Is Women in Short Indecent Enough?
I’m wearing a pair of shorts and a ganji.
Indecent enough?
No?
Then why does the rest of the world slut-shame me?
Slut-shaming has been on a rampant rise, even in the 21st century and among the Gen Y. It becomes more shocking when news of such incidents come from metropolitan cities.
Very recently, with a Facebook post going viral, slut-shaming again came to light with even more vigour when a Bengaluru based journalist was slut-shamed by an auto-driver and moral policed her for wearing short clothes, the kind she was wearing. A lot of people were there who agreed with the auto driver and ‘offered’ her the advice to protect her modesty, as if she was running around naked. People asked her to dress more like a women, and not like a slut.
Do these people even know what it feels like to be embarrassed between 10 people? What I’ve majorly failed to understand is the fact that why do people need to tell a women what she should wear and what not? I mean, who exactly do they think are they to offer ‘advice’ to someone walking randomly on the road?
To argument, I’ll put forward an argument from the practical point of view here. I’m an adult, independent woman. I earn my own living and am respected in different walks of life by my friends, colleagues and family. My parents are proud of me on all fronts. I have a sound presence of mind and knowledge about things. I’m easily a practical and rational person. Then why should someone, who I don’t even know who he is, needs to sit me down and lecture me into what clothes should I wear and what clothes should I not wear? Or, is concerned if I’m dressed like a slut?
Practically, who is he to tell me about any of the wrongdoings or right doings?
Okay, another legitimate argument. What is so wrong with wearing a nice short dress, or a pair of shorts with a cool ganji, or a body-hugging dress when it swelteringly hot outside blazing at a 47 degrees? It makes me comfortable, lets me breathe and makes me stay cool and sane. I feel more comfortable in it and I can put my best foot forward when I’m at my comfortable best. Then, what is so wrong with it that people think you’re an immoral girl with absolutely no mind? What is so wrong with it that people come up to tell you how morally indecent you are, just because you’re wearing a short dress?
Also, I LIKE WEARING SHORT DRESSES! They make me look beautiful and make me feel confident about myself. When you go shopping, and you find that cute little summer dress, just about perfect; would you not buy it because some stranger on the road would call you slut?
What is the exact problem with wearing a short dress? That it exposes your legs?
Then, by those criteria, why aren’t women wearing sarees called sluts? Because at the end of the day, your complete abdomen is naked, so is your back, which is completely bare? Why aren’t these women stopped in the middle of the road and told, “madam your back and abdomen is naked, you’re a slut because decent women don’t show their body off.” Why has it always been a girl in a pair of comfortable shorts or a summer dress?
We’re going global, going places; why is it that we, at the core are still stuck at the rudimentary thoughts of policing women into what they should wear, what they should NOT wear, and even when to wear something particular?
The solution is to change the attitudes and perception of people. Which is not an easy task to do.
