When I was an undergraduate student at the University of Virginia, reading Martha Nussbaum’s, Sex & Social Justice electrified my feminist consciousness, so you can only imagine how excited I was when the place where she works invited be to be a part of a panel on South Asian’s women’s mobility earlier this week.
Sadly, Nussbaum was on leave, slashing my dreams of meeting her in person, but the South Asian Student’s Association (SASA) more than made up for it.
The evening was largely based around the short 15 minute film, “The Day After Everyday” which, if you have not already, I highly recommend you take the time to watch. It’s a powerful portrayal of how deep sexual harassment runs in India, and how most women confront it every minute of every day of their lives.
Panelists discussed bystander response to women’s harassment and assault, how men can help change the culture, and how women, both in the East and the West, are still largely held responsible for men’s behavior.
Thank you so much to the students and organizers of a fantastic event. One of the best things about being a writer is getting to meet your readers in person. Nothing gives me more hope in the future of feminists than young, intelligent and empowered women like the South Asian sisters I met at this university.