Flowing Thoughts | Carmesi

Have you ever attended a job interview where you faced a seemingly innocuous question about your plans for marriage (if you are unmarried) or child-planning (if you are married)? We are not joking, it’s true and a living example of the deep-seated patriarchy...

Understanding Period Sex

Can a woman indulge in sex during periods? While many people may have you believe that sex during periods isn’t right, but on the contrary, it’s absolutely safe. And, unless you are squeamish at the sight of blood, there is nothing wrong with sex during periods...

Remember your First Period?

Every woman will remember that time in her life when Aunt Flo visited for the very first time. It is an unforgettable milestone and heralds one’s transition into womanhood and no one ever forgets the shock and awe they experienced upon getting their first period...

How can gender equality benefit men?

Gender inequality is often perceived as a problem that affects women. And it’s only understandable, given that the child sex ratio in the country as per the previous census records stands at 914 girls for every 1000 boys. This statistic, while true, does not present...

Quarantine & Mental Wellbeing

With words like ‘social distancing’, ‘flatten the curve’, ‘isolation’ and so on filling our screens and vocabularies, the COVID-19 situation has definitely put the world in an unusual spot. The idea of nearly all of humanity contained in self-imposed house arrests...

Imperfections

We all have fond memories of our childhood. My best ones though, come with a pinch of salt. Because as I was growing up, I was constantly mocked and teased by my relatives and teachers about how short I was. Every time I topped my class, or when I was chosen...

Understanding Gender Roles

Gender roles have been around for centuries. A quick look back at the history of civilization shows us that traditionally, men have been the fixers of the world and women, the nurturers. And while there have been exceptions to this standard pattern...

AIDS: Symptoms & Prevention

There are more than 2 million people in India infected with the HIV virus, according to a 2018 UNAIDS report. About 88,000 people are infected by HIV every year and about 69,000 people die every year from AIDS-related diseases.

The Importance of Breast Cancer Awareness

It’s that time of the year again when pink is in - the colour that symbolises Breast Cancer Awareness; a clarion call for women to take advantage of October - ‘The Breast Cancer Awareness Month’, and get that screening done before it’s too late.

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Women's 'breast' friend - The Bra

Make your way into any lingerie store today and you will find countless varieties on display - be it padded, push-ups, or strapless bras, amongst others. The bra or ‘brassiere’ has evolved from once being a functional piece of clothing to a fashion accessory today...

Aren't women 'empowered' already?

You see us today, walking in our tic-toc heels, smashing stereotypes with the swing of our expensive handbags. You see us today, rolling our eyes at men who expect us to sit at home and be the good wife. You see us today...

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Marriage v/s Independence

Popular opinion says that the independent woman is someone who is able to pay her own bills, live on her own money, and take care of herself without depending on anyone else for financial support. But there’s more to this label that just the financial aspect...

When does a UTI become severe?

UTIs can be painful and uncomfortable — they can tamper with your daily routines — but sometimes they can have more severe implications than expected. When a UTI — often an untreated one — spreads from the bladder to the kidneys, it can become severe...

How to be More Inclusive

Gender inclusivity is not limited to equal pay and equal rights. It includes the way we perceive others on the basis of gender, the ideas we attach to them, and the daily practices we follow. It is each person’s right to live and engage in an environment that is respectful...

Natural Ways to Stay Beautiful

Your skin is what truly reflects your beauty. But while it is almost impossible to have an everlasting fountain of youth, there are some really simple & conscious steps one can take to flaunt healthy skin and look naturally radiant and beautiful...

Pre-Natal Yoga

Pre-natal yoga is being preferred by pregnant women across the world. It not only helps you stay fit but also prepares you for labour, and is also beneficial for your baby’s health. Let’s understand how pre-natal yoga is good for you and your baby...

The Fad of Crash Diets

We belong to a generation that believes in everything ‘instant’ – be it their coffee, meals, or even weight loss. While it does take incessant episodes of binge eating or repeated unhealthy habits to pile on all that weight, almost everyone wants to shed this flab instantly...

Managing PMS Cravings

You might be a fitness-conscious person who sticks to healthy food and follows an exercise regime, but when PMS wreaks havoc, it’s hard to stay focused. Celery and carrot sticks give way to humungous bowls of pasta or ice-cream, and you end up feeling miserable...

The Growing Need for Urban Gardens

Who doesn’t want to live in the lap of nature surrounded by swaying trees, plants, and flowers? I spent my childhood living in large bungalows with huge gardens that had all kinds of trees and flowers growing. When I moved to the cities for work...

Loving your Own Body

Last week, one of my younger male colleagues, recently engaged to be married, asked me if I had received a rose from my husband. I must have looked blank, because he prompted, "today’s Rose Day, you know". Ah… the run up to Valentines’ Day.

Kindness Is Empowering

It was on a Tuesday, back in 1994, that I first learned about the power of kindness. Nope. Not true. I have no memory of any Tuesdays of 1994. I was 4, in 1994. I didn’t even fully understand the concept of a week, in 1994. Here’s the thing about kindness, though...