“It Revealed Myself to Me”
In July 2014 there was a women’s workshop in India led by Diane Balser1 and organised by Niti Dandekar.2 Along with Indian women, a few Iranian women and a woman from Sweden took part.3 Having people from different countries and working together on women’s issues strengthened our sisterhood. We shared how women are treated in our different cultures.
I was glad to meet Diane Balser. She is a personification of women’s power and intelligence, and I felt fortunate to experience her leadership.
We met in topic groups on women and marriage, women and beautification, sexism and sex, and so on. We had a lot of fun. On the last night of the workshop, none of us was willing to go to sleep. Most of us stayed up and enjoyed singing and dancing.
There were demonstrations on physical appearance, sexism, rape and sexual abuse, hair dyeing, and more. A great demonstration started with my earliest memory of sexism and went on to various areas, including sexism in sitting, standing, and walking postures and even in sounds made while breathing and urinating.
We discharged about disrespect for women’s bodies, particularly breasts and genitals. Uttering the word vagina was a big challenge. There was shame and embarrassment connected to it. At that point we were getting numb and finding it challenging to pay attention. Diane gave us the direction “I am fully a female, and I have a vagina.” It worked well. I shivered, laughed, and finally could say it. Diane commented that this is important work—one woman’s re-emergence can bring about changes in many people’s lives.
I am able to use the word vagina more casually these days. At the end of our sessions, one of my Co-Counselors and I ask each other, “How is your vagina now?” We give funny answers like “rainbow,” “dry well,” “ice cream,” “biscuit,” “blue sky,” and so on. Playing in this way has brought about more closeness with my Co-Counselor.
The workshop was a great experience. It revealed myself to me. I am glad and proud that I was a part of it.
S.J. Shashikala (Shashi)
Bangalore, India
1 Diane Balser is the International Liberation Reference Person for Women.
2 Niti Dandekar is the Regional Reference Person for India.
3 “Took part” means participated.