We have been featuring the best writers from our writers’ community for their committed contribution to FII, making it what it is today. FII would not exist if not for the passionate and loyal feminist writers’ community that we have steadily been building over the last three years.
This August, we feature Shubhangani Jain. From deconstructing the term ‘feminazi’ to calling out rape culture, Shubhangani’s articles are fun to read and speaks to our reader. She uses her sense of humour to cut through nonsense to get to the heart of any issue. Some of her other popular articles are 5 Things That Changed When I Moved Away From Home, The Classroom Is A Gender Mould In Itself, and many more.
FII: Tell us a little about yourself and what you do.
Shubhangani Jain: Pursuing master’s in Gender, Culture and Development, I spend majority of my time either gobbling up feminist literature or making lists about all the feminist content I love or want to create. I identify as a mostly sleepy, forever curious writer (in becoming) who wants to tell all the stories she keeps dreaming about through a variety of mediums.
FII: How did you become a part of the FII writer family?
SJ: Sometime around 2015 when I was foraging for Indian feminist content on the Internet, I landed up on FII’s website. Might sound cliched but there was no stopping on the binge read that continues till today. Having harboured the dream of working with the FII team since then, I applied for the online internship program in 2017 and with a little kaaynaat’s conspiracy and more than a little hard work I got selected!
FII: How and when did you become a feminist? Which issues within feminism are close to your heart?
SJ: I recently read about the fractal model of being and becoming a feminist by Cheryl Hercus. As opposed to the ‘click’ phenomenon where a sudden realisation dawns upon about the patriarchal way the society is structured in, the fractal model argues that becoming a feminist can begin from knowing, feeling, belonging, or doing. These aspects of feminist subjectivities are connected in a cyclical way. Therefore a process, not an immediate moment of cognitive liberation.
Becoming and identifying as a feminist has always been and continues to be a process for me which involves reading about the movements and the theory, discussing the issues, and writing about them. Although my broad interests are in the fields of popular culture, nation and nationalism, and women’s movements, I like to diversify my readings by engaging with many issues.
FII: What is your favourite piece on this site that you have written, and your favourite piece on this site that you have read? Why did they strike you?
SJ: Can’t pick one, sorry! First is, Gendering Quizzing: Perils Of Being A Woman Quizzer. It was a story I needed to tell for quite sometime, the itch of its telling with my usual dash of humour makes it one my favourites by me. Second, A Cuckoo’s Song: Film Review Of Charulata. As much as I enjoy revisiting the film, I enjoyed analysing it for this piece. A Recipe For Chai And A Hope For Better Days is one of the many favourite pieces I have read on FII’s website. I like it for the non-oversimplification, ease and non-stereotypical manner in which it is written.
FII: What do you like to do when not writing about gender and social justice?
SJ: I read about gender and social justice! Or haunt quaint cafes searching for that near perfect cuppa. Hoard and organise the hoarded stationery. Wander tirelessly to new and old places. Perform (pseudo) photography lessons on streets while trying not to get hit by vehicles or people. Create spontaneous comic content about life while being a killjoy to most of the sexist humour around. Mostly all that if you don’t include the etcetera.
FII: What do you like about FII and our work? What more would you like to see from us?
SJ: The accessibility to a variety of Indian feminist content. I like that FII keeps looking for newer ways to engage with feminist issues and because I have interned with the team, the thorough feedback on the drafts is something that I really appreciate.
FII thanks Shubhangani Jain for being such a dedicated writer. We are incredibly grateful to have her as a part of our writers’ community and appreciate her for her deeply insightful writing. She can be followed on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
