My Next Life posted the link for this article in the comments section of yesterday's post. Very appropriate subject! It wonders why clothing creates so much scandal.
Interesting to note that Indian girls are not free from the controversy of choosing to do Indian things in new ways.
Some months ago, I began to wear a certain sartorial item that I had long admired. That I was turned away from two stores when I tried to purchase the said item should have given me a clue about what was to follow. Still, purchase it I did, for myself, for no reason other than that I found it beautiful.http://sharanyamanivannan.wordpress.com/2012/01/27/toi-idiva-are-women-now-becoming-unafraid-of-controversy/
The humble metti, nuptial toe-rings, were by far the most subversive thing that I – doyenne of firetruck-red lipstick, leopard-print thigh-highs and strapless sari blouses – had ever worn.
“What next? If thaalis were ‘pretty’ would you wear one too?” snapped someone.
“You’re not supposed to!” exclaimed another. Such a simple condemnation. Supposed
Interesting to note that Indian girls are not free from the controversy of choosing to do Indian things in new ways.
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Yes... symbols define you still in this system.
ReplyDeleteI have heard of Indian women who don't wear sindoor or who wear stylish clothes being told "You don't look married" because they don't wear the typical symbols of marriage.
And they wonder why we eagerly want to take them on!!
Taslima Nasreen thinks they are all oppressive and should be done away with: http://freethoughtblogs.com/taslima/2012/06/09/shame-on-women/
The world is changing... I do think it is a personal choice to wear that includes a lot of factors, but at the same time our outward appearance does tell other people things - not necessarily the ones we choose to project!
An Indian woman wearing sindoor may seem a good Indian wife to one person but a person locked up in patriarchy and who does not want women to progress to someone else.
A white woman in a salwar kameez may look cultured to one person and a wannabe who just likes sparkly stuff to another.
I think at some point we have to figure out how we want to present ourselves to the world, put some thought behind it, and be prepared to deal with the fact that no matter what we are presenting, someone else will see it differently through their lens.
"I think at some point we have to figure out how we want to present ourselves to the world, put some thought behind it, and be prepared to deal with the fact that no matter what we are presenting, someone else will see it differently through their lens."
DeleteExactly!
And it's funny, but I love traditional symbols. I'd be really angry is someone wanted to take traditional marriage symbols away from me!