This Popular Malayalam Magazine Is Setting An Example On Gender Equality
- 22 Jul 2016
- Fathima AbdulKader
- Features
“At this time when being a woman comes with so many restrictions, there exists a group of people who were born as men and becoming women and being accepted for being women, is their biggest dream. Transgenders are people who have been fighting a battle for their rights and acceptance and we took a bold move to represent transgenders, to show the world that transgenders are more than just sex workers”
– If you felt that the faith that popular magazine Vanitha took for putting a transgender on their cover was brave, their reason for doing so would impress you even more.
Kerala’s most read household magazine has been upping the ante with their latest photoshoots. Vanitha is back this time with a transgender person on their cover. Kerala has been appreciated for their transgender policies that have broken many norms. It has brought out progressive policies for transgenders with emphasis on the rights of the minority group to identify themselves as man, woman or transgender. It also ensures equal access to social and economic opportunities, the right to equal treatment under the law, the right to live life without violence and is also recommending the setting up of a transgender justice board with the State Minister for social justice. It has also brought out a pension scheme for transgender’s above the age of 60 and will be creating employment in the Kochi Metro Rail project.
Vanitha has furthered the cause for equal treatment of transgenders by putting a transwoman on the cover and telling her story as the exclusive. Wearing a white gown from Praanah and photographed by Harikrishnan, Deepthi poses on the cover amidst a bouquet of lavenders. A look inside the magazine, writer Syama narrates the story of Deepthi who was brought up as Shanoj till the age of 16. Aptly titled as “History Her Story”,it goes on to tell the tale of Deepthi; a hard life filled with identity crisis and self-questioning at every turn. While the world has been lauding Vanitha for this move, there are many that have been against this boldness according to the Malayala Manorama spokesperson.
Text: Fathima Abdul Kader
Images: Vanitha
