Malini
Breaking Silence, Building Futures: The Story of Malini Chakrabarty and Modern Feminism
Malini Chakrabarty: From Silence to Strength — A Story of Feminism and Resilience
Malini Chakrabarty, a 22-year-old media student turned filmmaker and journalist, embodies the evolving face of feminism in India. Her journey from victim to advocate reflects the transformative power of storytelling and the urgent need for an inclusive feminist movement.
“The future is intersectional.”
What comes to your mind when you think about feminism? Traditionally, the distinction between male and female has been measured by anatomical and biological features. But gender goes beyond that—it’s about individual identity.
Feminism is not just one thing. It’s a broad range of social and political movements and ideologies that have shaped societies worldwide—from the women’s suffrage movement fighting for the right to vote, to access to education and work, and challenging victimization and workplace inequality. But what does feminism mean to us today?
Malini has a lot to say about this. She explains that feminism’s boundaries vary by geography and culture, creating diverse experiences. Yet at its core, feminism is about challenging systemic inequalities. It’s not about female superiority, but about equality for all genders.
“The future will have little boys not thinking twice about playing with makeup and dolls. Little girls won’t hesitate to play football in the sun or race their Hot Wheels. The future will understand the difference between sex and gender, and gender fluidity will be not only valid but celebrated!” — Malini Chakrabarty
Let’s take a quick look at feminism’s history to understand where we are today:
The first wave focused on suffrage in the 19th and early 20th centuries.
The second wave in the 1960s-80s fought workplace discrimination and inequality, especially as women returned to domestic roles after WWII.
The third wave challenges some of the assumptions of the second wave, addressing issues of marginalization and “Othering.”
Now, in the 21st century, feminism pushes beyond old boundaries, seeking liberation from deeply structured social norms that exclude many from political, economic, and social participation. Today’s feminism looks at past struggles and envisions future possibilities.
Malini’s story is a powerful lesson that voices must be heard. After moving schools multiple times, one incident changed her life’s trajectory forever. During her first year at a new school, she was molested by a boy in the canteen. When she bravely spoke out, she was met mostly with disbelief and silence.
“I realized how deeply misogynistic society is. It is always the girl’s fault,” Malini says. “I used to get bullied daily and made a huge life choice to join media as a journalist. I felt voiceless and never want anybody to feel that way.”
In India, violence against women remains deeply concerning. According to the National Crime Records Bureau data from 2018, 94% of cases involve minors, often violated by family members. Many crimes go underreported or poorly investigated, leaving victims unheard.
Malini found refuge in storytelling, using text, photography, and film to document hard truths and combat discrimination. She loves colors, textures, and expressing emotions through visual media. While adventure runs in her veins, she sometimes travels the world through books when physical travel isn’t possible. She loves helping animals, women, and children — passions that originally made her want to be a vet, though she took up bioscience before switching to media.
Today, feminism has become a global movement, uniting people in the fight for gender equality and against racism. But Malini stresses that the future must be intersectional.
“We live in a society dominated by cis-hetero white men. I hope the future will be more open, accepting, and, above all, kinder. I hope women can speak up for themselves, and little girls become their own damn prince charming instead of waiting for someone to save them. Media has a massive role in shaping public opinion, and I hope the future of media will be diverse, accountable, and accurate.”
Malini believes the fourth wave of feminism — sparked globally by the #MeToo movement — marks a turning point. Women worldwide are done tolerating patriarchal nonsense. But privilege still shapes access to feminism in India. She points out the urgent need to reach Dalit women in remote villages who are abused but unheard. “We need better laws,” she insists.
Like all activists fighting for women’s rights and gender equality, Malini recognizes there is still a long road ahead. But she finds hope in knowing no one fights alone.
“Men and women both suffer under patriarchy, and we’re only now realizing how toxic it is. A global movement has begun, and guess what? It’s only getting stronger. The future is kind.”
She repeats her vision:
“The future will have little boys not thinking twice about playing with makeup and dolls. Little girls won’t hesitate to play football in the sun or with Hot Wheels. The future will understand the difference between sex and gender, and gender fluidity will be valid and celebrated. The future won’t make any person of color feel ashamed of their melanin. The future won’t let a president get away with derogatory remarks like ‘grab them by the pussy.’ The future will be braver, because it will be kinder.”
There should be no divisions except those we choose to impose on humanity. We all share the hope for peaceful progress toward equal rights.
Malini has become a voice for the voiceless. She will keep fighting to create possibilities, pushing us all toward a more balanced, just world.
We have only one planet—let’s make it better. The future is bright if we keep raising our voices and never stay silent.