The Scrappers

(Novel)

(Sandaikarigal)

(Number of words in Tamil: 45,973)

Shalin Mariya Lawrance launched the column ‘Manathai Punpaduthum Pakkangal’ (‘Offensive Pages’) in the popular Tamil weekly magazine Kumudham in April 2021. It was a successful weekly column that she wrote for almost two years, resulting in approximately 72 articles. The column is dedicated to feminism, taking inspiration from Fourth-Wave Feminism and striving to simplify intersectional feminism for a broad audience. The articles address the unique challenges faced by women, highlight women role models, celebrate women’s strength in fighting the odds, and examine the systemic oppression they endure across the axes of gender, caste, and class. The column consistently questions oppressive institutions, proposes solutions, and creates dialogues aimed at establishing gender justice. Furthermore, it advocates for the necessity of viewing societal issues from a feminine perspective to achieve true justice. Lawrance covered a wide array of topics in the column, including: Reproductive Rights: Family planning, the politics of female pleasure, and the state of the Indian healthcare system for women, emphasizing bodily autonomy. Violence and Oppression: Caste honor killings, domestic violence, child marriages, dowry problems, and toxic masculinity. Socio-Political Issues: The challenges faced by women in politics, the importance of raising boys correctly, embracing the feminine self, the gender and sexuality spectrum, and the plight of women sanitation workers.Media and Arts: The depiction of women in media, especially cinema, and the need for greater women’s representation in media and the arts.

Translation available