<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" version="2.0" xmlns:itunes="http://www.itunes.com/dtds/podcast-1.0.dtd" xmlns:googleplay="http://www.google.com/schemas/play-podcasts/1.0"><channel><title><![CDATA[Desri decodes: Lighter Side]]></title><description><![CDATA[Simple and relatable observations that women encounter in everyday life.]]></description><link>https://www.desri-decodes.com/s/lighter-side</link><image><url>https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!7sTi!,w_256,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fcc64a2ae-6a34-49f5-a82b-0bb33501dff7_442x442.png</url><title>Desri decodes: Lighter Side</title><link>https://www.desri-decodes.com/s/lighter-side</link></image><generator>Substack</generator><lastBuildDate>Sat, 23 May 2026 21:03:36 GMT</lastBuildDate><atom:link href="https://www.desri-decodes.com/feed" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><copyright><![CDATA[Sana]]></copyright><language><![CDATA[en]]></language><webMaster><![CDATA[desri-decodes@mailbox.org]]></webMaster><itunes:owner><itunes:email><![CDATA[desri-decodes@mailbox.org]]></itunes:email><itunes:name><![CDATA[Sana]]></itunes:name></itunes:owner><itunes:author><![CDATA[Sana]]></itunes:author><googleplay:owner><![CDATA[desri-decodes@mailbox.org]]></googleplay:owner><googleplay:email><![CDATA[desri-decodes@mailbox.org]]></googleplay:email><googleplay:author><![CDATA[Sana]]></googleplay:author><itunes:block><![CDATA[Yes]]></itunes:block><item><title><![CDATA[Gender Equality]]></title><description><![CDATA[Same isn&#8217;t equal. Fair is.]]></description><link>https://www.desri-decodes.com/p/gender-equality</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.desri-decodes.com/p/gender-equality</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Sana]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 27 Apr 2026 16:03:01 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/26294ee5-f2e8-450f-8218-bbeb57bd0926_1254x1254.png" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>I feel like many women think gender equality means women should be treated exactly the same as men in every situation. But equality doesn&#8217;t always look identical and that&#8217;s where the confusion begins.</p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.desri-decodes.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe now&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://www.desri-decodes.com/subscribe?"><span>Subscribe now</span></a></p><p></p><p>What truly matters is fairness.</p><p>Equality in sharing house chores.<br>Equality in education.<br>Equality in opportunities.<br>Equality in respect.</p><p>But equality is not about forcing everything into a strict 50&#8211;50 split. It&#8217;s not about counting who did what or ensuring every task is mirrored perfectly. That kind of rigid thinking can actually create more frustration than balance.</p><p>Real equality is about fairness in everyday life.</p><p>In marriage, it&#8217;s about creating a system that works for both people involved&#8212;one that feels sustainable, respectful, and supportive. When it comes to house chores, equality doesn&#8217;t mean dividing everything evenly down the middle. It means dividing responsibilities in a way that makes sense. If one person enjoys cooking and is good at it, let them take that role. If the other prefers cleaning or organizing, that can be their space. The goal is not sameness, it&#8217;s harmony.</p><p>Of course, flexibility matters. Roles can shift. People can take turns. But the intention shouldn&#8217;t be to &#8220;prove&#8221; equality through rigid rules. It should be to build a life that feels fair to both.</p><p>While modern marriages have made strides towards equality, true gender parity requires ongoing negotiation, fairness and respect.</p><p>Equality is not sameness.<br>And when fairness becomes the focus, equality naturally follows without needing to be forced.</p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.desri-decodes.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe now&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://www.desri-decodes.com/subscribe?"><span>Subscribe now</span></a></p><p>Signing out,</p><p>Sana</p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Let’s try not to use the phrase “all men”!]]></title><description><![CDATA[A small phrase with a big generalization.]]></description><link>https://www.desri-decodes.com/p/lets-try-not-to-use-the-phrase-all</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.desri-decodes.com/p/lets-try-not-to-use-the-phrase-all</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Sana]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 20 Apr 2026 16:01:37 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/da392ffe-d05f-4b09-8b58-7f209a74551d_1086x1448.png" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Somewhere between a bad date and a group chat rant, &#8220;all men&#8221; quietly becomes a category.</p><p>All men are bad at cleaning.<br>All men are bad at texting.<br>All men are messy and unclean.<br>All men don&#8217;t listen.</p><p>&#8220;All men&#8221; is primarily used to highlight gender-based violence or patriarchal structures.</p><p>But here&#8217;s the actual truth:<br>Not all men are bad, some men are.<br>Not all men are abusive, some men are.<br>Not all men are unclean, some men are messy.</p><p>We say &#8220;all men&#8221; because of our personal experiences with certain men in our lives. We say it. We know it. And yet, we still say it.</p><p>And if we&#8217;re being honest, &#8220;all men&#8221; is almost always followed by something negative.</p><p>But supportive, respectful, and trustworthy men exist more than we sometimes acknowledge. Kind men. Hardworking men. Men who genuinely root for women. Men who support women&#8217;s independence and individuality.</p><p>At the same time, yes, there are men who are mean, dismissive, or treat women poorly. There are also men who appear respectful on the surface but still carry limiting beliefs about women.</p><p>Both can be true.</p><p>There are great men everywhere.</p><p>But when we say, &#8220;all men don&#8217;t&#8230;,&#8221; we quietly ignore the ones who do. And that deserves a small correction.</p><p>So next time you&#8217;re about to say &#8220;all men,&#8221; pause for a second. Not all men are the same and maybe it&#8217;s worth leaving a little room beyond our own experiences.</p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.desri-decodes.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe now&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://www.desri-decodes.com/subscribe?"><span>Subscribe now</span></a></p><p></p><p>Signing out,</p><p>Sana</p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[The “Just in Case” Things we Carry!]]></title><description><![CDATA[Simple observation about things women carry just in case.]]></description><link>https://www.desri-decodes.com/p/the-just-in-case-things-we-carry-810</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.desri-decodes.com/p/the-just-in-case-things-we-carry-810</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Sana]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 23 Feb 2026 17:02:43 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/47c4c1a0-76e7-40ec-ac08-89f813443aac_1536x1024.png" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Women don&#8217;t just leave the house.</p><p>We prepare for possibilities.</p><p>Open any woman&#8217;s purse and you&#8217;ll find what can only be described as a mobile emergency response kit.</p><p>Lip balm.</p><p>Hair tie.</p><p>Safety pin.</p><p>Tissues.</p><p>Hand sanitizer.</p><p>Painkiller.</p><p>Mint.</p><p>Band-aid.</p><p>Tampon.</p><p>Old receipts.</p><p>Charger.</p><p>Random coin.</p><p>Snack we forgot we packed.</p><p>Just. In. Case.</p><p>Headache? Covered.</p><p>Sudden wind? Hair tie ready.</p><p>Wardrobe malfunction? Safety pin activated.</p><p>Hungry child? Emergency granola bar appears.</p><p>Friend with a headache? &#8220;Wait, I have something.&#8221;</p><p>We are walking convenience stores.</p><p>Men often leave the house with their phone and wallet.</p><p>Women leave the house like we&#8217;re prepared to survive a minor apocalypse.</p><p>And don&#8217;t even talk to me about the car.</p><p>There&#8217;s a backup pair of flats.</p><p>An extra cardigan.</p><p>Reusable bags.</p><p>Hand lotion.</p><p>Maybe an umbrella that hasn&#8217;t seen sunlight in six months.</p><p>Just in case.</p><p>Even our desks have secret drawers.</p><p>Even our gym bags have &#8220;emotional support&#8221; snacks.</p><p>The funny part?</p><p>We rarely use half of it.</p><p>But that one day we don&#8217;t carry something?</p><p>That will be the exact day we need it.</p><p>It is not anxiety.</p><p>It is experience.</p><p>So yes, my bag is heavy.</p><p>Yes, I need five minutes to &#8220;grab my things.&#8221;</p><p>And yes, I will absolutely continue carrying a safety pin like it&#8217;s a personality trait.</p><p>What&#8217;s the most random &#8220;just in case&#8221; item you carry?</p><p>I&#8217;m betting it&#8217;s oddly specific.</p><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.desri-decodes.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Thanks for reading Desri decodes! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.</p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div><p>Signing out,</p><p>Sana</p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Women and Pockets]]></title><description><![CDATA[If it fits one finger, it&#8217;s not a pocket. Article is about how women's clothing is far behind and how it must evolve with modern women.]]></description><link>https://www.desri-decodes.com/p/on-the-lighter-side-women-and-pockets</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.desri-decodes.com/p/on-the-lighter-side-women-and-pockets</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Sana]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 16 Feb 2026 17:00:47 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/9991255e-d143-4116-a569-8091b9ba0a67_1536x1024.png" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Simple observation &#8212; why do women&#8217;s clothes come with tiny pockets, fake pockets, decorative pockets&#8230; or no pockets at all?</p><p>It&#8217;s a big deal. Why?!</p><p>Why do I have to carry my purse everywhere just to hold my phone or a credit card? Why is it so hard for designers to add proper pockets to women&#8217;s pants the way they do for men&#8217;s? Is this something we need to start a movement for?</p><p>I remember the day I found leggings with four real pockets. Two side pockets. Two zippered pockets. I was ecstatic. This is exactly what I wanted - convenient, secure, comfortable. I was fully ready to pay extra for them. And, of course, they were more expensive than the usual ones.</p><p>When did functional pockets become a luxury item?</p><p>Though it seems like a small thing, it annoys me. Why is functionality negotiable in women&#8217;s clothing?</p><p>We celebrate dresses with pockets like we&#8217;ve won the lottery. &#8220;It has pockets!&#8221; becomes a selling point. Why are dresses with pockets rare in the first place? These are everyday inconveniences we don&#8217;t question. We adjust. We carry bags. We work around it.</p><p>And don&#8217;t get me started on fake pockets. Beautiful pants. Perfect fit. And then comes stitched-shut decorative pockets. Why? Who decided decoration matters more than utility?</p><p>Or those tiny activewear pockets near the waistband that can hold&#8230; what exactly? Half a lip balm? One finger? Maybe half of a credit card if I&#8217;m lucky?</p><p>It&#8217;s funny, but it&#8217;s also telling.</p><p>Men can step out with just their phone and wallet. Women? We automatically reach for a bag. Because we&#8217;ve been designed around aesthetics first, function second.</p><p>Modern women work, commute, travel, run errands, lift weights, manage homes, lead meetings and we still can&#8217;t reliably carry our own phone without extra accessories.</p><p>And why does my husband have deeper pockets than I do? Literally.</p><p>Pockets are not a luxury. They are independence stitched into fabric.</p><p>Maybe it sounds dramatic. But small design choices reflect bigger assumptions. If clothing is evolving with modern women, utility should not be optional.</p><p>So yes, I will continue celebrating real pockets like small victories. And I will absolutely pay for them.</p><p>Do you resonate with this? Tell me about the moment you found that one perfect pair with actual usable pockets.</p><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.desri-decodes.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Thanks for reading Desri decodes! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.</p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div><p>Signing out,<br>Sana</p>]]></content:encoded></item></channel></rss>