The Gender Studies Cell
THE GENDER STUDIES CELL
The Gender Studies Cell of St. Stephen’s College is a society devoted to delineations of and discussions on various issues regarding gender and society. It acts as the UGC mandated Women’s Development Cell of the College as per Section 3.2(15) of UGC guidelines (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal of Sexual Harassment of women, employees and Students in higher educational institutions) Regulations, 2015. It seeks to foster a space to interact, engage and explore via dialogue and debate.
The issues of gender justice in academic spaces require a perspectival shift, which the Gender Studies Cell aims to bring about through its sustained measures to educate, agitate and organise. The activities of the Cell include conducting talks and lectures, holding group discussions among the student body, publishing newsletters and so on. It strives to be intersectional- reflecting the diversity of the student body. Moreover, it acts as a necessary voice of dissent against the ideals upheld by the rigid structures within the college community. GenCell, as it is popularly known, is equal parts solace and equal parts resistance.
EVENTS:Let’s Talk Session
The Let’s Talk Session, as the name suggests, is an informal group discussion that the society aims at holding frequently. The junior members of the college are invited to sit and talk, or just listen, about a relevant, need-of-the-hour topic/theme. The aim of the session is to charge conversations around topics of sexuality, gender, mental health etc., discourses that are often hushed or sidelined. The society even takes suggestions of topics/themes from the student body to know what kind of conversations they want to engage around. Some of the Let’s Talk Sessions previously held:
- Gender in College Societies
- Stories of Resistance from Conflict Zones
- “Fitting In” : Communities, Cliques and Hierarchies
- Navigating College Spaces
Some of the events we’ve had:
- "Women of St. Stephen's: Gendering University Spaces and Exploring Experiences" by Vrinda Grover, Saba Dewan, Maya John
- "Navigating Queer Identities in the Academia, Workplace, and Beyond" by Vikramaditya Sahai and Dhrubo Jyoti
- The Communal Male Gaze: Deconstructing The Dalit and Muslim Women Bodies” by Cynthia Stephen and Firdous Azmat Siddiqui
- 'Collectives with Respect to Creation and Disruption of Space' by Prof. Sharmishthaa Atreja.
Our bi-annual newsletter, KÖN, invites entries from students in the form of prose, poetry, photo-essays, artwork, illustrations etc. KÖN aims to convey stories and conversations from diverse perspectives, from the margins through mediums of expression that are both personal and political.
So far, we’ve released four editions of KÖN:>
- Queer Lives In Quarantine https://heyzine.com/flip-book/735fa999e4.html
- Resistance And Beyond https://heyzine.com/flip-book/6a8ce9a1c0.html
- Pandemic Of Inequalities: The Personal & The Political https://heyzine.com/flip-book/2b16b8284e.html#page/8
- Transgressions and Expressions : https://heyzine.com/flip-book/6830e308f5.html/
Reading Circles
The Society also conducts reading circles on prose, poetry and essays on a wide variety of topics surrounding gender, caste and sexuality. The theme for the most recent discussion was Bodies Beyond Binaries in which we discussed excerpts from Breast Stories by Mahasweta Devi, translated by Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak.
Sarfarosh
Our annual fest, Sarfarosh is a 2-3 day event which hosts multiple sessions, ranging from talks, film screening, photo exhibitions, paper reading competitions, open mic and so on. The most recent fest was on the theme - “We Belong- Hum Hain” in which we discussed existing- and thereby, resisting- in a deeply unsafe and unwelcoming environment that is broadly oppressive at its very root.
The Gender Studies Cell Executive Council
President:
Swara Mishra (III Physics) - swaramishra2003@gmail.com
Vice President:
Sanjana Raghunandan (III Philosophy) - sanjanaraghunandan@gmail.com
Secretary:
Sasha Shah (III BAP) - sashashah605@gmail.com
Third Year Let's Talk Coordinator:
Himanshu Dutta (III Eng) - himanshudutta003@gmail.com
Third Year Sarfarosh Convenor:
Sakshi Sharma (III History) - sakshidotsharma@gmail.com
Academic Coordinator:
Kaviya (II Bsc P) - ssvkaviya@gmail.com
Second Year Let's Talk Coordinator:
Tulip Banerjee (II English) - tulipbanerjee2@gmail.com
Second Year Sarfarosh Convenor:
Diya Rao Jaini (II History) - diyarj2004@gmail.com
KÖN Editors-in-Chief:
Chinni Singh (II Philosophy) - chinni071104@gmail.com
Anna Divya Benjamin (II English) - annabenjamin4@gmail.com
Treasurer:
Tarini Sharma (II BAP) - tarinisharma007@gmail.com
Publicity heads:
Angela Mathew (II History) - angela30veni@gmail.com
Laya Anna Mathew (II BAP)- Laya.anna.mathew@gmail.com
Calendar of Events
The following is a rough outline of events for this academic year.
| Date | Event | Resource-Person |
| 12 September 2023 | Orientation | NA |
| 6 October 2023 | Let's Talk Session | NA |
| 27 October 2023 | Let's Talk Session | NA |
| 3 November 2023 | Fim Screening | Surbhi Dewan |
| 7 November 2023 | Mini- Fest (Lecture + Panel Discussion) | Dr. Jenny Rowena |
| 8 November 2023 | Mini- Fest (Let's Talk + Lecture) | NA |
| 9 November 2023 | Mini- Fest(Lecture) | NA |
| 14 November 2023 | Lecture on Representation in Educational Instituitions | Shainal Verma |
| 17 November 2023 | Lecture on Body rights, Autonomy and AGency | Dr. Nupur Ray |
| 21 November 2023 | Workshop in collaboration with AAINA | NA |
| January | Lecture on Mental Health | Dr. Shifa Haq |
| January | Lectur on Queer Feminism | Niharika Banerjea |
| 17 April 2024 | Sarfarosh - Annual Fest | TBD |
| 18 April 2024 | Sarfarosh - Annual Fest | TBD |
| 19 April 2024 | Sarfarosh - Annual Fest | TBD |
Activity Reports
Orientation
Date: 12 September 2023Time: 4 PM
Venue: OPLT
Number of participants: 45
The session commenced with a detailed presentation, offering insights into the historical background of the Gender Studies Cell and the range of activities it engages in. The interactive format of the orientation involved distributing chits to the audience, allowing them to pose questions or share thoughts anonymously. This anonymity encouraged candid discussions and ensured active engagement, fostering a dynamic and inclusive atmosphere.
In conclusion, the orientation session successfully acquainted attendees with the Gender Studies Cell's mission and activities, while promoting a culture of open dialogue and participation among all participants.
Let’s Talk Session
Date: 22 September 2023Time: 3 PM
Venue: Room A
Number of participants: 15
Individuals from various backgrounds and courses contributed their unique perspectives, making the discussion rich and enlightening. The session not only provided a platform for people to voice their concerns and challenges in navigating hierarchies but also fostered a sense of community and understanding among attendees.
The group discussion was a powerful forum for addressing the complexities of hierarchies in college spaces and promoting empathy, awareness, and shared solutions among a diverse and engaged audience.
Reading Club
Date: 6 October 2023Time: 3 PM
Number of participants: 14
The session provided a platform to unravel the profound impact of these stories on the lives of marginalized women, shedding light on their struggles and resilience in the face of adversity. Attendees acknowledged the importance of such narratives in fostering empathy and understanding for marginalized communities.
