If there’s one phrase that most girls grew up hearing it’s: “Oh, you can’t do that. You’re a girl!” Regardless of how liberal and open-minded our families are, we often come across situations where women are treated as the weaker sex. Why do you ask? Because, throughout history, gender norms have been imposed upon us, whether it is to work in a domestic space, or avoid having aspirations. Admittedly, we are currently living in an age where there is a shift in the dynamics of said gender roles. More and more women are being represented in roles that were previously male-dominated. Discussions around this topic are essential to bringing about awareness to set an example for our future generations.
In order to talk about this extremely important issue, we invited Lakshmi Chaudhry, Founder and Editor of Broadsheet to join us for our #GirlTribeLive on Malini’s Girl Tribe on Facebook. Our Features Director, Alisha Fernandes, hosted the LIVE, and the two had a gripping conversation regarding the representation of women in media.
Who is Lakshmi Chaudhry?
Lakshmi is the Co-founder and Editor of Broadsheet. She has a jaw-dropping number of remarkable accomplishments, her resume serving as an inspiration for every young woman out there (*guilty as charged*). Apart from having worked for famous US media organisations, such as Wired, Salon, and the Nation, Chaudhry also co-founded Firstpost.com in India. She also has written for The New York Times, Al Jazeera, and Vogue India.
What is Broadsheet?
Many Girl Tribe members sent in their questions during the live and Lakshmi went into the nitty-gritties while explaining the importance of female empowerment and correct representation. She spoke about her company Broadsheet that delivers daily, must-read news in a simpler, consumable format right into your inbox. The main goal of Chaudhry’s company is to filter out the news and present it in an easy-to-read fashion, highlighting the most relevant headlines. Appealing to the multi-tasking women of this day and age, this online tabloid serves as a holy grail when it comes to catching up quickly with daily news.
During our LIVE, we spoke to Chaudhry about the representation of women in media. Within the umbrella term of media, we delved into the misrepresentation of women in commercials, advertisements, and Bollywood, as well. You can watch the LIVE to see Chaudhry give us a breakdown.
We also asked Lakshmi to give us some advice she’d like to impart to her younger self before she started her entrepreneurial journey. She gave us the following insights:
- Don’t wait for permission: A lot of us think it’s important to wait or that we’re not ready. If you truly believe in your idea and concept, go for it.
- Start a network: Whether you want to build your own brand as a mother or an entrepreneur, build a community.
- You don’t have to be perfect: It’s a common misconception that we need to know everything about the field we’re working in, in order to achieve great heights. Chaudhry stresses the importance of learning on the way and making mistakes.
You can watch the LIVE here on Malini’s Girl Tribe!
Join Malini’s Girl Tribe on Facebook to part of such creative and engaging conversations!