ProBono Magazine- Issue 2 'He,She,WE'

Issue 2 17th October 2024

WE. h e ,

s h e ,

editor’s note

Contents Pink Or Blue?

By srushti

By taran

A similar goal, yet different paths

How can women make us greener?

By tansi

Contents Krishnaa By Avyackta

women inequality By Nakul nahta

written by Srushti

pink OR blue?

Model: Leon Dame

Model: Lucky Blue Smith

ARTWORK BY ADITRI

The image illustrates the pressure that young men face in a society where fame on the internet, likes, and comments are frequently used as indicators of acceptance by others. As the girl's post, which embodies normal expectations of success or attractiveness, receives thousands of likes, the teenage boy feels abandoned and begins to doubt his own worth.

Men and women have had their own individual struggles for as long as human development has come into place, with women struggling often with their periods, pregnancy and the unjust cruelty done towards them for the most part of history and somewhat continuing within the modern era. While men have also suffered by being enlisted to war, killed on the battlefield and fighting for a cause worthy towards them, two common factors and struggles that both men and women would have would be their struggle of mental health, the constant depression and fear that feeds on them as it would on any human.

In getting a job and achieving their goals, everyone has their struggles that they will always have to go through (boy do I know well). The gender pay gap, constant disrespect towards their work and sometimes just a lack of resources itself change the direction of both men and women to work towards their goals.

Women will often and still may have to go through gender pay gaps, unjust favouritism amongst the gender during work and such, a fact that can be seen in the USA, with only 5.42% of all businesses in the USA being owned by women according to WBENC. Still, on the plus side, that number is continuing to grow with women facing more and more challenges in our modern world but also gaining more and more confidence (Share me some, I need it).

Overall the struggles that are faced by women are endless but their resolve, resilience and understanding to keep pushing through when the going gets tough is what leads people like me and hopefully the rest of you to respect their ideals and their work ethic.

Men on the other hand don’t have it so easy as well, piling up stress brought up from a young age to be a doctor or an engineer to support their family, dreams of being anything are crushed within minutes to allow no sidetracking or distractions, leaving them to stay in a rat race they haven’t participated in (Wonder who’s winning that race).

They face enough mental stress by making their parents proud enough to acknowledge their efforts all the while sacrificing their own dreams for it, being told constantly that it may never happen, or that they aren’t good enough.

(I would just like you all to know as a personal message that you are more than good enough if you really think so).

Being a man as well, stress piles up wondering how to cope with it all, how to spread it out and learn from it, how to keep everything in check. Around 3.85 times more men have committed suicide by 2022.

I agree that women have and are still facing a lot of problems, a lot more perhaps than men, but it is sometimes overlooked the struggles a man faces as well. We are expected to not showcase emotions, constantly bottling it up to a point where we cannot express happy emotions either, it becomes difficult. Weakness, that’s what they call if men shed a tear, we’re human too – do we not have the freedom to feel?

Stress, fear, coping, uncertainty, luck, depression, injustice, these are all the possibilities that come in the way of a being with a goal, the only way to cross the hurdles given by the goal is to always find a workaround behind it, a compromise within it, a path clear with solutions. Who knows maybe one day, we'll see a world with a place for everyone, regardless of gender.

Everything has two sides—light and dark, joy and sorrow—each balancing the other. Gender equality works the same way. Men and women, like two halves of a whole, complement one another. Neither should dominate; instead, both deserve equal respect, rights, and opportunities, coexisting in harmony and balance. This drawing depicts a man and a woman as reflections of each other, sharing the same space, their bodies connected.

Neither stands above the other; instead, they exist in harmony, embodying the idea that regardless of gender, we're equals—two sides of the same coin, deserving of the same respect and opportunities.

ARTWORK BY AVYACKTA

How

n ca us green -er?

b

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s Tan

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Gender equality, or giving women the same opportunities as men, is not just a goal for social justice.

In fact, studies over the past and present, such as the study conducted by the Sasakawa Peace Foundation on gender diversity and climate innovation, consistently prove that offering women positions of power and leadership have resulted in their company, province, or area being greener. By ensuring gender equality, we not only improve the lives of millions of women around the world, but we also unlock innovative opportunities, solutions, and ideas to become greener.

The reason why women can have such a huge impact on their workspace and area is that they’re humans too and can bring more diverse perspectives on topics, knowledge from their past experiences, and solutions that the local community would like to use.

Since women often take on the role of caretakers in their households (only over 37% of the female population around the world works), they have stronger connections to basic human needs such as water, food production, and agriculture, which is why they can provide more sustainable yet innovative solutions to problems. Their input and participation in major decisions can also help improve the range of perspectives expressed, allowing the decision to be responsive to the needs and priorities of the local environment and community.

One example of how one woman was able to change the way her society lived is Wangari Maathai, a Kenyan activist. Her ideas brought more sustainable solutions that considered the local community that was being targeted.

Her founding of the movement “Green Belt” is only a testament to that because her focus was on giving women work opportunities that demanded they plant trees to restore land degraded by the climate, desertification, and agricultural activities.

This moment resulted in an active combat with deforestation and erosion while providing local women with economic opportunities.

In addition to her work, she also helped target the accessibility of basic needs such as clean water, sanitation, and sustainable agriculture, increasing the quality of life in her local community.

She always brought more diversity to the way sustainability was thought of during that time because she not only emphasised the importance of understanding the interconnectedness between ecological, social, and economic factors but also promoted the role of women in such movements, encouraging them to be leaders in environmental conservation and community development since she was an example of how women could make ideas greener. .

She not only single-handedly changed the lives of thousands of women aged between 18 and 50 but also helped improve her community’s resilience to climate change.

On top of that, women's leadership in the context of environmental movements and organisations has been second to none. Several studies have shown that womenheaded organisations are more likely to integrate sustainable practices and achieve positive environmental outcomes. Therefore, by empowering women for leadership roles, we can make sure of a more inclusive and fair movement that is better placed to handle complex challenges.

This is in addition to the already prevailing gender inequalities in developing countries, which climate change tends to exasperate. In many cases, women are usually more vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, such as severe weather events, a lack of food, and a lack of a lack of water. Moreover, they usually have additional roles concerning household responsibilities, taking care of children, and farm work, which can reduce their ability to adapt to or recover from climate-related disasters.

That being the case, bridging gender inequality is an important step in building resilience to climate change.

The enhancement of adaptive capacity among women and their involvement in decision-making would significantly enhance their ability to adapt to or mitigate the impacts of climate change.

This encompasses making education, training, and climate change adaptation and mitigation knowledge available to women.

Closer to home, mine in particular, the recent election of a female-led council in my apartment building was a positive step towards greater gender equality and environmental sustainability. For a long time, many mothers and tenants near the apartment building I live in have expressed their wishes about our area becoming more green and restricting plastic.

Closer to home, mine in particular, the recent election of a female-led council in my apartment building was a positive step towards greater gender equality and environmental sustainability.

For a long time, many mothers and tenants near the apartment building I live in have expressed their wishes about our area becoming more green and restricting plastic. They have also expressed concerns over how the existing council only seems to work during major holidays and doesn’t focus on dealing with our water issues during the summer. However, that all changed in early March of this year.

For a long time, many mothers and tenants near the apartment building I live in has expressed their wishes about our area becoming more green and restricting plastic.

They have also expressed concerns over how the existing council only seems to work during major holidays and doesn’t focus on dealing with our water issues during the summer. However, that all changed in early March of this year.The new female council in the apartment has been quite committed to reducing my building's carbon footprint through initiatives like rainwater harvesting, solar panels, and lighting diversion rods—making all residents safe and convenient.

Gender equality can be a very real accelerator for a greener future.

Empowerment of women, leadership potential development, and full and equal representation in decision-making can mean driving access to new technologies that harden care for the environment and rev up the road completely towards an equitable and sustainable world. Let us work for a future where gender equality and environmental sustainability can move together.

Gender equality is moo-ving us forward, it's about 'herd-ing' us toward a greener future,

K R I S H N A A

Husband, Husband, Husband, Husband, and... Another Husband Called Krishnaa in affection, the royal empress adorned skin as dark and lustrous as polished ebony, her hair cascading down in thick waves, flowing like a river under the moonless sky. Tortured poets, spellbound by her beauty, sang of her as though she were a goddess incarnate. Her beauty was a marvel, unmatched by any mortal or divine.

“It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.” Though these words were penned in another time and place, they find a forceful ricochet when one considers Queen Panchaali, whose fate was entwined with not one, but five husbands, all of noble fortune.

In a society where a woman’s worth is often measured by her marital status, Draupadi’s situation flips the script.

K u n t i ’ s w o r d s – “ ​D i v i d e w h a t y o u h a v e among yourselves” bid Draupadi to the Pandavas but also to the centre position of a narrative deeply etched in Indian culture. She became not just the wife of Arjuna, Yudhisthira, Bhima, Nakul and Sahadeva, but a woman who could assert her place in an otherwise male-dominated realm.

Draupadi embraced her polyandrous marriage, challenging the societal norms that dictated a woman’s identity as mere property- it is known, but it was not until the game of dice that her strength was truly tested.

That day, the sun hung low, casting demeaning shadows over the assembly hall. Yudhisthira, her husband and king, sat across from his formidable cousin Duryodhana.

Husband, Husband, Husband, Husband, and... Another Husband The stakes rose higher and higher until at last, he lost everything- his kingdom, his brothers, and, in a moment that would be remembered through the ages, Draupadi herself.

The Kauravas beamed in victory. As she was dragged against her will to the centre, the eyes of the spectators were filled with mockery.

“What have I done to deserve this?”

In that moment, she became more than just a victim; she was a warrior challenging the very foundation of patriarchal oppression.

With every word, Draupadi summoned the spirit of justice.

“Once a man becomes a slave, his wife is no longer his property.”

Her proclamation hit like a thunderclap. It revealed the hypocrisy lurking within the assembly. It was a daring confrontation of the patriarchal mindset that treated women as mere possessions.

As the humiliation continued, Draupadi stood her ground. A fierce fire of righteousness burned within her. This was not just her battle; it was a stand against an unjust system.

painting ‘Draupadi Vastraharan’ by Syamarani Das, ISKON

Husband, Husband, Husband, Husband, and... Another Husband Her story reminds us that her struggles are not confined to the pages of ancient texts. In today's world, women continue to face challenges that echo her story. Statistics reveal a grim reality: estimates published by the WHO indicate that globally about 1 in 3 (30%) of women have been subjected to either physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence or non-partner sexual violence in their lifetime. Furthermore, the National Library of Medicine notes that one in four women will experience sexual assault in their lifetime.

Alarmingly, less than 5% of these assaults are reported to law enforcement. The police, who are meant to be the guardians of justice, often fall short. A study highlighted that many women who report their assaults face insensitivity, blaming questions, and a lack of proper investigation.

Just as Draupadi raised her voice in the court, so too do modern women raise theirs against the myriad forms of violence and oppression they face daily. We must acknowledge that while Draupadi’s strength and resilience are commendable, her injustice is something that women should not have to endure. Draupadi’s story is not merely one of triumph– it is a cautionary tale of the inhumanity that women have faced throughout history. While she stood strong in the face of adversity, it is crucial to recognize that her suffering was a reflection of a patriarchal society that often views women as mere pawns in a larger game of power and control.

Husband, Husband, Husband, Husband, and... Another Husband The lesson here is not to romanticize the strength of women in enduring hardship but to challenge the behaviours and attitudes that allow such injustices to occur. History has shown us the devastating consequences of toxic masculinity, and we must strive for a world where men do not embody the traits of Duryodhana—traits that dehumanize and degrade.

The responsibility for change lies not solely with women but with society as a whole. We must strive for an environment where women are not subjected to the whims of men who see them as property or objects of conquest. The story of Draupadi will exist until we change the narrative and ensure that women are empowered, safe, and respected. The strength of women should not be measured by their capacity to endure suffering but by the transformative power they possess to challenge injustice and inspire change.

Husband, Husband, Husband, Husband, and... Another Husband

‘I measure the progress of a community with the degree of progress that women have achieved.”

Dr. B.R. Ambedkar.

by Nakul Nahta

M W N O E I

U E N Q AL I T Y

Gender Inequality; this concept is recognised as a human rights issue around the globe, and this issue calls us global citizens for its help. This diluted concept which people nowadays might consider as funny, is affecting them in ways they might not even know.

This very concept affects how opportunities will be considered in the very future. And boys…Don’t even think about “Ahh…It doesn’t affect us”…WRONG. There is a reason why it is called Gender Inequality rather than Women's Inequality, sure inequality for women has been an issue for a decade already. It requires our sincere attention but we must not forget that while not commonly discussed “Males” and other genders are also affected by this concept as well.

Before plunging into the topic, let's establish key terminologies with varying definitions by different individuals from diverse groups.

“sex” and “gender” “sex” refers to the biological attributes differentiating male and female bodies,such as chromosomes, hormones, and reproductive organs. In contrast to this, gender refers to socially constructed norms and expectations for men and women in the society, these are heavily influenced by the structure of the society and the ongoing cultures. It is critical to note that social constructs and gender norms vary across societies over different time periods which indicates that they are not fixed.

“Gender stereotypes” can be considered as simplified and generalised ideas about the behaviours expected of men and women.

For example, the idea that men are naturally strong and independent, while women are extremely emotional and touchy, influences personal and professional opportunities for both genders.

Due to this cruel stereotype, individuals are influenced and dictated on how they must behave. Gender roles arise from these stereotypes due to which discrimination, unequal treatment, and lower wages can be noticed.

To further understand gender inequality, let’s explore its deep history to understand, where did we go wrong.

According to the recorded history dating back up to 200,000 years, women were considered to be weak and were denied basic rights. The first modern push for gender equality started in the 19th and early 20th centurieswith the women's suffrage movement. In 1893, New Zealand became the first country in the globe to grant women the right to vote.

Many other nations followed this practice in the subsequent decades.

Another significant movement was the women's liberation movement of the 1960s and 70s which tried to address issues like workplace discrimination, reproductive rights, and domestic violence. This led to important legislative changes in many countries. The United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, adopted in 1979, was one of the international frameworks which became a significant step in tackling gender equality.

Despite this progress, significant disparities are still present globally.

According to the World Economic Forum's 2024 Global Gender Gap Report, at the current rate of change, it will take 131 years to achieve full gender parity worldwide.

THAT IS CRAZYY. We cannot let our future generations face this very issue and one of the root causes for all this is Media.Mass media has played a powerful role in transforming people's perspectives and attitudes. For example, studies show that young girls lose ambition when they do not see female leaders on screen. Mass media has portrayed different genders in a certain way, causing stereotypes among individuals. Historically, media is the reason why these limiting stereotypes have existed for decades. It is time that we try to overcome it. Media showcased men as the breadwinners, authority figures and so on while women were frequently depicted as housewives and mothers.

All of this aside, We must acknowledge that there is a new change, a change which needs much more than it is currently. Movies, TV shows, and advertisements have slowly shifted from the traditional perspective and are open enough to showcase women in leadership positions and non-traditional careers. However, media currently doesn’t use inclusive language in media which in-turn creates inequality. Additionally, according many individuals harmful stereotypes still persist, particularly in how physical appearance of women as this so-called society tends to consider that beauty is only the colour white, beauty is only a person's slimness.

This applies to men as well as society provides a lot of hate to individuals who do not follow society's so-called expectation of being slim and having six packs. The only good thing about this expectation is how they try to emphasise fitness but over time, due to this individual have become more unhealthy, unsatisfied and not happy with their life.

We must recognise that gender inequality is not just a "women's issue"; it affects all genders.

The focus must be on gender equality rather than "women's equality".

As men also face societal pressures tied to gender. For example, boys experience emotional repression as they bottle up due to the stereotype, Newspaper, Radio, News, TV and now Social media, are the new avenues that have been used for both reinforcing and challenging gender norms. These platforms like Instagram and TikTok have brought mixed results both positive and negative.

Social Media have been criticised for promoting unrealistic beauty standards. At the same time, they've given voice to feminist activists and body positivity advocates. Slowly and steadily, There have been actions and policies taken with the aim of increasing women's representation. However, few of them have been criticised heavily for potentially disadvantaging male applicants. For instance, prestigious government colleges in India like IITs provide 33% of their seat to women applications and the rest 66% as meritbased. Due to this policy, young male students who might worked incredibly hard to gain marks won't get the seat while comparatively, a female student with lower marks will still get in.

Where is the fairness here?

The police makers and enforcers have become blinded to thinking this concept is called women's inequality but it is gender inequality. It's crucial to approach gender equality as something which provides benefits to everyone, not as a zero-sum game where one group will gain and another will have its expense. Humans who are complex social creatures are incredible, they do everything in their power to do what is morally right to them.

They have helped address this issue by creating numerous organisations, movements, and policy initiatives, let’s explore them:The #MeToo movement, which gained global recognition in 2017, has raised awareness about sexual harassment and assault, leading to increased accountability in many industries. While sexual harassment and assault have been addressed to only women, the parliament in many countries, do not consider that sexual harassment and assault are possible to men as well. Currently, the term Rape is defined as "sexual intercourse with a woman against her will, without her consent, by coercion, misrepresentation or fraud or at a time when she has been intoxicated or duped or is of unsound mental health and in any case if she is under 18 years of age."

This definition suggests that rape can only occur between a man and a woman. The BNS Bill, which aims to replace the IPC, and has been reintroduced in Parliament. It omits Section 377, which criminalises non-consensual sex between adults of all genders and orientations, as well as sexual acts against animals. The omission of Section 377 from the BNS Bill would effectively decriminalise rape of males, transgender people, and animals. For example, in 2018, A 20-year-old boy had to endure sexual assault by 5 men in Ghaizab, theThe constitution didn’t consist of a rule for that boy to gain justice.

Aside from this oversight, Many countries have implemented gender quotas in politics to increase women's representation in government. For example, Rwanda leads the world in women's parliamentary representation, with women holding 61% of seats.

Additionally, corporate initiatives like the 30% Club for greater gender diversity in company leadership. Some countries, like Norway, have mandated gender quotas for corporate boards.

Now hearing all of this, you might wonder why gender inequality matters to me. The reality is that these issues shape the world that we are growing up in and will inherit in the future:Your educational and career opportunities may be influenced by gender biases and stereotypes. The current structure of society will bring social pressures and expectations around your appearance, behaviour, and relationships. We feel that your understanding of gender inequality can help build healthy, respectful relationships and in-turn with butterfly effect cause great changes.

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HELPLINES If you or someone you know is experiencing abuse, help is available. Don’t hesitate to reach out—support is just a phone call away. These helplines provide confidential assistance and guidance, ensuring you don’t have to face this alone.

National Commission for Women Helpline

7827170170

Central Social Welfare Board Police Helpline

1091/ 1291, (011) 23317004

Shakti Shalini

10920

Shakti Shalini - women's shelter

(011) 24373736/ 24373737

SAARTHAK

(011) 26853846/ 26524061

All India Women's Conference

10921/ (011) 23389680

JAGORI

(011) 26692700+918800996640

Joint Women's Programme (also has branches in Bangalore, Kolkata, Chennai)

(011) 24619821

Sakshi - violence intervention center (0124) 2562336/ 5018873 Saheli - a womens organization

(011) 24616485 (Saturdays)

Nirmal Niketan

(011) 27859158

Nari Raksha Samiti

(011) 23973949

RAHI Recovering and Healing from Incest. A support centre for women survivors of child sexual abuse

(011) 26238466/ 26224042, 26227647

CREDITS JOURNALISTS

ARTISTS

Avyackta Nakul Nahta Srushti Tansi Taran

Aditri Avyackta

DESIGN

EDITORS

Aarushi Avyackta

Avyackta

Additional Everything, every element was used from pictures found on Pinterest, Google, Landing Space and Canva, apart from the photographs and artwork and articles made by or from the ProBono Team. Canva and Landing Space was used to design this magazine.

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