Hi Friends,

Women’s anger is rarely met appropriately in the public sphere. Stereotypes project a woman’s anger to her entire disposition, rather than a specific situation. Research has shown that our anger affects our careers more than our male counterparts. Yet, our channeled anger at injustice has been among the most powerful forces of the last two centuries. It has driven a radical reshuffling of society. Women’s anger is a critical catalyst for change and human dignity, and feminism is its precious offspring. 

American feminism, while not without its issues particularly in regards to intersectionality, has played a key role in the liberation of women globally. Of all American ideological exports (e.g., consumerism), feminism has been a jewel for human enlightenment. From its first wave to the #MeToo era, how baffling that the bastion of women’s equality has been taken back by ~50 years. How clearly we now see that the cascading dignity and freedoms of women over the last hundred years were not due to momentum driven by few key wins, but every step was hard won and raged for. When that rage takes its foot off the accelerator, it doesn’t just slow down progress, it allows its antithesis to take over. 

One of my earliest lessons in feminism was from my uncle. He was a great intellectual and feminist. I asked him how arranged marriage in India came to be. He told me it was created as a mechanism to control the reproductive freedoms of women and therefore define the future of a social order. It is the female form that holds that power. Arranged marriage ensured that the union of a woman was to that of a man who the social structure would approve of. I share this as an example of how every culture uses women's reproductive compliance as a tool to preserve its ideologies. Controlled women comply. Angry women cannot be controlled, they do not comply and threaten to change things. 

Just like compassion, anger has the power to build a more just society. May we give our productive rage to future generations so they know their society is hard won and not the default. That we show them the truth in their rage. That we make them troublemakers who are triggered by injustice. 

During this weekend, I'm honoring a different day. I'm honoring July 4th, 1876 when a glorious group of angry women called the ‘National Woman Suffrage Association’ crashed the nation's 100th year of independence to read “Declaration of the Rights of Women.” In this edition, you'll also find a few gems that have informed my thinking on women, anger and power.

This weekend, I hope you find rest, recovery and joy with the ones you love. I hope you honor your anger. 

With gratitude, 

Shivika

CEO & Founder, Veneka

P.s., you can reach me at contact@venekagroup.com or anytime on Twitter or Instagram