Women have been through so much for so long — structural violence; unequal pay; guys who hit you up with "Wyd" at 2 AM. It's not a great gig to be honest. You're made to navigate through a series of socio-cultural landmines while your own body revolts against you. I went through regular depressive episodes dreading my life and questioning my worth for years before I realized it was just a symptom of my menstrual cycle, which by the way, now dictates my weekly schedule, my meal prep, and whether or not I curse in traffic. It's like being an 'Inside Out' character operating a complex machine — without a manual, mind you.
On the flipside, there's the romance of it all: learning to look at your body with kinder eyes; good hair days; an old song that puts into words what you could never construe about your femininity; girlfriends that listen; being okay with the possibility of becoming your mother; the jolt of a crush — it's priceless.
You walk this line between the rage and beauty of womanhood, hoping you don't trip over its shackles and that it doesn't clot your identity over time like it did to so many women before you. You aspire to be the cool aunt for the next generation; to keep things up through grit and grace and not shrivel up with cynicism. You do all of these things to protect something so fragile and what do you get? One fucking day; with discounts on pink tax that shouldn't exist in the first place and platitudes coming out the wazoo.
Well, I don't want it. I choose a crispy cold sprite over a chick flick this Women's Day. I want a chill weekend of bedrotting without being patronized; without everyone telling me that I'm a "girlboss" and I can "do anything I put my mind to" or whatever. I suggest you pick your own gift too. Here are a few options, straight from all of the wonderful women at Homegrown:
The woman of the house is the locator of objects. From socks to appliances, everything seems to be hidden in plain sight until she conjures it out of thin air. This Women’s Day weekend, let the rest of the family experience the existential crisis of actually looking for things themselves while you sip on some cocktails and lounge by the sea.
Book a trip here.
From soothing bruised egos to explaining basic empathy, this journal is for documenting all the free therapy you provide men. And when you've had enough of that, the guided prompts of Odd Giraffe's wellness journals will be your daily space for reflection and to check in with yourself.
Get one here.
Type's Eye Light Concealer is a gift for the tired eyes that come from juggling your day job and all that unpaid labour you have to do at home. If you can't lighten your workload of chores, thanks to the 'sanskaari' dynamics of our family systems, lighten your dark circles with a hydrating Vitamin C formula instead!
Shop it here.
Get yourself a little care package for the single lifestyle so you can avoid the dating disasters who aren't "looking for anything serious" and enjoy your female friendships instead. That Sassy Thing is founded by a woman so you best believe its massagers can give you what he can't.
Browse their collection here.
Sister Library by Aqui Thami is a little reading circle of feminist utopia. When you're worn down by the lowkey misogynistic "jokes" at your workplace and the pleadings of your parents at home to give them grandchildren, this is the 'third place' you can go to for connection and sisterhood.
Follow them here.
This is for the hysterical women that need to calm down because centuries of violence and oppression and a system that's not built for you is really not big a deal. But if you do find yourself a little miffed about the constant threat on your safety and self-esteem in the world, the Rage Room is available in 4 cities; perfect for some emotional regulation the next time a man asks you to "calm down".
Book a session here.
The snorkel style hood of the Tachwear Anorak from Garuda's Heirloom collection is purely for you to disappear into incase someone starts mansplaining. The techwear-inspired hoodie also happens to be oversized, perfect for hiding from the dehumanizing male gaze that's a ubiquitous part of India's streets.
Get it here.
Keep your weaponized femininity out of this feminist household. We like 'girly' things here and you will not not take away pink from us. The Gilded Patchwork Midi Dress from Drawn in Fuschia has a full flowing twirl-worthy skirt with a button-down bodice and a belt for a cinched waist not even the FBI would find. This is a girlmaxxing dress; to be worn only for whimsy and frolicking in the woods.
Get it here.
If you enjoyed reading this here's more from Homegrown:
New Delhi, Celebrate Women's Day At The Asian Women's Film Festival 2025
Nirali Naik's Short Film Highlights The Ripple Effect Of Women's Empowerment
Sangham Radio: Inside The Dalit Women-Run Radio Station That's Reshaping Indian Media