on Traditional Makeup
Poem Courtesy of Aysha Qamar/ Photo Courtesy of Payal Kayal 24
 QUEEN
QUEEN
QUEEN
QUEEN
QUEEN

RANI
RANI
RANI
RANI
RANI
Actress from the Golden Era of Bollywood, Rekha,

known for pushing the boundary

Photo via Tumblr 25

FEMALE POWER:
SOUTH ASIAN WOMEN
LED MOVEMENTS

Women, in all fields and levels,

I raise up my voice — are changing the dynamic of

not so that I can shout, the world. They mold

but so that those conversations, create new

without a voice can be dialogues and have finally

heard. … We cannot all seized control of their

succeed when half of narratives. Instead of being

us are held back.” - silenced and overlooked,

Malala Yousafzai they’re stepping up and taking

the lead. When the shackles

placed on women are broken,

the power they hold is finally

untapped. These are just a few

of the ways South Asian

women have reclaimed their

identity and story.

26
 1
THE FUTURE IS FEMALE THE FUTURE IS FEMALE THE FUTURE IS FEMALE
The

taken
Aurat

place 2
The Aurat March 

THE FUTURE IS FEMALE THE FUTURE IS FEMALE THE FUTURE IS FEMALE

March,

on
or Women’s

International

since 2018 in Pakistan. Considering Pakistan is

March,

Women’s
has

Day Gulabi Gang

The story of the Gulabi Gang, an all-

still a conservative country, women often have women vigilante group, deserves every

their voices distorted or silenced. In South article and movie praising them. India is a

Asia, women have historically been told to country with some of the most brutal and

keep their head down and stay within four extreme cases of violence against women.

THE FUTURE IS FEMALE THE FUTURE IS FEMALE THE FUTURE IS FEMALE

walls. Each year, since its inception, this In protest to the violence women have

march addresses issues ranging from selective faced for generations, 400,000 stick-

feminism, to the taxing of menstrual products, wielding women in bright pink saris are

in addition to the hypocritical attitudes of ready to take on the perpetrators  who

men towards women, and the patriarchy.  The commit  heinous crimes of gender-based

2020 Aurat March had a particular rallying violence. The Gulabi Gang, translated to

cry that resonated with every woman the Pink Gang, was founded by Sampat

THE FUTURE IS FEMALE THE FUTURE IS FEMALE THE FUTURE IS FEMALE

participating, but offended many critics of the Devi Pal. It uses an alternative method for

march, ‘Mera jism, meri marzi,’ which roughly serving justice since India’s justice system

translates to my body, my choice. According is often viewed as flawed and corrupt-

to BBC News , the phrase was deemed as rarely siding with women. The group spans

obscene by some critics because it gave off a across 11 districts of India where every

sexual connotation and went against woman fights to protect the powerless.

standards women are upheld to in terms of ‘“Yes, we fight rapists with lathis [sticks]. If

THE FUTURE IS FEMALE THE FUTURE IS FEMALE THE FUTURE IS FEMALE

modesty. While the phrase in English is we find the culprit, we thrash him black

common and used to support issues like and blue so he dare not attempt to do

women’s rights to their autonomy, the direct wrong to any girl or a woman again,” Devi

Urdu translation was given meanings Pal said, Al Jazeera reported. According to

unrelated to his context.  The movement, while the newsoutlet, the group aims to fight

formed following a popular Supreme Court violence against women, prevent child

case in which a woman was forced into marriages, arrange weddings for couples

conceiving, was downplayed by critics in love despite local resistance and ensure

THE FUTURE IS FEMALE THE FUTURE IS FEMALE THE FUTURE IS FEMALE

opposing the slogan and threatening those delivery of basic rights for the poorest of

who used it. the poor. To honor the resilience of women

and the work of the Gulabi Gang, a

documentary and full-length feature film

have been released in India to highlight

how even in the most restrictive parts of

India, women are empowering one

THE FUTURE IS FEMALE THE FUTURE IS FEMALE THE FUTURE IS FEMALE

another.

Source: Gulabi Gang Inc.

THE FUTURE IS FEMALE THE FUTURE IS FEMALE THE FUTURE IS FEMALE 27

THE FUTURE IS FEMALE THE FUTURE IS FEMALE THE FUTURE IS FEMALE
3 #MeToo in South Asia
 The #metoo movement didn’t find its place in South
#DecoloniseYourWardrobe
This fashion movement, put into action by Simran

THE FUTURE IS FEMALE THE FUTURE IS FEMALE THE FUTURE IS FEMALE

Randhawa, proves that we can make a statement
Asia until a while after it came into the limelight.
and reclaim our identity in various ways. For
One of the first prominent ways the movement was
Randhawa a big aspect of reclamation was
sparked was by Tanushree Dutta in 2018. A former
through fashion. Randhawa is a London native of
pageant winner, model and actress, Dutta came
Indian heritage who has   amassed a large social
forward as a victim of sexual harassment in the
media following over the years. After years of

workplace. Since then, various other well-known pushing away her Indian roots in an attempt to fit

names in the film industry have also come forward in with her peers, she realized leaving her culture

and become part of the #metoo movement as it behind and dissociating with her identity wasn’t

THE FUTURE IS FEMALE THE FUTURE IS FEMALE THE FUTURE IS FEMALE

what she wanted. In order to bridge the disconnect
swept through Bollywood. While the movement has
she felt with her culture, she incorporated
had tremendous impact around the world, in South
traditional pieces into her existing clothes. She
Asia specifically, there is finally recognition being
underlined this movement with the hashtag,
given to harassment and violence against women
#DecoloniseYourWardrobe, which she uses in many
that is usually silenced. The Vishakha Guidelines
of her Instagram posts to jab at the British Invasion

have been enforced that work to reduce incidents of India. “It is more important than ever to be proud

of harassment in work environments. Bollywood is of my culture when racist sentiments are floating

also enforcing more ‘no tolerance’ policies towards around society,” Randhawa said in an interview

THE FUTURE IS FEMALE THE FUTURE IS FEMALE THE FUTURE IS FEMALE

with Vogue. Since then, various South Asians with
harassment. The movement has had unmeasurable
hyphenated identities have adopted a similar style
psychological and physical effects such as finally
in their own everyday wardrobes. Whether it be an
opening up dialogue surrounding this taboo topic
effort to make a political statement or to simply
and creating solidarity around women that are
embrace their culture, this movement has made its
speaking up instead of shutting them down. The
way across oceans. A similar movement was put

social impact can be seen in all industries and into action, the #ReclaimTheBindi movement. It was

through various platforms such as social media, created by South Asian women to reignite and

politics and entertainment. Considering victim educate on the importance and significance of the

bindi. Considering how it has often been used for

THE FUTURE IS FEMALE THE FUTURE IS FEMALE THE FUTURE IS FEMALE

shaming has been a prominent facet in silencing
things that tarnish its symbolism, South Asian
survivors, this movement has turned the tables and
women took to social media to spread their photos
is creating waves of support and solidarity within
of them adorning a bindi and sharing their stories

4
the community of women finally speaking out.
of racial and cultural discrimination when they

wore a bindi.

5
THE FUTURE IS FEMALE THE FUTURE IS FEMALE THE FUTURE IS FEMALE
Inclusive Makeup
While this was not an outright movement, it did spur a giant change in the makeup and beauty

industry. There was a large gap in the market that catered to women who looked like us. Often,

brands would cover the two extremes in terms of skin shades but would never market towards the

middle tones, which is where many South Asian women fall. When this finally started being

discussed and made known, it created a giant change in the makeup industry. Deepica Mutyala,

the founder and CEO of Live Tinted, started making YouTube videos years ago, her video on how

THE FUTURE IS FEMALE THE FUTURE IS FEMALE THE FUTURE IS FEMALE

to effectively conceal under eye circles on South Asian women went viral. Not only did this

immediately increase her follower count and her fame as a blogger, but it also addressed a really

big gap in the makeup sphere. With that in mind, she went on to create Live Tinted which started

off as a digital community that focused on inclusive, diverse beauty. It was a multicultural

community that offered a place to discuss beauty and culture for underrepresented groups.

Through creating products that work for all skin tones and celebrate diversity and culture, a

movement was started that finally normalized our differences and celebrated them.

THE FUTURE IS FEMALE THE FUTURE IS FEMALE THE FUTURE IS FEMALE 28

Women participating in a protest demanding action after a spate of campus sex attacks
Photo Source: Reuters Photo/Anindito Mukherjee

The Women's Movement in Pakistan

Photo Source: Women's Media Center

Aurat March in Pakistan

Photo Source: Al Jazeera

29
 Jasmin

Jasmin Rahman
Photo Courtesy of Jasmin Rahman

Rahman
30
 Jasmin Rahman epitomizes what it means to be a slashie: Being the in-house makeup artist at Brown Girl

someone who juggles multiple careers. She is a full-time Magazine, Rahman has been introduced to how

therapist who also balances her career as a makeup artist. powerful an inclusive space can be in terms of

By working in a private practice, she is able to be her own having a diverse media platform for South Asians.

boss and be flexible to accommodate her clients and their It applies to everyone from the younger

needs. The stark difference in having a career that is more generations to mothers to even men in the

creative, balanced with a career that tends to be more community. It has changed the way representation

clinical, allows her to utilize the full range of her skills and presents itself by directly providing a space where

cater to all her passions without sacrificing either. Rahman we can authentically be ourselves. Rahman has

continues to push barriers by proving that South Asian done makeup for various shoots for Brown Girl

women can not only manage their own business, but can Magazine that continue to spread the message

juggle multiple ‘nontraditional jobs’ and be successful at and impact the community.

each one.  For a group that was told their place is in the

kitchen, women have truly proved the world wrong by seizing That is just one of the many opportunities that

every opportunity to show their resilience and work ethic. have boosted Rahman’s makeup career. Her

Both therapy and makeup found their way into Rahman’s life editorial work has also led to her being able to

naturally and have stuck with her since after she developed work on a shoot for Harper’s Bazaar India with four

a genuine interest and passion for both. powerhouse women in the community: Payal

Kadakia, Reema Sampat, Melanie Chandra, and

“I am a full-time therapist but I work in a private Surina Jindal.

practice so it allows me the flexibility to accommodate

makeup clients as I need. I do run my business just as
full-time as I do counseling.”

Speaking to Rahman was a reminder as to why it is so

imperative to stick with my goals and continue doing what I

love. Hearing her passion for both her careers makes it hard

to not feel constantly inspired. South Asian women have had

their lives dictated to the point of being told what careers

are safe for them to enter and what they are simply not

allowed to do. When listening to Rahman’s story, it is evident

that she was on a mission to carve a path out for herself and

lead the way for other women to follow.

“In the mental health world, it is more common to have

women that look like us. There are still so very few but I
think over the past few years, there are so many more
mental health therapists that are South Asian. However,
there are barriers to that because of the stigma and I
think that causes a lot of women to shy away from the
mental health field. In terms of the makeup world, I have
been seeing a lot more representation of South Asian
women. I think that in the past 2 years there’s been a
“Being published in Harper’s Bazaar
wave where color inclusion and things like that have
was surreal. It’s one of those things
become trendy. It leaves a lot of space for south Asian
where you’ve had a vision board for
women to be represented.”
the past 10 years and my vision board

has always included being published

in one of the top tier fashion

magazines and then boom. It

happened in the blink of an eye. These

women have insane work ethics and

are just phenomenal businesswomen.”

Jasmin Rahman's work on an editorial shoot with Harper's Bazaar
Photo Courtesy of Jasmin Rahman 31
 While she says, luckily for her, she has never felt like she didn’t belong on set or felt ostracized, there is an apparent

lack of diversity in spaces like editorial fashion. There have been multiple occasions of her being the only person of

color on set but that isn’t just limited to this space. Entertainment, media, fashion, there's a recurring pattern of

underrepresentation. 

“Representation can definitely be taken a step further to make all the difference. On clothing websites,
having more South Asian models, and within that, having size and color diversity, and actually accurately
representing the entire region is still yet to be done. Having people like Lilly Singh and Mindy Kaling in
popular media is helping but there could always be more diversity. Makeup brands are also expanding their
lines and including more colors to be more inclusive.”

Makeup has seen it’s own growth in terms of inclusivity in recent years. From having brands join the scene that are

dedicated to authentically representing people of color to older brands that have recently started including a wider

skin shade variety, there is progress being made in the right direction. 

As someone that has amassed a large social media following through her work, Rahman recognized the importance of

using a platform to raise concerns and be an advocate for things that matter. While she constantly empower women

through makeup services and mental health advocacy, that is not all she has limited her space to. Rahman has written

a lot about, and has spoken about, her experience with domestic violence and pushes for the community to help

women and not allow them to suffer in silence. Mental health has always had a bad reputation in the community

because it is often confused with being “crazy,” which is an incredibly toxic and incorrect representation of it. They

find seeking help shameful and believe depression and anxiety are all things that can go away with better sleeping

and eating habits. It is an incredibly taboo subject with a lot of negative connotations attached to it that the

community has yet to grow out of.

Having a community that doesn’t have these open conversations and is so concerned with the thoughts of others

leaves a lot of important issues silenced and pushed away. One of these is the idea of choosing a safe career that

benefits yourself and your family. The stigma behind following our passions or choosing something creative and

untraditional is immense. It presents us as not caring about our future, when in reality, we chose happiness.

“In general, our community has a lot of work

left to be done such as working through
misogyny, having more conversations around
menstrual equity, women’s equality, equal
rights and pay, mental health in general and
destigmatizing it.”

Jasmin Rahman's Editorial Work

32
Photo Courtesy of Jasmin Rahman
“The stigma within working in a creative field has been viewed throughout the
previous generation and has bled into our upbringing. It causes people to shy
away from working in media, entertainment, music, modeling or makeup. Our
generation has just been more courageous in that respect and we continue to try
and overcome this stigma.”

Amidst her hectic schedules and the tremendous work she does, Rahman credits time

management and focusing on taking the time to do what she wants and taking care of

herself  as her main facets of striking a work life balance. Self-care is essential and an

aspect of health often overlooked or given little importance, especially in culture’s where

productivity measures success not one’s health.

“If you believe in it, if you see the

path and see that you can carve
it out, then go for it and your
parents and society will see the
light and things will fall into
place.”
“I am able to exercise my creative muscles through my artistry and I
can use my clinical brain and critical thinking in. The therapy sphere.
If I didn’t have a counseling background, it would be harder for me to
make those connections with clients. So there are also a lot of
overlapping areas.”

To Rahman, a modern South Asian woman is one that breaks barriers and

isn’t afraid to do what she wants. She perseveres and continues forward.

To pursue your dreams and to live without letting others' judgment cloud

your vision is how to be a modern South Asian woman, she says. Let go of

the fears our parents and society project on us and be unapologetically

you.

33
South Asian Women in the Past/Tradition meets Modernity
34
South Asian Women in the Present/Tradition Meets Modernity 35
 OUR CULTURE IS
The debate behind cultural appropriation has been a long, drawn-out battle

that has lasted for decades. According to The Guardian, one of the defining

facets of the issue was during the Harlem Renaissance when writers voiced

their concerns regarding the distortion and degradation of their culture in

modernist work. In 1976, Kenneth Coutts-Smith wrote one of the first essays

that spoke about class appropriation and cultural colonialism where western

culture takes credit for art forms that belong to racially oppressed, colonized

or marginalized groups. Since then, cultural appropriation has come a long

way. It is an imperfect concept that most often crosses the line of

appreciation. It has caused people of color to turn on each other by creating

a schism between already colonized groups that share this overlapping

experience. Cultural appropriation stopped being a fight to reclaim our

voices and instead turned into a live grenade that different groups would use

in their analysis of society. 

The truth is, despite what anyone says, cultural appropriation has a real

definition. It is the act of adopting elements of outside, often minority culture,

including knowledge, practices and symbols without understanding or

respecting the original culture or context. Keeping that in mind, it is important

to remember that this definition is experienced and internalized differently by

many people. For some, seeing someone who does not identify as South Asian

make an ethnic dish on a cooking show is appropriation whereas, for others, it

is wearing a traditional dress to a music festival and passing it off as

“personal style.” Regardless of how one perceives or how they react to it, the

sentiment is the same. It is all the idea that the dominant culture is benefiting

from the exploitation of a culture that doesn’t belong to them. It is a form of

erasure that subtly diminishes a minority group by claiming their aesthetics

and westernizing them.

My first introduction to cultural appropriation can be traced back to

Halloween. Halloween is often a breeding ground for stealing another

society’s fashion. Seeing the costumes of the “Indian Princess,” fully equipped

with a bindi, bangles, traditional South Asian lehenga or sari, and other

accessories fitting the outfit was not uncommon at all. It was confusing and

just didn’t feel right. While I was trying so hard to assimilate with my Party City

costume, these girls were dressing up as, well, me as if my culture was a

costume that could taken on and off. This was followed by the fateful summer

of 2014. The summer of pop music and various celebrity comebacks.

Coachella was a popular topic, especially the fashion statements being made

at this widely recognized music festival. Of the attire worn, much of it was

completely ripped off from traditional South Asian wear. This is one of those

festivals where fashion is almost equally as important as the music. As on-

lookers fawn over the trends through Instagram photos, what they fail to

realize is the blatant racism at play as some of these looks are snatched from

other cultures with no regard for the historical significance. 

"Underrepresented" Series
36
Photo Courtesy of Simrah Farrukh
NOT YOUR COSTUME
These actions of cultural appropriation are seen as “festival trends” that circulate around

the Internet, reposted on blogs and in articles, and soon after, become a victim of fast

fashion. Something that held deep religious and cultural importance for one group is

now being worn to parties to fit in with the trend. The bindi was at the forefront of the

festival trend as attendees adorned their faces with colorful bindis that they purchased

for a few dollars off of a fast-fashion website. What they failed to acknowledge is that it

is called a bindi, not a face jewel and that it is a religious symbol worn by women in

South Asia, often symbolizing the third eye. That only scratches the surface. Naths, tikkas,

bangles, and outright traditional outfits have been worn to these festivals to make a

statement without understanding the origin or respecting the deep significance behind

each item. 

It is easy to say, “What’s the issue? We are celebrating cultures by wearing their

accessories and appreciating them.” However, it is not so easy to hear that after South

Asians have suffered years upon years of taunting, teasing, bullying, racism,

discrimination and blatant hatred for showcasing our culture. Women have been spat at

for wearing saris in public or speaking their native language. Indian food is often called

disgusting, smelly, and awful tasting. South Asian people are stereotyped as being

unhygienic, nerdy or convenient store owners with hyper-exaggerated accents.

South Asian community members are characterized as being inferior humans who are

incapable of being attractive. After suffering from years of emotional and physical

abuse from others, we are now seeing parts of our culture that others deem acceptable

being stolen and passed off as “western beauty trends.” That crosses the line. It is not

freedom of expression, it is disrespect. It is not cultural appreciation, it is insensitivity

towards minority groups that have suffered pure racism for embracing their cultures who

now have to watch parts of their identity, that they were made fun of for, being turned

into a privileged fashion statement. Be innovative and fashion-forward, but not at the

expense of someone else’s heritage.  This sentiment is easily perpetuated by people in

our daily lives but it becomes more harmful when it is done by celebrities that people

idolize. I remember the day I wore a kurta to class for picture day in fourth grade. It was

new and I loved it and felt so pretty wearing it. Confidently, I walked into class wearing

it only to feel eyes staring and judging. I had never felt that type of embarrassment or

self-esteem reduction until I was mocked for wearing a traditional outfit. The days of

bringing homemade Indian food my mom packed for lunch were minimal as peers made

fun of the texture, smell and the fact that it was something unknown to them. They called

it disgusting and claimed it resembled “dog food.” 

Years later, I saw the same people replicating the South Asian trends they saw on their

favorite celebrities like Vanessa Huygens, Beyoncé, Selena Gomez, or Kim Kardashian

West, who recently came under fire for posting photos with a tikka and bangles when not

long ago she claimed that “Indian food was disgusting.” Just like the rest of the world,

celebrities continue to perpetuate the notion that it is ok to pick and choose which part

of a minority culture to celebrate and which part is ok to bash and humiliate. It continues

to perpetuate the notion that only once something is Westernized, that it becomes

acceptable. It also claims the idea that other cultures are disposable and meant to be

colonized and stolen without hesitation.

37
Simran Randhawa, a journalist with a large social
media following, posts photos integrating her
usual clothing with South Asian pieces
Photo Courtesy of Simran Randhawa 38
Thankfully, this isn’t a sentiment I share alone. South Asian women from

around the world are doing their part to reclaim their identity, without the

Western lens attached to it. Vogue Magazine published a piece, “How

London’s Coolest Crop of South Asian Women are Reclaiming the Bindi,”

in which women such as Simran Randhawa were highlighted and

credited with creating the hashtag #DecoloniseYourWardrobe. The social

media movement is meant to make a statement of pride and

embracement of culture during a time of racial tension and xenophobia.

Women like Randhawa have inspired a generation of young South Asian

women to incorporate more South Asian accessories or clothing items

into their clothing from a simple tank top with “salwar” pants-pleated

“The first step in

trousers, or a leather skirt with a traditional kurta top. It is our way of

reclaiming the identity that was stolen from us, subtly erasing us and

separating us from our own culture. 

liquidating a people is to
As a personal mission and one that has even spread around the world

through social media, brown women are embracing the roots they were
erase its memory. Destroy
once mocked for. They are reclaiming the culture that has been stolen its books, its culture, its
history. Then have
from them time after time. They refuse to be bystanders to cultural

oppression and colonization. They are taking a stand and saying that our

somebody write new books,

culture is not your costume or your trend. These are our symbols of the

struggle, perseverance, and discrimination that we endured. They are not

your newest fashion statement sold in every fast-fashion store.

manufacture a new culture,
There is a stark difference between appreciation and appropriation.
invent a new history.
Taking ethnic wear and trying to portray it as a new concept is cultural

appropriation. Cultural appreciation is when parts of a culture are Before long that nation will
begin to forget what it is
honored and respected while being worn and used. Respect is given to

the origin and culture. Rather than profiting from it to gain followers,

money, sales or fame, a culture is showcased for its diversity and richness

while highlighting the significance. It has taken us a few years to

and what it was [...]” -
embrace our roots but the movement is

around and seeing brown women incorporate South Asian pieces into
so powerful today. Looking
author of The Book of
everyday wear or seeing them be proud of the food they eat, the Laughter and Forgetting,
Milan Kundera 
language they speak, traditions they follow is finally the pushback

xenophobia and racism needed. 

South Asian culture has been subject to erasure ever since the days of

British colonization. Women especially have had their livelihoods become

disposable and temporary. Cultural appropriation is not just about a

dominant race stealing parts of our culture; that is simply a surface level

action. It boils down to having our history and identity dictated by an

external force--a force that deems itself superior and feels that it can

control and define the narrative of another minority group. 

So forgive me if I’m vocal about this topic that many have written off as

“overreacting.” To me, I’m not overreacting, I’m just holding onto the

remnants of history that haven’t been snatched away from us.

39
 Vaidehi Gajjar
Vaidehi Gajjar
Vaidehi Gajjar
Vaidehi Gajjar
Vaidehi Gajjar
Vaidehi Gajjar

Photo Courtesy of Vaidehi Gajjar 40

On top of her job at her local hospital in Columbia, South Carolina, 25-year-old Vaidehi

Gajjar is a writer and editor at Brown Girl Magazine. She uses her platform to bring light

to issues like mental health, sexual assault and women’s rights overall by constantly

fighting to break the stigma and taboo around these subjects. Her passion for writing

came at a time when it served as her outlet to get her through more trying times. This

passion has led to her originally being published on the Odyssey Online being featured

on other platforms like The Washington Post. I had the opportunity to speak to her a bit

about the work she has done for the diaspora and also about her experiences dealing

with certain situations as a South Asian female.

When writing about your own personal experiences What was your experience at MannMukti (a mental
that tend to be more raw and honest, it may leave you health resource platform dedicated to sharing
in a very vulnerable place. How do you find the stories and removing the stigma surrounding South
courage to do that, considering how difficult it is? Was Asian mental health) like? It’s a platform that so
there hesitation, in the beginning, to not want to share openly and honestly discusses mental health,
your story? serving as a sanctuary in a way for our community.
Tell us about your work with them.
In the beginning, there was a lot of hesitation and even still

there is sometimes. Even though it has been so many years, When I used to work at MannMukti, for me, it was the

you still feel that hesitation. I didn’t realize the impact of first space that was dedicated to mental health for

what I was doing until I got that outside support. At first, it South Asians. It was a really good experience in the

wasn’t like I shared my writing with other people. It was sense that for me, it gave me a place to share my

something I was keeping to myself and then slowly as time experiences and learn from other people and get a

went on, maybe after a year or so of writing on my own, I sense of what others are going through. At that point,

started posting on my Instagram. That was just me my journey was very closed off from the world. I didn’t

screenshotting the notes section of my phone and putting understand necessarily that other people go through

that on social media. There wasn't a lot of support in the things and it's normal. When I joined, that changed for

beginning but as time went on, as I improved, I did start me and I was surrounded by people that had similar

seeing that sort of support from other people and it has stories. It was really good to be in a space where this

grown since then. was talked about all the time. There were also days

where you don't feel like talking. In any space, you do

sometimes feel like that overwhelming feeling so there

were days where you just don’t want to talk about

What do you think our community should better things and you don’t necessarily want to talk about
understand regarding mental health? feelings. You just kind of want to stay away. Overall, it

I think one of the biggest problems with our community is was a great experience and it definitely gave me a lot

that we don’t focus on the implications that something may of opportunities.

be medically wrong with someone. For a college student,

it’s always like “you aren’t focusing enough in school, you’re

being lazy, you aren’t religious enough.” A lot of times with

mental illness, a lot of people attribute the illness to a

symptom, not the actual cause.

41
How was the challenge of not being able to Your experience with sexual assault is something
discuss these experiences with your parents? you have openly and bravely discussed in the past
Were you ever able to bridge that gap of few years. You’re a voice for other girls in the
disconnect with them? How do you cope? community who fear breaking their silence due to
the shame and stigma. As a community, what can
It really is a case by case basis for me. Some days are
we do better to help those girls that remain fearful?
better than others. Overall, there is a lack of

understanding. At this point, I think for me, I have seen

There’s this misconception that it can't be controlled
what results in me being part of the space that I am in
from the perpetrator’s side and that’s one thing I
and if that can’t be recognized, I think I am at the
disagree with. My thought process in that sense has
point where I am still comfortable enough to continue
always been that if the perpetrator can't control their
on. Yeah, there are times that I wish I had that
actions, then no survivor has the obligation to control
support, and a lot of times it does hit harder than
their reactions for wanting to publicly shame their
others but overall, I definitely try to just focus on what
attacker. At the end of the day, it’s very easy to say that
I’m doing and drown everything else out. I tend to just
when they haven’t been affected. If you have a loved
throw myself into my work. What I’ll do is, if a situation
one or you yourself have been affected by something
occurs, I will literally go out and look for more
like that, it's a lot harder to say something like that. One
opportunities for myself and dedicate that time to
thing that the community doesn't realize is how many
that and try to not focus on the actual situation. Of
people have been touched by this and the fact that we
course, when I am going through something like that,
aren’t supposed to talk about it. People are told to not
there is sort of an inclination to go talk to friends or
speak about it even if it does happen and it's creating
anyone. It helps when you talk to another human voice
an ongoing cycle. It doesn’t give people a space to talk
because you aren’t just running those thoughts
and if you don't talk about it, there's no problem solving,
through your head so I think that helps. I honestly just
there's no solution. I just wish people would stop giving
focus on my work. That's the best way for me to divert
all the power to the perpetrators and focus on the
my attention.
survivors.

Do you feel like #MeToo helped our community? Are we moving forward, in the right direction, when
Has it taken away that shame or victimization we it comes to representing South Asian women
have faced in the past? accurately in media, entertainment, politics, etc.?

We are heading in a good direction. Currently, if we look

I think it helped, but you have to really think about
at mainstream media, we have Mindy Kaling and Lilly
how much it actually helped. Many Indian movies are
Singh, and while these people are controversial in their
controversial, such as “Kabir Singh,” which justified
own ways, I think that even having a brown woman

abuse towards women and it still showed that he got represented on such a high level is a step in the right

the girl in the end. It romanticized the abuse. In that direction. For example, I remember when Deepica, CEO of

sense, I do think that more people have been able to Live Tinted, came out with her makeup line it was a huge

talk about it but when mainstream media still puts win for brown women. This woman is representing her skin

stuff like that out there, I feel like it’s tone, she’s catering to our needs and that is something we

counterproductive. On one hand, everyone builds aren’t used to. For lack of a better term, this is a white

each other up and then something like that comes man's world, especially in America. Our identities are really

out and all the knowledge we gained is gone. minimalist when it comes down to representation and

seeing those women in the industries that they are in is

definitely a step in the right direction. At the same time,

there's a lot of controversy with how they are portrayed.

Everyone has this stereotypical idea of what a brown

woman should be but not every brown woman is not built a

certain way. We aren’t a cookie-cutter identity. We are all

different and have different experiences that built us into

who we are. While the representation part is established,

capturing the details about brown women is still missing.

42
Photo Series Showcasing South Asian Fashion and Beauty
Photos Courtesy of Ramya Rajagopal 43
 Trisha

Sakhuja-Walia

Trisha-Sakhuja Walia
Photos Courtesy of Trisha Sakhuja-Walia
44
Representation has been a hot topic in all genres of life - Acquainting herself with a South Asian focused organization was

media, entertainment, politics and sports. The need to nothing new for this New Yorker. Even in high school, she co-

showcase historically marginalized communities and give them founded her school’s desi club and found ways to get her

a space to tell their stories is something we have seen pop up classmates excited about South Asian culture and Bollywood. In

all over the place for so many groups. One particular individual college, she was involved with panel curation and events for the

who carved out one of the biggest South Asian digital South Asian Student Alliance at Stony Brook. All in all, her

stomping grounds is Trisha Sakhuja-Walia. leadership roles and advocacy for South Asian culture molded

her and laid the building blocks for her future career as a

Amid a global pandemic, she was still hard at work, juggling trailblazer in the community.

various projects. It was early, around 9:30 a.m., when I jumped

on a call with Trisha, CEO of Brown Girl Magazine. Alongside writing various articles, she constantly found ways to

Considering she manages 175 editors and contributors and help Brown Girl grow on more platforms. The digital age was

oversees the many developments of Brown Girl, I wanted to becoming more influential than ever before, so she took the

get right into it and talk about her journey with the magazine limitless opportunities of the brand and brought them into a new

and what the future holds. space. The empowerment of South Asian women was always the

main goal, however Trisha hoped to expand the mission and

Brown Girl Magazine, founded in 2008 by Aditi Mehta, was broaden its reach after realizing that the magazine was

created to give a space to South Asian women living in the reaching a wider audience than ever imagined. When Instagram

diaspora. As a political science and journalism student at and Facebook came out, she created accounts on both. Her

Stonybrook University, Trisha stumbled upon the website while work, early on, for Brown Girl provided the leverage to turn it into

doing an assignment for a class. She reached out to the the massive platform that it is today, sprouting with endless

founder and decided to extend her time at Brown Girl even possibilities.

after her assignment was completed. By writing timely stories

and honing in on her skills as a journalist, Trisha quickly

developed a love for the platform and recognized all the Initially, what started off as a platform for South Asian women

potential it had. has grown into a digital content website that spans across

genders, age groups and time zones. For Trisha, while this

“Little by little I started recruiting some writers who were growth was something she would never have been able to

my friends during college, and at this time I didn’t realize I imagine when she began her journey with the company, she

was recruiting. I never looked at it that way. We would knows now that this is just the beginning for Brown Girl. Her

contact vendors and we would write profiles on them. For constant mindest is that Brown Girl can do more and be better.

instance, I had a really good photographer friend who

took really good portraits and I did a profile piece on her. I “There’s a lot more people that we need to reach so I’m
was just doing little things that I didn’t realize would definitely excited but I’m not fully content yet because I
eventually help grow Brown Girl and make it into a full- know we can provide more. 10 years ago, I would never have
fledged business many years later.” imagined that Brown Girl would be the platform where we
are producing a thousand kinds of content a year and have
200 staff writers and external writers and are doing so
many events with our own apparel line.”

45
Trisha Sakhuja-Walia
Photo Courtesy of Trisha Sakhuja-Walia 46
After years of being with Brown Girl and leading it to new heights, “Compared to 10 years ago, it is like day and
Trisha did something unprecedented within the company. After night. I’m really excited about the growth we
graduating, she entered the work-force with an editorial content have seen as a community. We’ve definitely
management position at Zee TV. However, after dedicating imprinted ourselves in all sectors across media
continuous time and energy over the years to Brown Girl, she knew and entertainment. I’m optimistic about the
what she truly wanted to pursue. She quit her full-time position and future and the growth we will see in
went full-time with Brown Girl Magazine. After buying out all the representation.”
shares from the original founder, going through two full years of

league work and large payments, Trisha became the CEO of the
Even despite the success Brown Girl has seen thus
company. There were moments of doubt, hesitation, and fear but
far, Trisha is not one to stop at just one
overall, seeing her vision come to life made it worth it. Mentally,
accomplishment. She looks forward to how Brown
financially and emotionally, she took a huge risk going full time,
Girl will expand in various ways through different
especially the month after she got married. It was a huge leap of
projects. There is an anthology in the works behind
faith that came with the risk of failure yet here we are with visual
the scenes which will consist of over 40 short, non-
proof that it did anything but.
fiction stories. There is also a podcast in the works

that focuses on South Asians in Hollywood. 

“I’m grateful for the opportunity and I know that no matter what

happens with my career or with the company, I know that I made the
The power of storytelling and how it resonates
choice to take this leap and go full-time and give Brown Girl my all.
through the work of Brown Girl is empowering for the
If for some reason, it doesn’t work out, which I don’t think will
individual as it is for the community as a whole.
happen, I know that I truly gave it my all and did everything
Despite social media being such a powerful platform,
possible.”
the mission of Brown Girl stands tall.

Her time as CEO of Brown Girl has led to such incredible

developments. For one, she introduced the clothing line, Ladki Power
It is evident that her hands are full as she is
in partnership with Roots Gear Clothing Co. She also helped create
constantly on the mission to expand Brown Girl and
the first ever of its kind, Slashie Summit. This conference hosts South
provide more representation for South Asians. The
Asian creatives juggling their full-time careers with their creative
power of storytelling fuels her work as does the
passions on the side. Until her introduction to the term, being a
knowledge that content is king and no matter what,
slashie, or people who do more than one thing to earn a living, was
that will be the driving force. Despite focusing on
something she didn’t realize she has been doing.
various projects at once, to Trisha, time is of the

essence and her excitement to bring them all to life

“I saw so many other folks in the community who were slashies and
will continue motivating her. 
every single person at Brown Girl is a slashie and I really just wanted

to honor that and honor the community that we are part of. All of us
“There’s no better time than now. If you want to have
are thriving in our side hustles but we are also keeping consistent
a full-blown full-time job and pursue XYZ , why not?
with our day jobs. … The Slashie Summit is a beautiful extension of
If you have the time to do it, there's nothing stopping
who we are a Brown Girl and I think it just falls beautifully within the
you. As long as the passion is there and you find the
ethos of our brand.”
time to do it, you should.”

47
"Underrepresented" Photo Series
Photos Courtesy of Simrah Farrukh 48
Poem Courtesy of Nikita Gill
49