Namita Bhandare writes on gender and other social issues and has 25 years of experience in journalism. She has edited books and features in a documentary on sexual violence. She tweets as @namitabhandare
Articles by Namita Bhandare
The weighty business of words (and why they matter)
The Centre for Law and Policy Research has a draft bill called The Freedom of Marriage and Association and Prohibition of Honour Crimes bill.
Published on May 05, 2025 06:00 AM IST
Justifying caste killings in the name of family honour
Even when cases are reported, conviction is a problem with witnesses turning hostile.
Updated on May 03, 2025 07:09 PM IST
Who is a woman? UK Supreme Court ruling is a setback to transgender rights
The UK Supreme Court has defined ‘woman’ as someone who is biologically born female. What does this mean for the rights of transgender women?
Published on Apr 28, 2025 06:00 AM IST
How Donald Trump’s tariff policies could impact women workers
Trade has been a powerful instrument for gender equality over the last few decades – especially in low income and emerging economies.
Published on Apr 21, 2025 06:00 AM IST
In rape cases, stop victim-blaming and morality talk
The temptation by judges to attach moral homilies when adjudicating on rape cases goes back all the way to the 1974 Mathura judgment of a sessions court
Updated on Apr 19, 2025 10:36 PM IST
“We will see change only if we keep talking”
For 23 years, Khabar Lahariya has been reporting the news from Bundelkhand, a hilly region between northern Madhya Pradesh and southern Uttar Pradesh.
Published on Apr 14, 2025 06:00 AM IST
Why ASHA workers in Kerala are angry
On the 50th day of the protest, Padmajam from Trivandrum decided to join the other women in chopping off her hair.
Published on Apr 07, 2025 06:00 AM IST
Abuse of anti-dowry law: Separating myths and facts
In the surround sound of misuse narratives, women who most desperately need the law’s protections are in the greatest danger of losing them
Updated on Apr 05, 2025 08:30 PM IST
Mind the Gap: “I dig black,” Kerala's top buereaucrat questions beauty norms
By challenging beauty norms, Kerala’s chief secretary reopens an old conversation: why should anyone have the right to comment on a woman’s appearance?
Published on Mar 31, 2025 08:00 AM IST
Mardangi reloaded: Why we need to change the narrative on ‘masculinity’
A 14-year-old boy was arrested in Bagalkot, Karnataka for raping a 12-year-old girl.
Published on Mar 24, 2025 06:00 AM IST
Adolescence in the age of incel culture
In its simplest form, Adolescence shows us what is evident in plain sight. The kids are not all right
Published on Mar 22, 2025 03:52 PM IST
The Wrestling Federation of India is back.
The sports ministry has revoked the suspension of the Wrestling Federation of India. What does this mean for Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh?
Published on Mar 17, 2025 06:00 AM IST
Mind the Gap: The Great Return
Feminist economists have a neat phrase for what is an everyday life for far too many women around the world.
Published on Mar 10, 2025 06:00 AM IST
International Women’s Day: A day to celebrate, and heed the warnings
Aspirational India gives cause for hope. The ASER (annual status of education report) released earlier this year lists the reasons why.
Published on Mar 02, 2025 06:00 AM IST
Our continuing love affair with the sari
Across generations, regions, religions, and socio-economic status, this unstitched garment has endured for 5,000 years
Published on Mar 01, 2025 07:53 AM IST
The death of a KIIT student leads to the question: Are our institutions failing
Institutions should be the first rank of redress and it's their duty to initiate inhouse or police proceedings against the perpetrator.
Published on Feb 23, 2025 07:30 AM IST
Mind the Gap: The work-from-home conversation raging all over the world
Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu said he is advocating WFH to get more women into the workforce. The statement is welcome but will not be enough.
Published on Feb 16, 2025 07:30 AM IST
Marital rape can’t remain an exception to rape law
Why does the government have any interest in preserving an abusive marriage; one where the wife is the property of her husband and her consent is irrelevant?
Published on Feb 14, 2025 09:32 PM IST
Mind the Gap: The red carpet’s “naked dress” is a tired and tried trope
Kanye West’s wife, Bianca Censori grabbed headlines all over the world. But the nude female body has in the past been used for protest and change.
Published on Feb 09, 2025 08:00 AM IST
Mind the Gap: ASER survey finds the kids are (more than) alright
Girls are surging ahead of boys in some subjects. Government schools are doing better than private schools. And everyone has better reading and writing skills.
Published on Feb 02, 2025 12:33 PM IST
When law seeks to make the State the Big Brother
Interfaith couples who already find it tough to marry because of existing so-called anti-conversion laws will now find even living together impossibly hard.
Published on Jan 31, 2025 08:06 PM IST
Mary Ellen Iskenderian: Why the financial inclusion of women matters
One billion women around the world are estimated to be out of the purview of the financial sector.
Published on Jan 26, 2025 07:30 AM IST
Mind the Gap: Why American companies are wrong to roll back DEI policies.
In Donald Trump’s USA, companies that have promoted DEI are rolling back their programmesIn India, corporates have, fortunately not lost their appetite for DEI
Published on Jan 19, 2025 07:30 AM IST
Why we need to talk to boys about rape
The malaise of violence, including sexual violence against women and girls, cuts across geographic borders, age of victim, educational level, and income
Published on Jan 17, 2025 08:33 PM IST
Mind the Gap: Why L&T’s SN Subrahmanyan needs to talk to more women
A 90-hour, seven-day week works out to just under 13-hours a day.
Published on Jan 12, 2025 07:40 AM IST
The year-ender gender quiz: Heroes, villains and the year in gender
How closely did you follow the gender news of 2024? Take my year-ender gender quiz to find out.
Published on Dec 29, 2024 08:15 AM IST
The Challengers: Women who shook the status quo in 2024
BBC has a list of 100. Financial Times has just 25. But writing from an Indian perspective, viewing India from within, who were the women who made most impact?
Published on Dec 22, 2024 08:15 AM IST
Breaking the gender glass ceiling across disciplines
Looking at the year gone by there is reason to believe the tide has changed. That the girls will save themselves—and us. That there is hope everywhere.
Published on Dec 20, 2024 08:28 PM IST
Death, tragedy and serious accusations in Bengaluru
India’s dowry death statistic is a disgrace; 18 women killed every single day.
Published on Dec 15, 2024 08:15 AM IST
Absolutely the best books by women in 2024
Wars and genocide raging and women’s rights from Afghanistan to the US under attack.
Published on Dec 08, 2024 08:15 AM IST