India’s patriarchal traditions inform all aspects of public and private life. Gender discrimination is rife in Indian families. Families traditionally give preference to sons, and this leads to highly male-dominated political and economic public spheres.  Women and gender minorities still face severe discrimination and violence based on their sex. VV Correspondents have reported extensively on rapes, domestic violence and acid attacks, which are too often vindicated by the woman’s “unacceptable” behaviour in their gendered roles as daughters, daughters-in-law or wives.

In 2016 VV launched Khel Badal, a campaign to dismantle patriarchy, motivated by the belief that every woman should have the tools to question the inequality and restrictions they experience.  Community Correspondents tell stories of everyday patriarchy and normalised sexism, which are the root cause of the high numbers of rapes, domestic violence and sexual harassment.  63 of our correspondents are running Discussion Clubs in their villages; they watch some of VV’s 500 gender videos and help each other break patriarchal stereotypes amongst the boys and girls in their households.