Author: Vizla Kumaresan

Cover of the book 'crazy rich asians'

Sexuality, Choice and ‘Crazy Rich Asians’

·March 5, 2019
·Vizla Kumaresan
·0 Comments

Kwan’s 'Crazy Rich Asians' does not just highlight the lifestyle of the segment of Singaporean society that is unimaginable and unattainable to most people, it amplifies that heterosexuality is often not a choice.

Picture of a pair of heels and a steel handcuffs , along with black silk gloves lying on the floor

Exploring the Rape Fantasy

·August 1, 2018
·Vizla Kumaresan
·0 Comments

I am a feminist, sex-positive and LGBT affirmative Clinical Psychologist. Having that openly and publicly stated means that my clients feel very safe discussing some of the more taboo topics, especially ones that we are made to feel ashamed of. One of these is the topic of the rape fantasy.

An infographic talking about how to be a good trans ally

Intersections between Mental Health and Human Rights: The case of transwomen and transmen in Malaysia

·November 1, 2014
·Vizla Kumaresan

Last week, I was at The Third International Conference on Human Rights and Peace and Conflict in Southeast Asia organised by the Southeast Asian Human Rights Network (SEAHRN) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. I was part of a panel of psychologists speaking on mental health and rights of LGBT persons in the region. My co-panellist was…

In Plainspeak publishes two issues with a theme every month.
A cross-cutting theme across all forthcoming issues in 2021 is how we can expand safe, inclusive self-affirming spaces.

THIS ISSUE:

October – Labour and Sexuality – II Issue – Oct 18, 2021
What we are expected to do and how, and the compensation and recognition we receive for our labour are influenced by socio-cultural attitudes around gender, disability, caste, class, and so on. And because our parameters to assess labour and to reward it, such as productivity or recompense, do not take into account the infinite permutations and combinations of our unique location in our context and therefore whether or not we can exercise agency, enjoy choice and freedoms, and have access to opportunities, not all aspects of our labour – be it sitting at a desk for eight hours or being in the fields at the crack of dawn, or cooking and cleaning, or even lending a patient ear – are considered ‘useful’, ‘productive’, or ‘work’ at all. The October issue of In Plainspeakattempts to tie together physical, domestic, reproductive, emotional, creative, and other forms of labour with sexuality, and explore its interplay with leisure, bodily autonomy and integrity, interpersonal relationships, and sexual and reproductive health and rights.

November – Fandom and Sexuality
Fandom is a community forged around shared enthusiasm for a particular aspect of popular culture, be it literature, film/television, music, art, sport, and what have you! Fandom is a space of belongingness, of unrestrained expression, of subverting conventions, of exploring the taboo, and of resisting hetero-patriarchy and imagining, in its place, a world vibrant with an array of gender identities, sexual orientations, and expressions. Scaffolded by an interest of its members in the canon, i.e., the original/source material, fandom brims with creative avenues of engagement in fanfiction, fanart, videos, songs, cosplay, and so on, where anything and everything is possible – from the romantic and the erotic, to the spiritual and the magical. In the November issue of In Plainspeak, we explore the potential of fandom as a safe, inclusive, and self-affirming space in the context of gender and sexuality

December – Play and Sexuality
Play takes us away from our sometimes all-too-serious lives, especially as the world in which we live roils with social and political worries. Play nudges us to tread lightly, to consciously make room for delight, to explore and reveal our vulnerabilities, to bring to life our imagination, to flirt with propriety, and to trust. Our fantasies and desires, performance of our gender identity, our engagement with pleasure by ourselves and with others in expressing our sexual self and likes and dislikes, drawing boundaries, and sharing intimacy are among the boundless domains of play in sexuality. In these safe and positive spaces of play, we can experience our sexuality freely and authentically, resist convention and assert our agency and bodily autonomy. The December issue of In Plainspeak delves into the potential of play as self-affirming in the context of gender and sexuality, subversive, and physically, emotionally, and spiritually fulfilling.

For future issue themes, click here.

Would you like to contribute? Send an email to blogeditor@tarshi.net with your idea. Do take a look at our submission guidelines!

Most Read

In Plainspeak English Audit In Plainspeak English Audit 100% 10 A photo of queer feminist activist Rudrani Chhetri. Her hair is tied up in a bun, and she is wearing a simple patterned top and jacket. She is also wearing gold earrings and a golden locket. Screen reader support enabled. A photo of queer feminist activist Rudrani Chhetri. Her hair is tied up in a bun, and she is wearing a simple patterned top and jacket. She is also wearing gold earrings and a golden locket.

Voices: Interview With Rudrani Chettri

Published on January 1, 2014

silhouette of a woman standing alone in a valley

‘हामी भरने’ या ‘मना करने’ का मेरा अधिकार

Published on March 5, 2019

poster for the 16 days of activism campaign

Why We Still Need Campaigns Like The 16 Days of Activism

Published on December 2, 2019

A person with short dark hair and silver earrings holds a sign that says "Sexual Rights To Me Means Control Over My Own Body". The photo is in black and white.

What Do Sexual Rights Mean To You?

Published on December 1, 2013