The Young Feminist Network was established in July 2020 by Everystory Sri Lanka to bring together people interested in learning more about feminism, particularly from a Sri Lankan and South Asian perspective. This month, our newsletter is curated on the theme of “Mothers & Daughters".

My name is Dulandi Gunasekera and I'm the new Program Manager for the Young Feminist Network. I'm excited to start my journey here at Everystory Sri Lanka. This is my first newsletter and I had a truly emotional experience putting it together.

I chose the theme "Mothers & Daughters" for this month's newsletter, and as my first in this role, for a couple of reasons. One of them was the journey of self-reflection which was triggered by the movie, Everything Everywhere All At Once which resonated deeply with me, leaving me in a puddle of tears on a Friday night.

A significant part of my feminist journey so far has revolved around understanding and getting to know my mother as an individual and as a person, and this journey simply started by asking her about her day, and eventually her life and her childhood during my car rides with her.

"Mothers", is a recurring topic that resurfaces in conversations with my friends; whether it's empathizing with each other overheated arguments we've had with our mothers, or being vulnerable with each other by sharing the impact our mothers' perception of our appearances, personalities, and preferences have had on us. Simply; mother-daughter relationships bind us together as women, and as feminists, which is why I wanted to dive deeper into this intricate aspect of womanhood.

I sincerely hope you enjoy this Newsletter, and I hope that it carries you forward in your own feminist journey.

As always, we love to hear your thoughts and feedback. We value the complementary and the critical equally, so please share! You can get in touch via email at [email protected]

In solidarity,

Dulandi Gunasekera

YFN Newsletter Editor & Program Manager- May 2023

For our May Reading List, we’ve featured a diverse selection of reading and audio-visual material, which can be digested and engaged with by young feminists of all ages. Our Reading List will explore;

The Role of Culture

Throughout history, South Asian culture has followed a pattern of favouring the birth of sons over daughters, which has led to women who bear daughters being devalued. However, these cultural influences go beyond a conversation at a dinner table or an everyday argument with our parents. This preference is reflected in male-female birth ratios and the rate of female infanticide. We have explored how storytelling can be a form of elevating the value of the mother-daughter relationship, which is constantly being overshadowed by the mother-son relationship.

The part biological factors play

A common trajectory most mother-daughter relationships follow is the rocky period of the daughter entering her adolescence as well as the mother entering her menopausal years. These biological factors that are often not accounted for are considered in our reading list in order to how it shapes mother-daughter relationships.

Exploring matrophobia and, the idea of mothers and daughters as extensions of each other, and the idea

Blurred boundaries between mothers and daughters often lead this relationship to be shaped by conflict; including the struggle faced by mothers in balancing nurturance and autonomy, the prevalence of body-shaming, and over-policing of the daughter’s clothing and behaviour. This also leads to the phenomenon of fearing becoming “just like your mother”, or matrophobia. We have included TedTalks, short films, and clips from films, a highlight being Lady Bird (2017), Umma (2022)- a haunting-thriller film, and more in our reading list to explore these ideas.

Recognizing the mother-daughter relationship is a vital key to breaking the cycle of generational trauma and women’s oppression

In our reading list, we’ve presented the patriarchy as a root cause for mother-daughter relationships being shaped by conflict, and being known for it.
In contrast to mainstream narratives, we’ve analyzed how empowering and recognizing each other as individuals would not only mend our relationships but allow us as women to defy social expectations and traditional gender obligations.

We’ve featured novels and films in our reading list to promote this narrative. Our highlights from the list include Saving Face (2004), and English Vinglish (2012) which embodies the quote;  "Often father and daughter look down on mother (woman) together. They exchange meaningful glances when she misses a point. They agree that she is not bright as they are, and cannot reason as they do. This collusion does not save the daughter from the mother's fate."

Finally, we’ve featured a storytelling and poetry corner in our Reading List which encompasses the lived experiences of women across cultures. The final list of Documentaries, Films, TV Series, and Novels is our best recommendation for anyone who wants to grab a cup of coffee and explore the theme of “Mothers and Daughters”

Happy Reading!

Each month, we reach out to people who will reflect on the theme and share their insights on how it relates to their lives and work. For this month's interview, we reached out to Minadi Gunawardena, our very own Social Media and Communications Manager at ESSL!

ALSO EXPLORE!

Visit “The Foreigners” Exhibition at the
Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art Sri Lanka:

Work at Everystory Sri Lanka!

Send us your CV, portfolios, writing samples, or other copies of your work to [email protected]. We’re always on the lookout for creative, passionate, and curious feminists. Women identifying, transgender, non-binary, and other queer-identifying people are encouraged to apply.

Delete Nothing is looking for an Operations Coordinator!

For more information, please visit: https://cutt.ly/W6y2rCE

Education

Earlier in April, we called out for stories and poetry from our members based on the theme of “Mothers and Daughters.” The submissions can be read on our Medium Account.

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