Yoni ki-Baat: Shining a Light on South Asian Women’s Issues https://grants.dudleytdoughertyfoundation.org/proposals-2019/yoni-ki-baat-shining-a-light-on-south-asian-women2019s-issues https://grants.dudleytdoughertyfoundation.org/@@site-logo/sitelogo-75x75.png

Yoni ki-Baat: Shining a Light on South Asian Women’s Issues

Additional Information
Used for	Tasveer will use the funding to a) support a director who will provide both artistic direction and oversee all of the production logistics. The director will help the performers shape their performances over a three-month period; b) provide support for childcare, transportation, and performance clothing for the performers; c) rent a performance venue and rehearsal space; d) purchase event supplies, such as ticketing software; and e) support the involvement of staff from API Chaya (organization that helps victims of domestic violence) in the event.
Benefits	Women endure disproportionate suffering in the world and women from patriarchal cultures suffer more than most from gender-based violence. This annual storytelling/performance art event that showcases stories of South Asian women’s struggles helps to raise awareness of gender-based violence and inspire individuals to support victims and to work against the “normalization” of gender violence. Women in the audience with similar experiences no longer feel isolated and alone, and are connected to services to support their recovery and resilience.
Proposal Description	Tasveer is a social justice and arts organization based in the Seattle, WA area, serving primarily South Asian communities in the greater Pacific Northwest. We are seeking funding for an annual performance art/storytelling event focused on gender-based violence in all its forms and other gender-based issues impacting South Asian women. WHY THIS PROGRAM IS NEEDED South Asian women, hailing from highly patriarchal societies (e.g., India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Afghanistan, Bhutan), are at higher risk for physical and sexual abuse by their male partners. Additionally, they face constraints imposed by the expectations of fulfilling traditional gender roles. In a large study of South Asian women in the Boston area published by the Journal of the American Women’s Medical Association, 40% of women reported physical or sexual abuse by their male partners. The article went on to say that “their knowledge of available services is limited, and victim-blaming attitudes are not uncommon. Culturally tailored domestic violence services and education are needed for this under-served population.” Additionally, another article in the American Journal of Public Health noted that, “research indicates that immigration-related social isolation, often resulting from the absence of both family in the United States and community support for intimate partner violence victims, and lack of awareness of intimate partner violence services prevent battered South Asian women from seeking help.” Also, although more than 5.4 million South Asians live in the U.S., their perspectives are significantly underrepresented in American culture and there are few platforms for their voices to be heard. DESCRIPTION OF PROGRAM We are seeking funding for a key component of our annual South Asian Women’s Festival, called Aaina—which means “mirror” in Hindi. The first program was launched in 2006. The broad goal of the Tasveer South Asian Women’s Festival is to empower South Asian women through performance art, visual art, films, workshops, and conversations that surface critical issues. The key event for which we’re seeking funding is our Yoni ki- Baat (Vagina Monologues in Hindi) performance--an event that gives voice to women’s inspirational personal stories of violence, abuse, pain, survival, courage, and hope. For this event, Tasveer partners with APIChaya--a non-profit organization that helps victims of domestic violence. EXPECTED RESULTS Our goals for the Yoni ki-Baat event is to a) showcase challenging, gender-based violence/issues faced by South Asian women through performance art, storytelling and community dialogue; and b) provide a supportive community and resources to promote recovery and resilience. A larger, over-arching aim is to reduce the “normalization” of gender-based violence. HOW WE’LL ACHIEVE THESE RESULTS Each year, six to ten audience members come forward to express an interest in sharing their stories at the following year’s event. It typically takes about three to five years for these women to summon the courage to step up. A director then works with the women for 3 months, helping to craft their narratives and develop other forms of performance art as well. The resulting stories are riveting and deeply moving. For example, at last year’s festival a woman spoke about the pain she endured as a dark-skinned, overweight woman living in Mumbai, who was molested by a family friend from the age of 9 to 15. Another young woman who grew up in the U.S. in a family of South Asian immigrants spoke of her pain at her family’s reaction when she chafed against the narrow gender roles that she was expected to adopt as a “good” South Asian girl. Still another woman told of the horrific experience of being trafficked as a sex worker at a tender age. Staff from API Chaya (organization that helps victims of domestic violence) speak about domestic violence services their organization provides. Staff are available at before and after the performances, and during intermission to speak with anyone interested. PAST RESULTS Tasveer has received an avalanche of feedback from audience members over the years about the impact of the stories they’ve heard. They’ve expressed that the stories were life-altering, helping them feel less alone, helpless, ashamed, and without recourse. Importantly, the program also raised awareness of resources (through APIChaya) available to support recovery from painful experiences. Immigrant women, in particular, are often unaware of organizations that can help them deal with current abuse or process the aftermath of abuse. The fact that the Yoni ki-Baat performance has been sold out every year for the past 14 years is a testament to the value of the program to the community. The event attracts more about 1500 participants annually. WHO THE PROGRAM BENEFITS The program benefits South Asian women in the Pacific Northwest by shining a light on issues they face. This is accomplished through performance art and the sharing of personal stories of violence, gender issues, hope, and recovery. Women in the audience with similar experiences no longer feel isolated and alone, and are connected to services to support their recovery and resilience. Our Yoni ki-Baat performances attract audience members from as far south as Oregon and as far north as British Columbia—from a population of about 900,000 South Asians HOW THE MONEY WILL BE USED Tasveer will use the funding to a) support a director who will provide both artistic direction and oversee all of the production logistics. The director will help the performers shape their performances over a three-month period; b) provide support for childcare, transportation, and performance clothing for the performers; c) rent a performance venue and rehearsal space; d) purchase event supplies, such as ticketing software; and e) support the involvement of staff from API Chaya (organization that helps victims of domestic violence) in the event. We’ve included in the budget for our proposal both the complete costs of the Women’s Festival, as well as a budget for the funding we’re seeking from the Dougherty Foundation. We receive partial funding for our Women’s Festival from sponsorships and small grants. If we don’t receive funding from the Dougherty Foundation, we’ll still hold the event, as it provides such an important service to the community. However, we may not be able to provide the desired level of support for the performers and director. We would also likely have to raise ticket prices to cover expenses, which we don't want to do because we want to make the program accessible to women at all income levels. DESCRIPTION OF ORGANIZATION Tasveer is a social justice organization whose mission is to inspire social change through thought-provoking storytelling (via film, performance art, visual arts, and literature) in conjunction with community dialogue. Two key objectives are building a just society and fostering a deeper understanding of South Asian. The organization was founded in March 2002 by two South Asian immigrant women to help elevate the community and its voice, particularly in the wake of 9/11. In addition to the annual women’s festival, which is the focus of this request for funding, Tasveer also orchestrates the largest South Asian Film Festival in the U.S. It is a 14-day extravaganza that takes place creates a lively, stimulating, and focused environment for conversation, education, and exploration of issues that face South Asia and its diaspora. Through a series of film screenings, panel discussions, workshops, and cultural programming, our goal is to involve audiences not just with the film and video works presented, but to create a prolonged space where the social, political, personal, and international issues that form the core subjects of those works can be discussed and understood. Tasveer is well-established, with an extensive reach (more than 5,000 Facebook followers) within the Pacific Northwest South Asian community, attracting more than 5000 festival attendees annually from British Columbia, Washington and Oregon. Constituents include South Asian Americans and others living in the Pacific Northwest, predominately in Washington State.