Meet the CB team: Trisha Mendiratta

Name, Pronouns, Role:

Trisha Mendiratta (she/her), Politics Editor

Fun Fact:

I grew up doing artistic roller skating every day after school, and I’d like to think I can still do some of my old tricks and spins!

What does intersectional feminism mean to you? 

For me, intersectional feminism is about having a nuanced understanding of the multitude of discriminatory factors that can mould a woman’s experience in our world, a nuance that requires patience and understanding from the various strands of a historically diverse social movement. For this to be achieved, I also believe that any truly intersectional feminist lens, in order to liberate, has to be anti-capitalist at its core and allied with radical movements of environmentalism, race, class etc.

What is your favourite thing about Clitbait?

My favourite thing about Clitbait is the amazing space and voice it gives to bridge the personal and the political, sharing individual experiences through poetry and prose whilst always being in touch with the nature of these issues as systemic and larger than Clitbait. Also, the very much humorous and tongue-in-cheek ways in which the Clitbait team can tackle intimidating feminist concepts makes the space even more inclusive and exciting to be a part of!

What inspires you?

I’m always inspired by the history of social movements and the activists that continue to work tirelessly for social justice, particular ones that have inspired me include anti-colonial independence movements in South Asia and global abolitionist struggles. Thinking about the power of the collective makes me optimistic about what can be achieved through organisation at times when the injustices in the world feel far to woven into our political fabric. Recently, writer and activist Shon Faye’s new book The Transgender Issue has been particularly eye-opening to me as her ability to articulate very complicated issues in a digestible way is incredible, I highly recommend!

What things do you do outside Clitbait that you are proud of? 

Outside of Clitbait, I try as much as possible to get involved in local politics as that’s where I feel most momentum is gained at the moment, organisations such as Living Rent, the Scottish arm of Acorn is an amazing space that I try and learn from to grasp the local material politics of our community.

A guilty feminist confession?

I’m a feminist but I have an extreme soft spot for the extremely problematic Richard Curtis rom com!

A personal feminist triumph?

Learning to ride a bike last summer! Not sure if it’s a particularly feminist triumph but an insecurity I was always scared to tackle and finally conquered! Saying that am still not very confident and right turns are a nightmare!