This Trans Artist Wrote A Book About Breaking Gender Stereotypes By Wearing A Bindi

"What does it mean to live in a culture where even a coloured dot is gendered and makes others uncomfortable when worn by the 'wrong' gender?"

This is Toronto-based transgender artist, Vivek Shraya.

Vivek Shraya

She recently wrote a book named The Boy & The Bindi about a young boy battling with his identity, which is in question when he takes a liking to wearing bindis.

Rajni Perera

The young boy watches his mother wearing bindis and soon starts wearing them himself. When he is questioned by his peers for wearing the bindi, the power of the bindi itself gives him the answer, and gives him the confidence to be himself.

"Two years ago, I started wearing a bindi publicly and was both fascinated and troubled by the negative reaction it garnered," Shraya told BuzzFeed.

Rajni Perera

"What does it mean to live in a culture where even a coloured dot is gendered and makes others uncomfortable when worn by the 'wrong' gender?" she added.

Rajni Perera

"Writing The Boy & the Bindi felt like a necessary investment in writing an intersectional children's picture book — one that features a dark-skinned brown boy who finds beauty and solace in his culture and gender," she continued.

Rajni Perera

You can buy the book here.

Rajni Perera