When colonization continues to shape the trauma we endure, the approaches we take to heal must be anti-colonial.

When Thaen X launched alongside Thaen Pot on October 7th, we had no idea what to expect. However, a little over three months later, we are overwhelmed with the support we've gotten so far. To date, 11 brilliant writers have chosen Thaen X as a home for their work, an honour we are still wrapping our heads around. As the year comes to an end, we thought we would do a round-up of our contributors’ pieces.

Sexual pleasure for women is considered a big taboo in South Asia, especially in Pakistan. People consider it indecent to discuss ‘sex’, and when there is a link between a woman and the word ‘sex’, the reactions becomes worse. Throughout time, people have often shown disgust towards women who are sexually active or open up about their experiences.

The reclamation of Silk Smitha's on-screen presence in our journey to sexual liberation must also involve interrogating the image of female sexuality manufactured by an industry dominated by cishet men.

"There is a scene in Kadhalan where Nagma's character has her hymen checked," my friend chimed in as I stared back at her with utter disbelief. "It really confused me when I was younger. I grew up believing a doctor could tell if I was a virgin or not," she continued.

“Mainstream” Toronto culture is indebted to immigrant Caribbean communities and cultural producers. Cultural expressions such as creole and patois (which often become subsumed under the myth of “Toronto slang”), Carnival, soca and dancehall music, and Caribbean dance cultures have found residencies in many spaces of everyday Toronto life.