Erden Zikibay, an artist, activist, and ally of the HeForShe Central Asia gender equality movement, for Vlast. When I returned to Almaty after studying abroad, I initially had the impression that there was no catcalling in the city, such as street harassment expressed in whistling, car honks, lewd jokes, and indecent compliments. In large US cities, this is quite widespread, and there is a loud public campaign against it. And yet, the women I know in Kazakhstan told me that this happens constantly to them. The truth was that my presence had hindered catcalling towards the women that I accompanied. When men enter any space, they change the context. Men can use their privileges and support women with their words or even just their presence. When a man speaks out against sexism, other men are more likely to take his words seriously. On the other hand, our masculinity has “blind spots.” When discussing women, men cannot judge based on themselves and their experiences. We simply do not
Shahana Goswami talks about her journey in showbiz, the role Rock On played in her career graph, and much more in an exclusive interview with Hindustan Times. | Bollywood