Tag: Consent | Varta Trust

This photograph shows a close-up shot of a slogan printed on a black t-shirt worn by a woman. The slogan says “A woman does not have to be modest in order to be respected.” Two heart signs accompany the text, which is printed in white on the black cloth of the t-shirt. The woman’s face is not visible in the photograph, but a part of her neck and arms are visible. A deep blue sky with white clouds is visible in the background. Photo credit: The frolicsome Fairy on Unsplash

Insight Mar '25

Reclaiming ‘whore’

By Dr. Sankalpa Satapathy

Women, queer and transgender persons must take back the words that men have fabricated with regressive meanings to make them feel ashamed of themselves, says Dr. Sankalpa Satapathy

This is a medium range indoor photograph of the launch ceremony of ‘Kink and Sex Work: A VAMP Institute Report’. The report launch was one of the highlights of ‘Kink Con 24’. Several people can be seen standing in a row, holding up a copy of the report, and facing the camera with a smile. From left to right are kink-affirmative psychologist and report co-author Pompi Banerjee; an anonymous member of the Kinky Collective who has covered their face with the report; feminist activist and report co-author Jaya Sharma; sex worker rights activist Aarthi Pai; theatre artist Mallika Taneja; sex worker rights activist Meena Seshu; and sex educator Leeza Mangaldas. A cinema screen and conference signage can be seen mounted on a wall behind the people mentioned. A few people in the audience can be seen seated while facing away from the camera. The conference room is illuminated gently with a mild golden glow. Photo courtesy Kinky Collective

Happenings Mar '25

On the right to one’s body and desires

By Pompi Banerjee

How sex workers navigate kinky desire and consent in their work was among the central themes of ‘Kink Con 2024’, writes Pompi Banerjee

Quote: Rape is a non-consensual act. There is no iota of enjoyment in the act. When one is asked to ‘enjoy’ rape in case of its inevitability, the ground on which the definition of rape stands, collapses. It no longer remains rape. It becomes an act of sexual intimacy where the parties involved feel safe and respected, and work with each other in harmony to derive and provide pleasure from the act and from each other. None of these conditions hold true for rape.

Commentary Jan '24

Stop trivializing rape

By Dr. Sankalpa Satapathy

Dr. Sankalpa Satapathy questions regressive social attitudes around sexual assault that persist even in ‘progressive circles’

This photograph is an example of fine-art photography, consisting of several intersecting frames within an overall frame created by the unpainted red-brown brick walls of a poor household, lit up only with daylight from outside. To the left of the photograph is a woman dressed in a patterned cotton saree, worn in a style common in Bengal, wearing ‘shankha-pola’ in her hands, and leaning against a wall, which seems to be at the entrance of her house. She is looking down at the camera as the photographer seems to be seated on the floor. Her face is shrouded in half-light and she seems to have a grim demeanour. A younger person is seated on the floor next to her holding up a vertically rectangular frame that seems to be made of glass. The person is not visible, only a part of their head and hands holding up the frame are visible in the photograph. The frame shows the portion of an open window with an ornate grill design. Greenery is visible outside the window. Inside, just below the window and next to an unpainted brick wall, food is cooking in a pan placed on a mud ‘chulha’. A ladle is placed in the pan. Next to the ‘chulha’ seems to be a pile of twigs and wood shavings, possibly for use in the ‘chulha’. An interesting interplay of light, shadow and subdued colours dominates the photograph. Photo credit: Debalina

Insight, Policy Matters Nov '23

Domestic violence and disabled women – reflections from the field

By Dr. Nandini Ghosh

Domestic violence and lack of access to legal redress still pose serious challenges to the wellbeing of disabled women in India, says Dr. Nandini Ghosh

This illustration is a combination of a photograph and text extracted from the accompanying article. The photograph shows a panel discussion on kink and polyamory under way at ‘Kink Con Goa’ organized in April 2023. The photograph has been shot such that only the side profiles of the panel speakers are partially visible and all the faces have been blurred to ensure confidentiality. The speakers are looking away from the camera towards the panel moderator. The speakers are seated on a row of chairs along a wood-panelled wall inside a conference hall in a hotel. A large screen on the wall displays the topic of the panel discussion. The accompanying text, presented in an inset placed on the left bottom corner of the photograph, says: “‘Kink Con Goa’ was more than the sum of its parts. It gave Indian kinksters a sense of community beyond geographical borders. It fulfilled a need that had been growing for so long yet nobody was able to articulate what it was – a need to belong. We can be part of a community that is like us, we are not related by blood but in our thoughts, views and hearts.” Photo courtesy Nemo

Insight, My Story Jul '23

Self-esteem, freedom and kink

By Tiara Girl

The experience of ‘Kink Con Goa’, India’s first national kink convention, was transformational, says Tiara Girl

This is a graphic that shows the following quote written inside a heart shape: “I believe in true love, and there doesn’t have to be just one.” Two similar other heart shapes can be seen behind the first one, partially visible and placed in an assymetrical manner, giving the impression of there being several heart shapes. The heart shapes are filled in with different hues – light blue, peach and yellow – and have colourful, porous or dotted borders. The quote presented in the graphic has been borrowed from a website called Quotes Gram. Graphic artwork credit: Pawan Dhall

Vartanama Jun '22

Of life and many loves

By Debjyoti Ghosh

Debjyoti Ghosh elaborates on a webinar he moderated on polyamory on June 17, 2022 – with inputs from Arkadeepra Purkayastha

Quote: “What is particularly troubling about the 2021 anti-trafficking Bill is that consent is not a defence when it comes to raids and rescues, thus enabling law enforcement to mirror trends under the ITPA where persons who are voluntarily in the sex trade are picked up and forcibly placed in protection and rehabilitation homes against their will.”

Insight Jun '22

Anti-trafficking Bill must be reconsidered (again)

By Namrata, Shreyashi

Namrata and Shreyashi on the problem areas in the latest version of the anti-trafficking Bill – with inputs from Archit Krishna and Kaushik Gupta

This visual is a photograph of a sketch drawn on a ringed note pad with plain off-white paper. The sketch shows an orange barrel full of yellow-green toxic waste with the label “Warning!!! Toxic relationships!!” The barrel also has a sign of a heart with cross-bones along with the hazardous waste symbol. The sign is placed in the centre, between the two lines of text mentioned. The toxic waste is overflowing from the top of the barrel and there are several red flags sticking out of the barrel with labels like “Insecurity”, “Gaslighting”, “Controlling”, “Isolating” and “Lack of Respect”, all telltale signs of toxic relationships. Artwork and photograph credit: Debjyoti Ghosh

Insight Apr '22

Logging out of toxic relationships

By Jia Mata

Jia Mata on social norms, toxicity in queer relationships, and what can be done to make things better

This rectangular graphic contains text that says: “In effect, the proposed amendment has divided adult Indian women into two categories for whom the chasm of choice, autonomy, and education widens everyday. Women in the first section are financially empowered and can marry at any age according to their wish. Coming from rich households, they can access several opportunities and some degree of financial independence. Women in the second section have little to no access to education, especially secondary education, as they belong to poorer households. These factors make women in this section statistically more likely to have a child marriage. But if they marry before 21, the marriage will not be legally recognised as per the proposed amendment.” The text is presented against a background that has patterns and colours symbolic of wedding decoration, clothes and festivities (primarily different shades of oranges and reds). The background design is borrowed from the MS Power Point software.

Insight, Policy Matters Dec '21

Can increasing women’s marriageable age alone enhance their life options?

By Sankalpita Mullick, Sudhasri Yadavalli

Sankalpita Mullick and Sudhasri Yadavalli analyse the controversial Prohibition of Child Marriage (Amendment) Bill, 2021

This lead graphic has text that says: “Queer cohabitation requires diverse support systems and services in addition to the protection that the law of the land extends to queer couples. These systems and services must address the socio-cultural barriers that the queer couples are bound to encounter. It’s unlikely that queer cohabitation can succeed just on islands of legal approval surrounded by a sea of family and social disapproval.” The text in black is superimposed on a background that shows a random spread of numerous heart shapes, some interlinked or coupled, others lying single and asunder, in different angles. The heart shapes are in a mix of steel grey, light blue and sea green colours, and form a striking backdrop to the text. Graphic credit: Pawan Dhall (graphic based on Clip Art by Microsoft Office)

Insight Aug '21

In the matter of queer relationships – court approval vs. social disapproval

By Diksha Sanyal

What is life like for Indian queer couples who win court approval of their right to cohabit? An analysis by Diksha Sanyal with inputs from Pawan Dhall

Quote: Under Section 67B of the Information Technology Act, 2000, not only uploading or transmitting child pornography is prohibited but browsing (viewing) the same is also a punishable offence. If anyone is found to be in possession of any material that amounts to child pornography, that person can be prosecuted under Section 15 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012

Advice - Rights and Laws Sep '19

Legal facts on transmitting, viewing and reporting online child pornography

By Kaushik Gupta

Kaushik Gupta explains the law on online child pornography

This illustration is a combination of Beyonce’s face picture and accompanying text, which says: “Beyonce’s story, like many other trans persons’ stories, is one of relentless struggle. At home she had to deal with her father’s expectations. During MBBS studies in Imphal, it was not just the class mates who teased her, but also faculty who demeaned her. Even the patients had a laugh at her expense. When she joined her first job in Delhi, she somehow escaped a physical screening that could have put her in trouble right at the start. And now, she has had to give up her job in Delhi and return to Manipur as she couldn’t arrange fresh identity documents in time to reflect her transgender identity.” In the photograph, Beyonce can be seen in long black hair and makeup, both markers of her initial steps in coming out as a transgender woman while she was in university. Photo courtesy: Beyonce

Manipur Diary, People Jun '18

Systemic (trans)gender injustice yet again!

By Santa Khurai

Santa Khurai narrates medical doctor Beyonce’s struggles around her transgender identity

This visual shows a portion of the poster designed for Kolkata screenings of the film ‘The Little Girls We Were . . . And the Women We Are’. The poster text says: “RAHI Foundation presents ‘The Little Girls We Were . . . And the Women We Are’ – Five Indian women survivors of incest and child sexual abuse share their journey from abuse to recovery. A poignant blend of personal testimonies, information and expert comments, this film gives the message of hope and recovery to survivors.” The text is accompanied with two visuals from the film. One of them shows a woman writing something in a diary – the camera is behind her and we can see the back of her head, neck and shoulders. There is a tattoo with stars and some text painted on the back of her neck. The second visual shows a hand holding a piece of paper burning – there is writing on the paper, not fully visible but possibly talking about the sense of shame that victims of incest or child sexual abuse often feel. Poster visual courtesy RAHI Foundation

Vartanama Mar '18

Little women versus patriarchy – and the winner is . . .

By Pawan Dhall

Morning newspapers are all about marvelling with horror at the survival challenges we as a deeply unequal society throw at our girls and women. And then I marvel some more...

This main graphic highlights the phenomenon of intoxication playing a role in the occurrence of consent violations. It depicts that free consent (for sex or any other aspect) is not possible to give if a person is intoxicated. The text in the graphic says ‘Consent Violations!’ It shows a Clip Art graphic of a glass of wine tilted to the left. The glass has a small amount of alcohol in it, with an olive floating in it. The word ‘consent’ is shown to overlap the circular rim of the glass from the left. The glass is funnel-shaped with a long stem and circular base. The funnel shape of the glass reads like a giant ‘V’ and it acts as the first letter of the word ‘violations’ that is placed to the right of the glass. The letters of the word ‘consent’ are in red, while the letters of the word ‘violations’ are in black with a white outline. The wine glass sketch is done in light grey-green, and is super-imposed on a black rectangle with a thick green border (implying boundaries of consent). The entire graphic is placed on a background in tinges of white, light blue and golden yellow. The text is written using Word Art. Graphic credit: Pawan Dhall

Advice - Mind Body and Family Jun '17

On consent accidents!

By Pompi Banerjee

The law may be flat-out on what constitutes sexual consent, but a mental health lens offers a different perspective on the issue. Psychologist Pompi Banerjee explains

Advice - Rights and Laws May '17

Clear your head on sexual consent

By Kaushik Gupta

Can intoxication and sexual consent co-exist? Kaushik Gupta throws light on the legal issues involved. Reader queries I'm writing in about something that happened between two of my friends. Recently,...

Reclaiming ‘whore’

On the right to one’s body and desires

Stop trivializing rape

Domestic violence and disabled women – reflections from the field

Self-esteem, freedom and kink

Of life and many loves

Anti-trafficking Bill must be reconsidered (again)

Logging out of toxic relationships

Can increasing women’s marriageable age alone enhance their life options?

In the matter of queer relationships – court approval vs. social disapproval

Legal facts on transmitting, viewing and reporting online child pornography

Systemic (trans)gender injustice yet again!

Little women versus patriarchy – and the winner is . . .

On consent accidents!

Clear your head on sexual consent

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Tagged Under: Consent

Reclaiming ‘whore’

On the right to one’s body and desires

Stop trivializing rape

Domestic violence and disabled women – reflections from the field

Self-esteem, freedom and kink

Of life and many loves

Anti-trafficking Bill must be reconsidered (again)

Logging out of toxic relationships

Can increasing women’s marriageable age alone enhance their life options?

In the matter of queer relationships – court approval vs. social disapproval

Legal facts on transmitting, viewing and reporting online child pornography

Systemic (trans)gender injustice yet again!

Little women versus patriarchy – and the winner is . . .

On consent accidents!

Clear your head on sexual consent

Queer Friendly Resources

Support Us

Subscribe

WEBSITE ARCHIVES

CONTACT US