Parity Lab

“I have never understood why some people are lucky enough to be born with the chance that I had, to have this path in life, and why across the world there's a woman just like me, with the same abilities and the same desires, the same work ethic and love for her family, who would most likely make better films and better speeches, only she sits in a refugee camp and she has no voice. She worries about what her children will eat, how to keep them safe, and if they'll ever be allowed to return home. I don't know why this is my life and that's hers. I don't understand that.” – Angelina Jolie, 2013 Oscar acceptance speech. I often go back to this quote. As a Kashmiri Muslim woman who has had the privilege to pursue her education, complete her Master’s in Mass Communication, and even make films, I often think about what it means to live a life of opportunities that countless other women across the world might never even get, despite being equally, if not more, talented an...

For a long time, I believed that trauma healing was a personal journey. I experienced trauma, and it was my responsibility to heal—with support from a therapist, facilitator, or teacher. But then I came across a quote by Judith Herman that shifted my understanding: “If traumatic disorders are afflictions of the powerless, then empowerment must be the central principle of recovery. If trauma shames and isolates, then recovery must take place in the community.” Artwork Credits:  Dominique McDonnell-Palomares This resonated deeply. As I engaged with women in our fellowships, I witnessed how true these words are. Empowerment often begins with recognizing our patterns, reclaiming our boundaries, and prioritizing safety—especially by connecting with the body. Our bodies are biological, yes, but they are also relational. Safety, for many of us, is not found in isolation but in connection. The body feels safest when held in the presence of others who see, hear, and honor it. Healing, then...

  Gisèle Pelicot’s unshakable resolve in waiving anonymity in her rape trial and declaring, “The shame is theirs (rapists) ” has shifted the public gaze squarely onto the accused. She has reclaimed the narrative of shame and made it clear that it is the abuser—not the abused—who should carry the weight of disgrace.  Photo Credits: USA Today  / Artist Credits - Villana Art While shame has long been patriarchy’s favorite weapon to perpetrate cycles of exploitation and silence, another related insidious tool is guilt. Guilt can be constructed to trap survivors in self-doubt for a long time, misplacing responsibility about who or what is causing the violence. For those who experience abuse, the internalized guilt and shame can be profoundly confusing. Survivors often grapple with questions like, "What did I do to deserve this?" or "Did I provoke this somehow?".  This very topic became a focus of reflection during our most recent Parity Lab workshop, where we explored t...

A session on Gender-based violence is never easy, mainly when you do it with leaders who are survivors of violence themselves and who support other survivors of violence. Our session in the current workshop was tough and yet, it brought out the engagement and wisdom of the participants. Narratives of violence is a topic special to me. In my ‘Narrative Practices Diploma’, the session profoundly impacted me. I am a survivor of emotional violence and have seen it at close quarters. My Somatic Experiencing Training has provided me with ways to work with my psychological safety while engaging with this topic. Combining the narrative work with body work ensures a feeling of safety while allowing deep exploration of violence.  We created this workshop to explore how violence is inherent in patriarchal norms around Gender. In the workshop, we explored these beliefs as well as explored personal experiences of violence.  Throughout the session, I worked with the participants’ feeli...

Imagine a life where your dignity is suffocated by the four walls of your own home. For Janata Tai, living in Beed in rural Maharashtra, this was a grim reality after becoming a widow. Not only had both her natal family as well as children turned into voices of disdain, but also each time a family member stepped out, she was bolted shut inside, to ensure that her existence to the outside world was denied, since she had lost her husband’s shadow that was the necessary requirement for accessing public life in any form. Think of what that would do to one’s sense of identity and self-worth, think of the sheer weight of the isolation, think of the gnawing vulnerability eating up any hopes and dreams. Now, however, not only does Janata Tai independently move about in the village whenever she desires, but she is also the elected Sarpanch and a leader figure in the mahila mandal for single women. This profound transformation no doubt required great courage from Janata Tai- however, what really...

Fundraising.  It’s a term that stirs up concern across the non-profit sector, no matter the size, scope, or cause of the organization. From local community initiatives to global movements, every non-profit grapples with the pressure to secure resources and sustain their mission. However, the type of support that a non-profit will require to meet its fundraising goals will very much depend on what kind of non-profit it is, such as where it lies in terms of access to networks and capabilities. Crucially, what also matters is how comfortable the organization is in doing the entire exercise of showcasing their impact and engaging with funders, i.e., marketing themselves. It can be easy to assume that fundraising support for non-profits merely involves advising on packaging impact a certain way, and directing organizations to key networking events. This perspective might be true only for the non-profits already equipped with an ease of marketing themselves. For many non-profits, particu...