Smashing the Patriarchy by Sindhu Rajasekaran

Sindhu Rajasekaran’s “Smashing the Patriarchy: A Guide for the 21st-Century Indian Woman” is a brilliant illustration of the subtle and explicit ways Indian women battle the patriarchy daily. Much of the book dissects modern feminism by looking at consent, activism (in all forms), queer-inclusive and male-exclusive sex-positivity, and the deep-rooted casteism that exists even in the most “liberal” or “judgement-free” feminist circles. “To say that Rajasekaran leaves no stone unturned in her analysis would be an understatement,” recaps guest reviewer @nehaxstitch. Sprinkled with meaningful footnotes (including shouts-outs to some amazing Instagram accounts!), Rajasekaran provides context for readers who require an introduction to feminism, yet does not overwhelm readers who are well-versed on the subject — making this book as deep or quick of a read.

This was my first time reading a feminist book from an Indian (rather than an Indian-American) perspective. I was especially enthralled by the inclusion of casteism (i.e. the Brahmanical patriarchy) and the validity of online activism. For example, Rajasekaran highlights the #unfairandlovely campaign - a campaign that challenged the widely-held belief that fair skin is the most attractive. Because online activism is an accessible way to engage in social justice, I was able to participate in the campaign.

My only gripe with the book is the way information is presented. Beyond sub-headers, the book lacked real chapters. Additionally, while every topic was incredibly important, and Rajasekaran did a wonderful job of breaking down each subject, the amount of information was not the easiest to get through. With that being said, I could not identify a part of the book that I would cut out since every concept was critical to a fully inclusive analysis.

See review on BrownGirlBookshelf here