In a small office, in the western Sydney suburb of Wentworthville, three staff members are busy at their computers, working into the night.
The start-up enterprise is racing breathlessly towards the concept launch of its new magazine this Sunday, with big ambitions for social good.
Womanity will offer South Asian women in Australia - those from India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Bangladesh - a platform for ideas and information in a magazine format, thought to be a national first.
Readers are being promised health, nutrition, fashion and Bollywood news, as well as diary dates, job-hunting tips, and success stories on individuals and organisations making outstanding contributions to the community.
Womanity's editor-in-chief Ambika Subramanian. Source: Supplied
But the magazine’s editor-in-chief Ambika Subramanian says alongside the “fun stuff” will be hard and often little-discussed social issues. They will include domestic violence and financial abuse, through to issues specific to South Asian communities including dowry violence and killings.
“I’d like my fellow Indians - and others from the sub-continent - to be aware of the helplines and other infrastructure to support them, so they don’t have to bear it all, but share it all,” she tells SBS News.
I’d like my fellow Indians - and others from the sub-continent - to be aware they don’t have to bear it all, but share it all. - Ambika Subramanian, Womanity Editor-in-chief
She hopes the magazine will attract women who may be vulnerable, including students and dependent spouses of employees on Temporary Skill Shortage visas
Samar Kohli is the magazine’s founder and plans to fund the project until advertising and sponsorship kick in.
The entrepreneur runs Bollywood Empire, a club night in Sydney, and will launch the concept of Womanity this weekend at a fashion show event of the same name, featuring a diverse cast of models.
He says more men need to stand up and support causes that champion women and fight for equality.
“Men are the main culprit in abuse - whether from ego or traditional reasons - making sure women don’t get their due,” he says.
“I want to change that stereotype.”
Subramanian graduated from the London School of Economics and has more than a decade's experience in digital marketing. But the magazine will also have personal significance.
“I had a classmate who was married off at age 16 - which was illegal even in India,” she says.
“She was harassed for a dowry as it was considered normal for her parents to pay off the bridegroom. She went through mental torture at her in-laws’ place.”
“It saddens me to see that in the 21st century, we are sticking to certain ideologies that don’t make sense at all.”
Womanity’s first hard-copy edition is several months away, but already the concept is attracting community welfare leaders.
Entrepreneur Samar Kohli, left, is funding the project. Source: Supplied
Pratigya Adhikari, the Women’s Forum co-ordinator within the Non-Resident Nepali Association, says she’s been waiting a long time for such a publication.
“When it comes to domestic violence - some don’t know [how] to access services; they think if they call the police, they’ll be in trouble.
“They don’t know about post-natal depression - instead they think they’ve gone insane - and some don’t know that health agencies have interpreters.”
The Indian Support Centre in western Sydney helps people impacted by sexual assault, domestic or family violence and abuse.
Its president Subba Rao Varigonda said: “On the Indian sub-continent, [problems] are often family-to-family issues; the boy’s versus the girl’s family.”
“We want to discuss issues from both sides. And we want that stated clearly in the magazine, so the girls facing this kind of situation know there are organisations helping them to create this dialogue.”
He says solutions come from encouraging better communication, and that’s where Womanity can help.
“I think it will be valuable for information purposes, and then it’s up people to contact appropriate organisations to get value out of this.”
The Australia Sri Lanka Cultural and Welfare Association’s president Pushpika Gamage hopes the magazine will tackle issues migrant women who are mothers face, for example, not being able to bring their own parents over to help with childcare.
“By raising this issue, we could lobby the Immigration Department to make it easier for grandparents to come for a short time on Parent Visitor Visas.”
For entrepreneur Kohli, he can’t wait to see the project come to life.
“There’s been a hell of a lot of public support for it.
“This will be a platform for relevant social issues that aren’t acknowledged to the extent they should be in the Australian media.”
Womanity will be launched at a gala dinner and fashion show in Sydney on Sunday 9 June to raise funds for the Indian Support Centre and the McGrath Foundation.
If you or someone you know is impacted by sexual assault, domestic or family violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or visit 1800respect.org.au. In an emergency, call 000.
Readers seeking support can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14, Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467 and Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800 (for young people aged 5 to 25). More information about mental health is available at Beyond Blue.
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