In April 2018, I wrote an article on Women’s Web on ‘female blackout’ (read it here). My basic premise was that women need more presence, not less.
My piece got its share of bouquets & brickbats, thanks to the perception a few readers got that I was being condescending & shaming women who were exercising their choice of blacking out. Those who supported my article called out the irony in this – that I was also being stopped from exercising my choice. (Scroll to the comments section on my piece.)
The negative comments upset me for a few days. But, my article also got a lot of support. In fact, Germaine Greer said a similar thing! (mic drop) A simple search on Facebook & Twitter revealed that I wasn’t alone in having this opinion.
Many shared my piece but their privacy settings don’t allow me to see them all. The Women’s Web website says my article got 47.1k shares , primarily outside India. Like some say – any publicity is good publicity. :)
This lady had her shared post reported. Because, obviously, freedom of expression works only one way!
I stand by my statement that women need more presence, not less. So glad to see that women aren’t ready to remain silent anymore!
& then, ultimately, as a result of all this, my piece was adjudged among the 25 most popular articles on Women’s Web in 2018. Ahem! I couldn’t have asked for a better end to 2018.
Check out the 25 most popular pieces. I’m delighted to feature in a list that has 24 other talented folks sharing their voices! Hope to write more in 2019!
Keep speaking up ladies! Don’t let anyone silence your voice.
