I didn’t realize it at the time, but I was slowly losing control over my own body, and that would play into what was to come in the following months.

At the core of solidarity building is a life-long commitment to unlearning, relearning and honouring calls to action against settler-colonialism.

But what I did not realize is how at home I would feel in clothing that did not create a silhouette I thought myself impossible to fit into. Once I began dressing more masculinely, I felt a sense of confidence that I had never felt in clothes that fit me like this.

Gender reveal parties are violent. Next time: decline the invitation and let the parents-to-be know that what they are doing is harmful.

We should not view consent as a just rigid precaution but also a tool to improve communication. Instead of simply a yes or no question, it’s a dialogue that we should use to navigate all interactions with a person.

The placement of Tamil women within the context of unruly, brazen and proactive reinforces the ideas of mainstream misogyny and state violence. Therefore effectively maintaining a woman's capacity within the male gaze of “a suitable woman” tied to gendered norms and expectations.