Risk and Sexuality

Editorial: Risk and Sexuality
On a black background, yellow tulips are blooming.

In our mid-month issue, we add context to our perceptions of and dealings with risk in our day-to-day lives. Collating and interpreting responses we received on a survey taken by small group of random individuals, Shikha Aleya looks at the transactions around risk foregrounded on the interplay of our location on the axes of gender and sexual identity, disability status, belief systems, and availability of support, amongst others.

By TARSHI
October 15, 2020
Editorial: Risk and Sexuality
Public Interview on Risk and Sexuality
A photograph of an open, empty road in the countryside, leading to mountains.

Risk by itself is not a stigmatised subject, but sexuality is, and has been for generations. This has led to closeting, to shutting the door, on many necessary conversations about the risks to rights that millions of vulnerable individuals and many vulnerable communities live with, across the globe.

By Shikha Aleya
October 15, 2020
Public Interview on Risk and Sexuality
Between Fear and Freedom
An illustration of a woman walking on an empty street at night, with a backpack from which a crescent moon and stars are emerging.

While highlighting safety from, media narratives often dismiss safety to: express oneself, be it through the way we identify and communicate, or through the body. Not only the spaces we access and the time of day we do so but also the way we perform our self-hood.

By Anjali
October 15, 2020
Between Fear and Freedom
The Risks and Gains of Coming In
An illustration of a woman walking on an empty street at night, with a backpack from which a crescent moon and stars are emerging.

I had risked so much already, not just by loving another woman, but by acting on my desires. By allowing myself to feel intimacy and connection with another queer person. Despite feeling guilt and shame, this risk had become increasingly vital to take.

By Sweta
October 15, 2020
The Risks and Gains of Coming In
We Need To Talk About Unsafe Sex And Our Dilemmas Around Using Contraception
An illustration, on a green background, of a woman and a man. The woman is holding up a condom wrapped in red.

The scope for unsafe sex, as discussed earlier, extends to STIs and STDs and therefore, the feeling of ‘un-safety’ during sexual intercourse must expand itself to actively include infections as an equally important factor for using contraceptives, as are unwanted pregnancies.

By Feminism in India
October 15, 2020
We Need To Talk About Unsafe Sex And Our Dilemmas Around Using Contraception
Climate change exacerbates gender inequality, putting women’s health at risk
A photograph of four women, wearing sarees, standing in front of a hut. They are looking directly at the camera.

Reasons why SRHR is not prioritised—but should be—in climate change policies, strategies, financing, and programmes are because women’s contribution and roles as agents of change are often disregarded due to gender inequality.

By Curated Content
October 15, 2020
Climate change exacerbates gender inequality, putting women’s health at risk
“I HAVE READ AND AGREE TO THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS”: INFORMED CONSENT IN THE AGE OF SOCIAL MEDIA
An illustration of a woman typing on a keyboard. From between her fingers and onto the keys, tendrils with leaves spread. The words, ‘protect themselves from the barrage of words and noise’ is superimposed on the keyboard on the left side of the illustration.

Ethical considerations and frameworks for traditional (for the lack of a better term) have had decades of debates, discussions, and revisions to have Boards of Review with similar ethics regulations (although they are still being critiqued).

By Curated Content
October 15, 2020
“I HAVE READ AND AGREE TO THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS”: INFORMED CONSENT IN THE AGE OF SOCIAL MEDIA
विवाह एक जोखिम 

जब कभी भी यौनिकता के संदर्भ में जोखिम की बात होती है, तो प्राय: लोग ऐसे लोगों के बारे में…

By Sadaf Vidha
October 11, 2020
विवाह एक जोखिम 
Marriage as Risk
Two golden-coloured band rings atop a dictionary page zoomed in on the word ‘marriage’. Above that, the definition of the word ‘marrano’.

So, what are the risks in a marriage? Well, the first and the most obvious one is that you don’t know if the partner you’ve chosen or has been chosen for you will make you happy. In the Indian context, even if they do make you happy, the family might not be too thrilled about the match.

By Sadaf Vidha
October 5, 2020
Marriage as Risk
CATAMITE
On a pick background, a photograph of a drop of water splashing.

On the other hand, in Abhay’s newly discovered wonderland, everything seemed to be awfully right. Soon, he began receiving proposals for sex-dates. Initially such proposals shocked him; for it took him a few months to get used to the fact that sex with men was only a click away.

By Kaustav Bakshi
October 5, 2020
CATAMITE
The Last Local To Vashi
A photograph of differently coloured cloths hanging from poles in front of a train station in Mumbai, at night

I gave myself the freedom to choose. And I chose to re-examine my assumptions. Maybe it was possible to ask strange men for directions without being afraid of seeming vulnerable. Maybe I could plan my outfit without bothering about the fact that I would be travelling on public transport.

By Tanvi Khemani
October 5, 2020
The Last Local To Vashi
Nothing Lasts Forever
Film poster of ‘Someone Great’

These two films were refreshing because they didn’t have the fairytale endings of girl-meets-boy, they fall in love, overcome difficult challenges and live happily ever after. Instead, they were set in everyday reality where life takes over and choices have to be made.

By ElsaMarie D'Silva
October 5, 2020
Nothing Lasts Forever
Brushstrokes: 5 Fantastic Ways to Engage in Feminist Hookup Culture
Film poster of ‘Someone Great’

While navigating hook-up culture, we may exercise our agency to express our sexuality but at the same time, may face risks to our safety and bodily integrity as well as obstacles engendered by misogyny, rape culture, heteronormativity, and double standards.

By Curated Content
October 5, 2020
Brushstrokes: 5 Fantastic Ways to Engage in Feminist Hookup Culture
Video Page: Why Loiter? | Shilpa Phadke | TEDxStXaviersMumbai
Still from Shilpa Phadke’s TEDxSTXAVIERSMUMBAI talk ‘Why Loiter’

Shilpa Phadke reminds us that we have the right to choose to take risks and the responsibility to respect difference so that we can re-imagine public spaces, feel a sense of belongingness in them, and have them belong to everyone.

By Curated Content
October 5, 2020
Video Page: Why Loiter? | Shilpa Phadke | TEDxStXaviersMumbai