How an Indian Woman Sparked “First in the Bloodline”
Exclusive: We spoke to the medical student behind the viral post that became a global movement.
Sithara Jahan, 23, was thrilled when her parents finally let her go on her all-girls trip to Kashmir. “As a Malabari Muslim woman, I have always been told that I can do whatever I want — after getting married,” she told The Juggernaut. As the Kerala-based medical student felt an enticing whiff of freedom, she decided to do what countless others do: post about it. “First in the bloodline to travel without husband,” Jahan posted on February 11 in a Kashmiri shikara, or boat, uploading two pictures: one wearing a red shawl draped around her head, looking demure, and then a second flipping off the camera.
Her post has racked up over 35 million views, inspiring everyday women and brands to unleash what they were “first in the bloodline” to do. People far beyond India, were suddenly quote-tweeting in solidarity: “First in my bloodline to graduate from the University of Oxford and write a book about Yoruba mythology,” said one. “First woman in my bloodline to become an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya,” said another. Lara Raj from KATSEYE even wrote a song about it, while others joked they were first in their bloodline to hear “Can I get a Shiva Shambhu?” after SZA’s viral Maha Shivratri performance.
But in a world where internet trends come and go, Jahan’s “first in the bloodline” trend has persisted for weeks. We spoke to Jahan and South Asian women all over the world to find out just why “first in my bloodline” means so damn much.