This idea has come to me after seeing the numerous Why we need Feminism visual campaigns going around. Though essentially I support the idea, however, what is bothering is that this is extremely urbane centered revolving around cities like Delhi/Bombay. So then, can one really say it talks for all women in the country whose lived experiences are far more different than what we as urban women go through. So I have rather come up with another idea - Everyday Patriarchy. I am sharing the few points that I came up with through lived or experiences I have observed around me. Can we add more to the list? I know I have a lot of friends here who have worked with the subaltern class of women in India and they can provide inputs. This everyday patriarchy notion will probably give us a better understanding of why we indeed need feminism. But turning the argument around in this attempt. So here goes, please add to it - 1. When you are shamed for having non-stylish short hair by being called a tom-boy if not anything else. 2. When the labour that is put into in maintaining the home is dismissed by the husband/partner as non-existent, as it being the duty. 3. When bosses generally dismiss your inputs because you don’t look too serious. 4. When bosses dismiss your inputs because you are just a pretty face. 5. When you are body shamed for not being voluptuous or skinny enough. 6. When your wages are not at par with your male colleagues. 7. When the waiter/shopkeeper generally ignores you and asks your male partner’s opinion first. 8. When me condemn the practice of having reserved seats for women in public transport. 9. When women get groped in public transport repeatedly. 10. When wearing the hijab/naqab no longer becomes a woman’s prerogative – condemned for both wearing and not wearing it. 11. When drinking or dancing too much in a party where there are males too who do the same, yet being judged as slutty. 12. When every genuine hurt is dismissed as a PMS syndrome. 13. When the choice is always between motherhood or career, there cannot be both in equal harmony.
Posted on: Mon, 07 Jul 2014 08:43:52 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015