10 Instagram Pages To Follow For An Intersectional Take On Gender And Society

Social media handles have a unique way of connecting people and transcending boundaries. Apart from celebrating one another, they also function as a space for proactive engagement during crisis calls, resistance and community initiatives. Instagram, the social media giant, is an extremely popular medium that is also extensively being used to discuss political nuances like race, class, caste, religion, sexuality, gender fluid identity and the like. They give valuable insights into conversations around these topics by destigmatising them through amplification and awareness.

Here are 10 Instagram pages that create consistent critical discourse on gender and society, through an intersectional lens:

1. Agents of Ishq

Agents of Ishq was started by Paromita Vohra, artist, writer, filmmaker, activist and a diligent feminist. It is a multi media project that talks about love, sex and desire. Agents of Ishq aims to sensitise the youth of India to sex education and create a safe space for conversations revolving around consent, sexuality and desire, among others. The page focuses on these topics by employing creative art in the form of images, explainers, audio stories, podcasts and videos.

The next time you want your daily dose of erotic heritage, or wish to get some insight into your own fantasies, please give this account a visit.

 
2. Gaysi Family

This page is a space for the ‘desi’ (Indian) Queer community to talk about their personal stories and struggles. Initially started as a blog by MJ, Chicklet, and Broom to create a support system for the community, Gaysi Family now engages with movie reviews, personal pieces, book reviews, politics, news and everything under the sun that has to do with the Queer expression.
Passionate about amplifying the queer voice and the queer perspective on love, sexuality and freedom, they have also launched Gaysi Zine a magazine, and their own open mic event called ‘Dirty Talk’, for and by members of the Queer community.

Conscious of the space they occupy, Gaysi Family advocates social justice and supports movements and organisations like Stop Acid Attacks among many others.  Follow them for their take on inclusivity and all things desi!

3. Bitch Media

Have you ever let out sighs of frustration at how women, men and the Queer community are represented in mainstream media? If yes, then you must definitely visit this powerhouse of an account. Bitch Media is an independent magazine that defines itself as a feminist response to popular culture. Bitch Media critiques the symbolisation and commercialisation of bodies, sexuality, and identity of women and sexual minorities movies, television, advertisements, fashion etc. through a detailed, investigative lens. Bitch Media also has two podcasts – ‘Propaganda’ and ‘Back Talk’ where they engage with stereotypes about gender in popular culture as well as media and deliver news and politics with an intersectional outlook.

4. The Conscious Kid

The Conscious Kid is the best place to get your hands on books written by authors who address racism. The Conscious Kid creates race sensitive reading list and engages with children to make available to them tools for a more inclusive and equitable future. The Conscious Kid works towards education, and polity to inculcate a critical racial lens among the youth while also working with families to ensure that children are brought up countering racism. Their remarkably researched resources like ‘Racism and ways to cope with it’ , ‘Teaching Consent to Kids’ among others, ensure parents, youth and children have a knowledge bank to refer to when discussing sensitive subjects like these.

5. Pink List India

The first of its kind, Pink List India is an account dedicated to document the support of politicians towards LGBTQIA+ rights. Their agenda is to analyse and assess intersections of queerness and politics in India through the State of the QUnion initiative. This is a space where people hold politicians accountable for their comments about the LGBTQIA+ community at large. The account also focuses on Queer Relief during the Pandemic and delves into issues about trans rights and campaigns for the release of trans political prisoners.

Also read: 5 Of Our Favorite Feminist Instagram Posts In 2019

6. Brown and Feminist

As the name suggests, Brown and Feminist is an account on social media which amplifies the voices of South Asian women and minorities who wish to share their experiences. Their podcasts encompass various topics like race, culture, identity and society. Their account is an attempt to de-construct sexual violence, consent, discrimination and power dynamics though an intersectional feminist lens. Explore their podcasts on various themes for a more nuanced understanding of inclusivity and empowerment.

7. Check Your Privilege

Check Your Privilege is an account that focuses on anti-racist content, and also ensures that people understand and take accountability for their actions against ‘Black , Brown, Indigenous, Marginalised Persons of Colour’  They work towards actively dismantling biases and hegemonic domination, and exploring the impact it has on the mental health of persons of colour through their interactive and informative interviews, podcasts, workshops and events.

8. The Queer Muslim Project

An online media platform that teaches us to love ourselves just the way we are, The Queer Muslim Project works to actively counter Queerphobia and Islamophobia. The account features heartwarming stories from the lives of people who have intersecting identities and deal with oppression because of their gender and religion. Their initiative, Digital Pride Parade focuses on art and culture from the community and celebrates creativity, self care and connectedness during the pandemic.

9. India Love Project

Started after the row over the Tanishq ad, the India Love Project archives love stories across cultures, faiths, caste, class, gender and borders. The page focuses on stories of fighting for love and overcoming the prejudices attached with inter-caste and inter-faith marriages. The stories, highlighting the journey of diverse couples together and what they mean to each other will fill your heart with warmth and tenderness.

10. Dalit Feminist

Dalit Feminist is a space for members of the Dalit, Bahujan and Adivasi (DBA) communities to record and archive their struggles, stories and victories. The page amplifies art, songs and poetry about dissent, educational opportunities, publications and books by Dalit authors and activists. It also extensively documents DBA history which is often sidelined by mainstream history archives. Head onto their page for a deeper understanding of caste, class and gender histories.

Also read: 6 Hilarious And Subversive Muslim Women Instagram Artists

This is by no means an exhaustive or representative list. Suggestions to add to this list are welcome in the comments section.