Author: Eva Cunningham, Tate Soller
Mona has been navigating the notion of gender and the issues surrounding
it for a while. After initial study in psychology, she then went on to study
gender, realising her passion and interest for this area. With her exposure to
feminist trends, her interests grew in the subject & she took it up as a
research paradigm for her masters study. Despite her extensive academic
research in the area, questions around the reality of stereotypes and gender
based violence still plagued her - “why haven't I experienced it till now?” she
queried. She became critical of the Indian education system and wanted to
discover the on-ground relevance of gender, which she felt detached from. This
clarity gradually came when she undertook volunteer work with children during
her studies. “My saying one thing is helping them make decisions”, she noted,
explaining her gratification during her fieldwork. This is where the source of
her true happiness lies, she realised. Through this new insight she recognised
the disjuncture between academic study, characterised by a strong western
influence, and the reality of Indian society and the forms these issues were
taking in the everyday. Leading her to
critique psychology and its use of labelling which, she argues, advocates rigid
social categories that are individualistic in nature. This disillusion between
her academic teachings and her on-ground experience of gender triggered her
connection with People for Parity, who work towards curbing gender-based
violence.
Mona felt empowered by her workshops with People for Parity. These
workshops covered topics such as stereotypes, what it means to be a girl or to
be a boy, and notions of power structures. She felt like this was an area she
was keen to explore. “What are the voices within me that are stopping me from
doing the things that I want to do? How do I challenge these voices?” she
questioned herself. She began to realise the importance of gender in her own
personality and that her approach to gender must be two-fold: with herself and
then with others - “Gender is not something outside, it’s something within me.
I need to first explore the challenges I'm facing as a girl, and then extend
that to the community around me”.
Mona went on to further explore these challenges through her work in People
for Parity and the workshops she facilitated. These workshops with college kids
deconstructed common stereotypes like “men don't cry”. These workshops created
a space for young people to engage and discuss gender, as well as feel
comfortable to open about how the social constructions of gender and the
stereotypes and violence linked to it affect their lives.
Her journey as a Changeloomer has helped Mona's progress in breaking down
gender stereotypes and gender-based violence. It has also made her feel
celebrated for her creation of socially inclusive spaces to approach the
concept of gender, she says. But, as she adds, this celebration comes with
responsibility as “people are looking up at you”. She sees the spaces she
creates through workshops and other forums as a kind of 5th space,
somewhere for youth to get together and talk about how gender is affecting
their lives and the change they want to see. Passion is inherent in every facet
of Mona's work. She considers emotion to be integral and come hand-in-hand with
her avenue of work, “I used to think that crying was something that made me
weak...but creating safe spaces and trusting others…. [and] letting yourself
fall has to happen”. It was through this uninhibited emotionthat Mona was able to achieve what she has today.
Great work Mona. So proud of you.
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