The XX Factor : India

“If My Body Is Fit, I Can Do Anything”

Nina Shen Rastogi — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 15:08:00 GMT

Last month, the International Olympic Committee announced that the 2012 London games would be the first to feature women’s boxing—and India is gunning for the gold. Somini Sengupta reports in the Times today on how the boxing ring “represents a new kind...(read more)

India and China's Missing Girls

Jessica Grose — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 15:47:00 GMT

The New York Times Magazine published a special issue yesterday devoted to women in developing countries. The entire issue is extremely well done, but I was particularly intrigued by an article about the "daughter deficit" in India. The gender imbalance...(read more)

A New Day for New Delhi's Gays

Nina Shen Rastogi — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 14:02:00 GMT

Good news to wake up to: New Delhi's highest court has decriminalized homosexuality —for New Delhians, at least. The law overturns Section 377 of India's penal code, a colonial-era statute that prohibits "carnal intercourse against the order of nature...(read more)

The Oldest, Holiest Profession

Nina Shen Rastogi — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 20:47:00 GMT

The New Yorker has a fascinating piece this week about devadasis, sacred sex workers in India. It's not online, but it's worth checking out. Delhi-based journalist William Dalrymple (author of White Mughals ) focuses on two contemporary devadasis dedicated...(read more)