She Shines Magazine [Issue 3]: Women's History

COVER ART BY TAMANNA IYER

SHE SHINES MAGAZINE Issue 3: Women's History

Introduction Contributors

2

Letter From The Founder

3

Sports Girls Can't Do Sports

5

Two Women in Sports

7

Women's Etiquette

9

Fashionable Developments

11

Myths and Legends

13

Feminist Movements

17

Peruvian Women's History

19

Erazed

21

Slutwalks and the Future of Feminism

23

Indian Female Freedom Fighters

25

Imperial Courage

27

Bridgerton's accuracy in portraying women in that era

29

Portrayal of women in literature

32

Digital Packages and previous issues

36

ILL

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NB YN A

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History

Contributors DIRECTORS

ARTISTS

Akshaya Pai Althea Ocomen Sophie Sun Arkaja Shahi Mohini Chandra Shatakshi Shahi Soumya Rana

Nakshatra Paul Lotte Josephine Tamanna Iyer Frances Dixon

WRITERS Priyanka Saravanan Nysa Khanna Diva Singh Sapna Shenoy Fernanda Llanquecha León

Anusree Sreedeep Nair Shubhangini Mehta Neerja Choudhuri Saara Lunawat

FROM THE FOUNDER

Dear Readers,

We are excited to announce the release of our third issue: Women's History. Through this issue of SSM, we hope to inspire young women to look to history as a source of empowerment.

In this issue, you will find information on women's etiquette through the centuries, the evolution in their clothing, and learn about female legends, queens and more!

As Virginia Woolf said, "For most of history, anonymous was a woman".

So, let's bring back the names of the anonymous.

Happy reading!

Akshaya Pai

Chapter 1:

Women in Sports

Girls Can't Do Sports

BY PRIYANKA SARAVANAN

“Girls aren’t good at sports. Girls can’t run, girls can’t lift, girls can’t punch....”

How many times have you heard these words or some version of it?

Even if girls do sports, they shouldn’t get too muscular.

“If you play sports, you might break your teeth and you’ll look ugly for the rest of your life”.

Female athletes are mostly judged based on their physical appearance whereas their male counterparts are judged based on their talent and their competence. Reports on male athletes write about their expertise, their scores, their batting averages while reports on female athletes describe their features - blue eyes, blond hair.

For sportsmen, muscularity is seen as an asset, but sportswomen get body-shamed: “You look like a man.” And many such demeaning and discrediting comments. A Women’s Tennis Association official once called Serena and her sister Venus as “the Williams brothers” and said, “It’s frightening to look at them.”

Watching men's games, you see it all - the sweaty locker rooms, the grueling practice sessions, the impressive workout regimes, but for women’s games - the glitz and glamour takes center-stage. They have to look sexy on magazine covers and endorse brands looking picture perfect. We rarely see their strength, their grit, their determination.

There have been numerous accounts of sportswomen being subjected to derogatory comments by their male coaches. Jessica Ennis-Hill, the 2012 Olympic heptathlon champion was called “fat” by a senior British official. Fellow heptathlete Louise Hazel said that she too faced a similar remark from the sport’s governing body. The global face of female athletes - Serena Williams has also faced various sexist and racist remarks, which she has always handled with grace and elegance. Indian tennis player Sania Mirza has faced criticism for her attire and her relationship with the Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik.

The USWNT, despite winning the 4 FIFA world cups and 4 Olympic gold medals, still gets paid way less than their less successfulmale counterparts.

If this is the case for elite athletes, what about girls like you and me? We’re told that exercise is all about that perfect body - the slim waist, the toned thighs. We’re not being taught that being active is also about having fun along the way, it’s about feeling good, feeling powerful. The most popular and the probably the greatest female footballer ever Marta - gave this evoking speech in 2019, “It’s wanting more, it’s training more. It’s taking care of yourself more. It’s being ready to play ninety plus thirty minutes. The women’s game depends on you to survive.”

A recent study published by the British Psychological Society revealed that “a focus on body image [and our responses to it]… may be more rewarding for those embarking on an exercise programme” i.e, we begin to feel good about ourselves when we are physically active. It’s great because the emphasis is on how we feel rather than how we look. It’s high time we become unburdened by social norms and unleash ourselves on the playground. It’s time we run and jump and aspire and win. It’s time we realize that exercise is not always about that perfect pouty, glistening post-workout selfie. Instead of trying to fit into that dress, look messy,wield your muscle. Embrace yourself for who you are.

“Fix your hair, paint your nails, look pretty.”

But what if I just want to get dirt under my nails, bruise my knees and have fun on the ground?

WOMEN IN SPORTS

Jackie Joyner-Kersee --- ⊰ It is a well-known fact that Jackie Joyner-Kersee is one of, if not the best, track and field athlete. She won three Olympic gold medals, one Olympic silver medal, and two Olympic bronze medals. Not one to be limited to one area of expertise, she was also a professional golfer as well as a professional basketball player, though she is still most known for her feats in track and field. To this day, Jackie inspires others that share her dream by establishing "Athletes for Hope," a non-profit organization that aims to educate athletes and connect them to various causes for the betterment of their community.

Nadia Comăneci --- ⊰ As a predominantly female sport, gymnastics didn't receive a lot of attention in the late 20th century. With the help of Nadia Comăneci, gymnastics soon became one of the most prestigious sports in the Olympics. In the year 1980, Nadia participated in the Summer Olympics, hosted by Russia at the time. Due to the Cold War, thenpresident Jimmy Carter protested the Olympics. Nadia won two gold medals and two silver medals. Her coach, the start of many problems for Comăneci, claimed that she had been scored unfairly. Later on, when Comăneci was on a world tour, her coaches defected, leaving Nadia in a precarious situation with the Romanian government, who feared that she too would defect.

Chapter 2:

Women's History

ILLUSTRATION BY AKSHAYA PAI

Women's Etiquette

By Althea Ocomen

15th Century

The lives of women in the Middle Ages were determined by the Church and the aristocracy. The medieval Church provided people with the 'big picture' of the meaning of life and one's place in it; the aristocracy ensured that everyone stayed in their respective gender and social norms. In this period, the rights of women continued to grow owing largely to two distinct factors: the increasing popularity of the Cult of the Virgin Mary and the development of the concepts of courtly love and chivalry. Women's status and opportunities would also expand after the outbreak of the Black Death which killed so many that women were allowed to assume ownership and operation of their late husband's businesses. Despite this major achievement, the majority of the female population continued to be demonized due to the submissive stereotypes imposed upon them.

16th Century

It is a complete myth that 16th-century women were meek and submissive.

Some were strong-minded, which created a tremendous impact on the lives of other women during this time. Due to the development of the economy, women searched for different career options such as becoming tailoresses, milliners, dyers, and embroiderers. These events established them as an important part of the labor force since most men could not run a farm or a business without their wives’ help. Although most young girls did not go to grammar schools, some upper-class women were highly educated, which catalyzed and opened opportunities for women in future generations.

Despite these notable accomplishments, women were given strict policies on how to behave when traveling and going to certain places. They were barred from acting “unladylike” and demanded to be of no burden to their husbands. They were obliged to wear plain clothes with neutral tints to gain a dignified demeanor and respect from the people around them.

17th Century

Women in the 17th century were second-class citizens, subject to their fathers from birth and later handed over like chattel to their husbands.

Fastidious demands were placed upon them with regards to conduct and virtue which they were expected to uphold at all times or be judged accordingly. These ‘appropriate guidelines’ for women dictated all aspects of their life including family, personality, dress, and even appetite. Most of the time, women needed to have a huge wardrobe, while exemplifying virtues of neatness, adaptiveness, harmony, fashion, comfort, and details.

Even with these various forms of oppression, they were required to be welleducated in medicinal and culinary uses of herbs and plants, needlework, reading, and writing.

ILLUSTRATION BY NAKSHATRA PAUL

Fashionable Developments

By Anusree Sreedeep Nair

From the earliest evidence of clothing being skin drapes made out of leaves and fur to Emma Watson’s iconic Calvin Klein gown made entirely from recycled plastic bottles at the 2016 Met Gala, the clothing industry has undergone an evolution like no other. In the brief expanse of this article, we shall fashionably explore the history of women’s clothing across the globe.

51 B.C. Egypt had dresses made from linen and sheer for ordinary women. The last pharaoh, Cleopatra, was known to have worn fabric that was adorned with gold. Ancient Greece had dresses made of silk or linen that were purely for functionality. Around the early 16th century dresses began to symbolise wealth and privilege among the nobility as is seen in the infamous portrait of Henry VII’s wife wearing a Tudor dress with layers of jewellery. By the 1650’s, women’s dresses across Europe emphasised on slim waists which perpetuated the image of the ideal female anatomy that is still prevalent today. It was not until the mid-19th century that women in western societies began wearing pants as a form of revolution which was only socially accepted around the mid-20th century.

Western casual wear for women is a common sight in most cities of south and east Asia but the history of their traditional attire is a far-stretch from that of the western world. In China, as early as 220 C.E., the wide-sleeved dresses known as the pao were popularly worn, interestingly, by both men and women. The communist revolution in 1949 introduced the drab uniform or the ‘Mao’ suit which became the common attire for both men and women. The western influence was evident in the clothing by the 1960's.

Variations of the Chinese pao were common in Japan and Korea. By the 18th century, the basic kimono was worn by common Japanese women. The short-sleeved kimonos were commonly worn by Samurai women and married women while the long-sleeved kimonos were reserved for unmarried girls. In Korea, during the early 6th century, women wore waist length blouses with short trousers which were also worn by men.

Later, the nobility’s attire became the traditional hanbok, once again common for both men and women.

South Asia had a large diversity in terms of clothing with each region or ethnicity having different styles.

The biggest differences were seen in the dresses based on religion. While Hindu women most commonly wore saris (which haven’t changed much since), Muslim women (mostly empresses) wore a long skirt-like garment with a short blouse.

This evolved into the costume popularly known as “ghagra” and “choli” today. In the middle east, the religious influence resulted in similarities in the dresses of Muslim women with those of other countries of the past. However, across the last two centuries, the use of the hijab (veil) and the burqa covering the whole body is more common among Muslim women.

As for most of the African continent, the numerous tribes and communities have their own unique traditional costumes and Latin America has a strong Spanish influence on its garment industry.

Today, we see a massive blend of women of different ethnicities, religions, and cultures dressing in manners that were historically localized which has resulted in the sharing of traditions and ideas through the means of fashion. In today’s fashion world, gender-based barriers are being broken and there is increased inclusivity for people of all sizes and from all places. Let’s draw one conclusion about modern fashion: men can wear skirts and women can wear pants. We’d all look great in either!

ILLUSTRATION BY TAMANNA IYER

Myths and legends The night sky is filled with compelling constellations. The names of most of these clusters of stars were designated on mythological characters eons ago.

Myths were created to provide the hearer with certain truths about the essence of human existence and incorporate values to help them acclimatize to the society. This was done to ensure smooth functioning of the day to day.

At the time, patriarchy and male chauvinism were considered the norm and the natural way of life. Nevertheless, philosophers of that era could not completely eliminate the empowering role of women from these cultural texts.

Here are a few mythological women who, through their powerful characters, left a mark and carved their names in the minds of everyone who heard about them in those times and those to come.

ANATH: Anath, also spelled Anat, was the chief West Semitic goddess of love and war, as well as the god Baal's sister and helpmate.

She was probably the most wellknown of the Canaanite deities, famous for her youthful vigor and ferocity in battle; in this regard, she was adopted as a special favorite by the Egyptian king Ramses II (reigned 1279–13 BC).

There are countless other women who exemplified strength, self-righteousness, and vigor and became role models for future generations over the course of various myths.

Some of them can also be found in the numerous constellations.

Their eternal brilliance radiates through every star and illuminates the night sky.

TEFNUT: She symbolizes moist or corrosive air that brings about change. Since, there can be no life without water, it's not surprising that Tefnut was regarded as one of the pantheon's earliest deities.

As they'd seen in their history, when the waters dried up, entire dynasties could fall. Nobody, not even the pharaoh, could provide all the rains the Egyptians required to survive.

ATHENA: She is the Olympian goddess of wisdom and war, as well as the city-beloved state's patroness. She was also associated with peace and handicrafts, particularly spinning and weaving, as a virgin deity. Athena excelled in both of her primary domains, being both majestic and stern. Ares feared her, and all Greek heroes sought her assistance.

As a war goddess associated with wisdom – opposed to Ares, who was infamous for pure violence – Athena was frequently the primary ally of Ancient Greece's greatest heroes. She was most famous for guiding Odysseus on his ten-year journey back to Ithaca. She did, however, assist many others.

ARTEMIS: The Greek goddess of wild animals, hunting, and vegetation, as well as chastity and childbirth.

Artemis was Zeus' and Leto's daughter, as well as Apollo's twin sister. She was the most popular goddess among the rural populace.

Artemis embodied the sportsman's ideal, so in addition to killing game, she protected it, particularly the young; this was the Homeric meaning of the title Mistress of Animals.

DRAUPADI: She was a brave princess from the Hindu epic Mahabharata. One who was tenacious and a woman with a strong will. Draupadi, the proud and enraged heroine of the epic, has remained an enigmatic woman of substance.

Draupadi had developed the fortitude to face life's challenges. She had made a firm decision not to harm the good people and not to yield to the wicked. Draupadi was a woman, but her tenacity earned her the same fame as the heroic Pandavas.

Her personality was characterized by lightning and thunder.

In terms of strength and spirit, valor and virtue, this unforgettable heroine is no less than Bheema or Arjuna.

Her tale is a saga of humiliation and disgrace, but she took it all in stride and defeated each of the perpetrators of her humiliation and agony.

HEL: She was originally the name of the ‘World of the Dead’ in Norse mythology. It later came to mean the goddess of death. Hel was one of Loki's children, and her kingdom was said to extend downward and northward.

There was a castle facing north, filled with serpent venom, where murderers, adulterers, and perjurers were tortured.

By Nysa Khanna ‘Feminism is the radical notion that women are human beings’ -Cheris Kramarae

It’s a word, a term, a belief, an ideology, a movement, an inspiration, a revolution, a power beyond comparison. It’s Feminism. A term coined in 1872 by utopian socialist Charles Fourier. It is symbolised by the planet Venus, the mimosa flower and the most popular fist symbol. By definition it is the advocacy of women’s rights on the ground of equality of the sexes but I believe it is so much more than that. It’s like a huge wave coming at the world. You can’t stop it.

FEMINISM - DESI STYLE!

Let’s go back to the beginning. India’s first official feminist was Tarabai Shinde. I’m sure others would’ve wanted to rise against the oppression but were too afraid in a country like India where the consequences were way too harsh. In such a state the brave Tarabai Shinde protested against patriarchy and caste in the 19th century.

NAKSHATRA PAUL

ILLUSTRATION BY

Coming back to the 21st century feminist movements in India have significantly improved. From the defense line to the farmer’s protest women of India have shattered stereotypes. We’ve had multiple movements such as Smash The Patriarchy, Dalit Lives Matter, the Brown Is Beautiful movement and so on.

FEMINISM IN THE USA

"Girls just wanna have fun! No, girls just wanna have fundamental rights."

The first feminism movement of the USA began with the Seneca Falls convention on 19 July 1847. Feminism started rising when women started writing about equal rights in the US. 61% of American women say the word feminist describes them perfectly and they aren’t lying about it.

The movements in the USA are often divided as waves. First Wave Feminism (1840’s-1920): Suffragist Movement, Second Wave Feminism (1960s-1980s):Women’s Liberation, Third Wave Feminism (1990s -2000s):Global feminism and Fourth wave Feminism (2010s and going on): Empowerment. The most recent 2021 feminist movement is too keep abortion rights legal.

By Fernanda Llanquecha León “I'll continue as far as possible. Neither my women nor I will leave space uncovered. The invader will only pass over our corpses.”

-Letter from Tomasa Tito Condemayta to Micaela Bastidas

The peruvian's history of the 18th century wasn't only about brave men, where they gave their lives for their homeland, also was about extraordinary women, who struggled for the atrocities and acts of violence perpetrated by Spaniards.

Women such as Manuela Sáenz, Ana of Tarma, Ventura Ccalamaqui, Brigida Silva de Ochoa, Rosa Campusano, Micaela Bastidas, etc. For a long time, they were invisibilized by history, however they took weapons and fought for their liberty.

One of them was Tomasa Tito Condeymayta, she was Cacica of Acos, a woman of lineage and great economic power. She left her family and husband to fight for the freedom of the indigenous people who were suffering from the bourbon reforms imposed by the Spanish crown, characterized by the indigenous tribute and the exploitation in the mines of Potosí. Where only 1/5 indigenous returned alive.

She helped Túpac Amaru II with provisions, men and weapons. Her participation was so important as strategic support. He fought with slingshots, huaracas and sticks, and never faltered in his efforts to recruit new fighters or convince other caciques of the need to join the revolutionary force.

She helped Túpac Amaru II with provisions, men and weapons. Her participation was so important as strategic support. He fought with slingshots, huaracas and sticks, and never faltered in his efforts to recruit new fighters or convince other caciques of the need to join the revolutionary force.

When she was 40 years old, she organized a big army of women as a resistance strategy, who defended with success and struggled against conquerors on the bridge of Pilpino (Cusco). Enemy troops considered the achievement a "work of witchcraft". Also, on November 18th, 1780 “The Brigade of Women Soldiers” participated in the battle of Sangara.

Tomasa Tito Condemayta was captured and executed by the royalist army, together with Micaela Bastidas and Túpac Amaru II, on May 18, 1781. Her execution was public and her dismembered body was distributed in different places of Cusco as an exemplary measure. Her head was sent to Acos as a warning to avoid new uprisings.

The rest of the women who were part of the heroic brigade suffered a slow and sad end. In 1783 a good part of these women left on foot to Callao as punishment. The final destination would be exile in Mexico, but many of them died on the way and others in the jail of Callao.

The cacica of Acos is unjustly remembered under the label of "the lover of Tupac Amaru II", when her participation was key to mobilize the human and logistical contingent to continue with the great rebellion of 1780-1781 against the oppressive colonial regime in the viceroyalty of Perú. She was a woman with a lot of values, who wished to support the indigenous people. She demonstrated courage and fighting spirit.

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SlutWalks and the Future of Feminism

By Althea Ocomen

Decades after feminists tossed their bras and high heels into a trash can at the 1968 Miss America pageant — kicking off the bra-burning myth that will never die — some young women are taking to the streets to protest sexual assault, wearing not much more than what their foremothers once dubbed “objects of female oppression” in marches called SlutWalks.

It’s a controversial name, which is in part why the organizers picked it. It’s also why many of the SlutWalk protesters are wearing so little (though some are sweatpants-clad, too). Thousands of women — and men — are demonstrating to fight the idea that what women wear, what they drink, or how they behave can make them a target for rape. SlutWalks started with a local march organized by five women in Toronto and have gone viral, with events planned in more than 75 cities in countries from the United States and Canada to Sweden and South Africa. In just a few months, SlutWalks have become the most successful feminist action of the past decades.

In a feminist movement that is often fighting simply to hold ground, SlutWalks stand out as a reminder of feminism’s more grass-roots past and point to what the future could look like.

The marches are mostly organized by younger women who don’t apologize for their in-your-face tactics, making the events much more effective in garnering media attention and participant interest than the actions of well-established (and better funded) feminist organizations. And while not every feminist may agree with the messaging of SlutWalks, the protests have translated online enthusiasm into in-person action in a way that hasn’t been done before in feminism on this scale.

The protests began after a police officer told students at Toronto’s York University in January that if women want to avoid rape, they shouldn’t dress like “sluts.” (If you thought the days of “she was asking for it” were long gone, guess again.)

Heather Jarvis, a student in Toronto and a co-founder of SlutWalk, explained that the officer’s comments struck her and her co-organizers as so preposterous and damaging that they demanded action. “We were fed up and pissed off, and we wanted to do something other than just be angry,” she said. Bucking the oftrepeated notion that young women are apathetic to feminism, they organized.

What Jarvis hoped would be a march of at least 100 turned out to be a rally of more than 3,000 — some marchers with “slut” scrawled across their bodies, others with signs reading “My dress is not a yes” or “Slut pride.”

The SlutWalkers, in outfits that could be grumpily labeled “ridiculous and indecent,” are not inducing exclusion from respectable society. They’re generating excitement, translating their anger into action, and trying to change our supposedly respectable society into one that truly respects men, women, and yes, even “sluts.”

Indian Female Freedom Fighters

By Neerja Choudhuri The Indian Freedom Struggle is often characterized by the role played by renowned men to free this nation. However, very little light has been thrown on the crucial role played by our female freedom fighters in the history of the freedom struggle. The role played by women cannot be ignored.

As much as we remember the name of Mahatma Gandhi, Mangal Pandey, Bhagat Singh we must not forget names like Sarojni Naidu, Rani Lakshmi Bai, Aruna Asif Ali and, many such countless phenomenal women without whom the dream of a free India could turn into reality. In this article, we remember some of the greatest female freedom fighters that our nation has ever produced. We remember the bravery and valor through which they fought for us just like their male counterparts did.

Sarojini Naidu: Sarojini Naidu, a prominent figure of civil rights, women’s emancipation played a crucial role in the freedom struggle. Often called “Bharat Kokila” or “ the Nightingale of India” , she also authored the famous poem “In the Bazaars of Hyderabad”. She joined the freedom movement in the wake of partition of Bengal in 1905.Naidu’s birthday (13th February) is celebrated as Women’s Day in India to recognize all the voices of Women in India’s history.

Aruna Asif Ali: Aruna Asif Ali was Delhi’s first mayor in the post Independent era. She is hugely recognized for hoisting the Indian National Flag at the Gowalia Tank maidan, Bombay(present day Mumbai) during the quit India movement in the year 1942. She participated in public processions during the Salt Satyagrah and was an active part of the Indian National Congress. She was also called the “Heroine of the 1942 movement” and during her later years she was dubbed as the “Grand Old Lady of Independence movement”. Some of her notable works include: “ The resurgence of Indian Women'', “ Private Face of a Public Person: A Study of Jawahrlal Nehru” Rani Lakshmi Bai of Jhansi: One of the most well known names in the Indian Freedom Struggle, Rani Lakshmi Bai is often seen as a symbol of the Indian Rebellion of 1857. She was a leading figure of resistance to the British Raj for Indian nationalists.

Annie Besant: A British socialist, she was an ardent supporter of Indian self- rule. She joined the Indian National Congress and participated in the freedom struggles. Some of her books include: “ Thought Forms”, “The Ancient Wisdom”, “The Seven Principles of Man” etc And while these are just some names, there exist many such women freedom fighters who once dreamt of a free India.

They too, like their male counterparts, knew that our beautiful nation does not deserve to be under the hands of British Rule.

As much as we owe to our forefathers for bringing their dream into reality, we must not forget the contributions of these brave women for being an equal part in shaping the future of the country. For it is the combined efforts of a few phenomenal individuals that we are free today.

Imperial Courage

By Sapna Shenoy

They say that behind every great man is a woman, but what about those women who were able to come forward and shatter the stereotypes society has built against them? Throughout history, society has belittled the priceless contributions of women, which if given more importance, could have caused revolutionary changes. This article is a tribute to such women.

Rani Abbakka Chowta: Nemesis of the Portuguese All of us have at least once made plans to holiday in Goa, and we also know that it was once conquered by the Portuguese. However, how many of us know that this could have been prevented? In the year 1555, Portuguese colonial power was at its peak. They had established quite a few territories under their rule, and were targeting the port of Mangalore next. They were already gloating on their future victory but unbeknownst to them a feisty young Jain woman called Rani Abbakka Chowta was preparing to oppose them. Ruler of a small settlement of Ullal, 14 kilometres south of Mangalore, Abbakka Chowta fought against the Portuguese for forty years, with an army comprising of both Hindus and Muslims. Rani Abbakka set a pioneering example almost 300 years before yet another brave queen Rani Lakshmibai personified courage and bravery in the First War of Indian Independence in 1857. We could have probably been saved from Portuguese colonial rule, had it not been for Rani Abbakka’s estranged husband who joined the Portuguese in their fight against Abbakka and betrayed her.

Rani Durgavati: Taking on the Mughal might Another such queen, who gave it her all and fought valiantly fought against the Mughals and other kings, was none other than Rani Durgavati. She ruled over Gondwana (in the Deccan Plateau), and had to fight a total of 51 wars during her reign to shield her kingdom from falling prey to the invaders. She emerged victorious not only against the large armies of Baz Bahadur of Malwa, Surs of Delhi and Afghans of Bengal but also against the mighty Akbar. In fact, legend has it that Akbar was so impressed with her valour that he wanted her to join his administration and serve his kingdom. However, Rani Durgavati refused to accept Mughal suzerainty. Furious with her defiance, Akbar raged wars incessantly against her. She fought bravely but unfortunately, during one such battle, Durgavati was pierced with two arrows and defeat became inevitable.

Although she lost, the bravery and resilience she showed till her last breath and her worth as a leader are undoubtedly inspirational and worth remembering.

Her motto was: “Better to die with dignity than live without self-respect. I have served my motherland for a long time, and at a time like this, I won’t let it be stained. There is no option but to fight These are just two of the many amazing women leaders our country has witnessed. There are so many others like Chand Bibi, Ahilyabai Holkar, Begum Hazrat Mahal, etc. These phenomenal ladies are proof that when it comes to administrative roles, gender does not matter, skill does. Women are often told that they have to squeeze into the glass slipper, but in reality, they have the power to shatter the glass ceiling.

BRIDGERTON: ACCURACY IN DEPICTING LIVES OF WOMEN IN THAT ERA

By Saara Lunawat

Bridgerton, the Netflix original series, is Shonda Rhimes’s adaptation of a series of romance novels written in the early 2000s by author Julia Quinn, who served as a consultant for theshow’s creation.

Bridgerton’s debut into the streaming market was met with a flurry of rave reviews and harsh critics. One thing is for sure that it definitely doesn’t look like other Regency period pieces ofthe past, further noting that have only featured mainly white casts. Before continuing, one thing is for sure and that is all in all. Netflix’s Bridgerton is not entirely historically accurate.

The story in itself is fiction, even so, the show is a good attempt at a somewhat accurate representation of a period drama, one that allows viewers a window into the lives of women of the Regency period. So which parts of Netflix’s Bridgerton are actually true to history, and which are modern musings?

Firstly, the idea of a double standard against men and women, especially in the context of ‘purity’, is completely accurate. As highlighted throughout the show, noble women were held to a very high standard of purity, which left them very naïve compared to the rest of the world.

This is very evident throughout the show, when the daughters in the Bridgerton Family like Eloise and even Daphne had little to no sex education.

Women in the regency era also had little to no education about their periods and how it affected their daily life. Furthermore, there was a strong double standard for the expectations of men and women at the time.

Women needed to be pure and proper, while men needed to be worldly and experienced.

Just look at the actions of Anthony, Benedict, and Simon compared to the actions of the Bridgerton and Featherington sisters, and that will tell you all you need to know about the double standards of this time period.

However, for unwed pregnant women like Marina in the show, keeping the baby was not an option. Ideally, an unwed, pregnant woman of means would "go off on a long country holiday" to conceal her pregnancy, then give her baby up for adoption or to another family member.

In the regency era, women did not have any kind of freedom to make decisions about their child, especially when women were unwed.

In the show however, Marina does the opposite: She leaves her family farm to stay with distant cousins, the Featheringtons, in hopes of scoring a husband before her secret becomes public knowledge.

Marina is often portrayed as a fearless and bold woman, with quite a lot of autonomy in regards to the situation. However, this is completely inaccurate to the women of the regency era, when the decision of the unborn child was often in the hands of the familyand particularly the men in the family.

In the end, something to keep in mind is that Netflix’s Bridgerton is not necessarily supposed to be the most accurate representation of a period drama in media. Its moreover a fictional tale based on the regency era with a modern twist, so it resonates more with the viewers of today and thus brings higher engagement.

Bridgerton as a show is more critically acclaimed for its inclusion, music, stunning cinematography and definitely, it’s beautiful chosen cast.

So, historical accuracy of women in the regency era, may not be the priority of upcoming movies and television anytime soon. Which in itself is a bigger concern for tomorrow.

Women's roles in literature have evolved over time, but until recently, the majority of published writers were men, and the portrayal of women in literature was undoubtedly biassed.Many have to be accused of having strictly limited literacy in the ancient world and of writing for the most part being male.

However, it can't be taken for granted that women play oral folklore – in folk songs, histories, poetry and literature as a whole. Here is a look at how women have been depicted in eras in literature.

Women were seen more as sexual objects than individuals in Greek mythology. The gods and human beings used many. Many of them. It is evident that the rights of women are very limited and many of their freedoms cannot be expressed. Women were accused of wars, the destruction of towns and the death of men during that time.

The goddesses who use their powers as a vengeance were not unwelcome. Although human women's role was limited, the existence of goddesses gave women great power.

Surprisingly, the mediaeval women were much more frank and sexual than one might expect from an era when Mary, the mother of Jesus, was the ideal of femininity.

In fact, the women and the historical figures of the period appear to be torn from the ideal to the physical desires and from a dominant nature embodied by their antagonist, Eve. In an attentive reading of the literature of that time, the first buds of a feminist literature emerge from the pages.

The theme of misogyny and superiority of men was the typical genre that authors took within their writing.

Women were not looked to as a person but were considered a mere necessity for the procreation process.This distrust of women lead to most works degrading the female race, and terming females as the "other", which was to be feared. Equality between the sexes was not present within this era, and is evident from the numerous writings degrading the female race.

The role of women in 19th century literature was one in which they redefine their place in society by accepting an image of themselves which involved both homecenteredness and inferiority.In this time period, women were being portrayed as protagonists more often than in the past. In Gustave Flaubert’s novel Madame Bovary, Emma, the lead character, is portrayed as a “tragic heroine.”

The theme of misogyny and superiority of men was the typical genre that authors took within their writing. Women were not looked to as a person but were considered a mere necessity for the procreation process.This distrust of women lead to most works degrading the female race, and terming females as the "other", which was to be feared.

Equality between the sexes was not present within this era, and is evident from the numerous writings degrading the female race.

The role of women in 19th century literature was one in which they redefine their place in society by accepting an image of themselves which involved both home-centeredness and inferiority.In this time period, women were being portrayed as protagonists more often than in the past. In Gustave Flaubert’s novel Madame Bovary, Emma, the lead character, is portrayed as a “tragic heroine.”

Women’s roles in literature have evolved throughout history and have led women to develop into strong independent roles. Modern literature has served as an outlet and sounding board for women’s rights and feminist pioneers. Female writers have come to the forefront and provided today’s readers with a vast array of ethnic and cultural perspectives. The unique voice of female minorities is a common theme in many coming of age novels that allows each writer to establish a separate identity for their characters and themselves. Women in modern literature often include strong independent females juxtaposed by oppressed women to provide examples for young female readers and to critique shortcomings of our society.

Although the way women were negatively portrayed made an impact, the many brave authors who consistently changed the way their female characters acted, were thought of, and showed new characteristics allowed for a greater, more positive impact. As history continues, we see more of a change in the way women interact through literature. This allowed for a new perspective of women to come forth, making the idea of equal rights even a possibility.

Following the positive rise for women in literature comes situations that support the changes occuring. What truly showed readers of women’s strength, intelligence, and courage were the epiphanies they faced. Through these, no matter if they were positive or negative,women were allowed to make their own decisions and realize a new perspective from their situation. This not only does this allow for a more dramatic plot but most importantly allows for change

Lastly, I think there’s something heartwarming about the fact that when you’re a 12year-old girl, your idea of “strong female characters” in fiction tends to revolve around women fighting, women living in fantasy universes and wielding fancy swords, women being physically violent; and as you grow up, you start to appreciate the (seemingly) mundane portrayals of female existence: women simply living as women on planet earth, going through earthly events and dealing with their earthly emotions.

it’s so refreshing to see that we are becoming more and more grounded in the richness and the uniqueness of our existence as women. we grow out of the selfimposed idea that we can only be strong and resilient when we are fighting. sure, fantasy universes are cool, but i am struck each day by how nuanced and diverse our experiences are, and how close to home they hit even when - or perhaps especially when - they’re not relatable or universal. there’s nothing more empowering than the stories that each of us has to say.

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