Ms. Bhowmick tackles a non-mainstream topic, determined to reshape societal narratives.

Illustrating this commitment, she shares Jyoti and Neha's story, two sisters who resorted to disguising as boys to run their father's barbershop in a male-dominated world. The narrative extended beyond cultural taboos, revealing the pervasive issue of women constantly adapting to a world designed by and for men.

Nilanjana passionately calls for a redefinition of strength, emphasizing the need for gender-responsive workplaces and cultural shifts. Rejecting the concept of a 'man's world,' she urges for an acceptance of differences, challenging the notion that a woman's success hinges on fitting into a man's shoes. Ms. Nilanjana Bhowmick is an award-winning feminist writer and journalist, and a gender equality advocate based in New Delhi, India. Throughout her over two-decades old journalism career she has written and reported for some of the world’s top publications, including TIME, National Geographic, The Washington Post, The Guardian. Her work has constantly focussed on social justice and development issues - through the lens of gender and inclusivity. Describing herself as an 'ordinary feminist,' her approach to feminism is driven by a reaction to the discrimination she observes in the world. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx