The feminist point of view

Note: This is an article that I wrote in the year 2001, during the time I was still a Law student. Though it was very hard to resist the temptation to correct an few things and add/delete bits and pieces from it, I managed to somehow not succumb to those mental pressures. Re-reading it was an amusing experience for me. Hope you enjoy it too.

The feminist point of view

Man proposes, God disposes; A woman proposes, He is impressed by the skill of His creation.

This article will always remain close to my heart....I can say this even before writing it. As the title suggests, this is about the perception of a female. A female, that is me.... who sees this world as a whole big society of unequals. Since I am a hardcore feminist, this article might hurt a particular segment of the opposite sex. I do not intend to apologize to that segment though it is large.
In this article I shall deal with a number of aspects, norms, dogma's which are age old and universal ...the very presence of which seem to defy our concept of modernity and decry it as something hollow/superficial.
I would like to start with 'hypocrisy'...not in general but in particular relation with males. The two are intimately connected. You must have seen boys flirting with and drooling over girls....nothing wrong with that. Afterall, they have always been like that..isn't it? They can spend their lives practicing it to perfection. You must also have seen that when it comes to flirting they mostly pick and choose the ones who are the most outgoing, carefree, minimally attired, and absolutely bindaas....nothing wrong with that either! Afterall, one should have the freedom of choice. If nothing is wrong then what is the point writing about it? The point my dear reader is this....What happens when these very boys/men realize that it is time to settle down and enjoy the peace of marital bliss? I will tell you what happens....since now is the matter of lifetime, they refuse to settle for someone lesser than a 'Sita incarnate'! Now do you see the hypocrisy? They want a fully clad, preferably sari draped, mute homemakers as their wives. To make the right 'selection', they do not hesitate in subjecting them to what I call as 'dumb doll displays'. Some go to humiliating extents and verify their virginity! This, from people who perhaps have been destroying 'it' all their lives! Really, this height of hypocrisy stinks...it makes me vomit with malaise.

For those religious zealots who are about to create a hue and cry, I must clarify that the above reference to Sita is not meant to be interpreted as something contemptuous. Sita represents an ideal…someone perfect. Just as the perfection of Rama cannot be achieved by men of today, it is not fair and feasable to expect something of the same standard from women....for they as well are but lesser mortals.

Now let me come to the popular perceptions about attire. Several interpretations are attached to how girls/women dress up. A point worth noting is that such very 'creative' interpretations are not seen regarding the dressing sense of men. For instance, a girl in a cut sleeve top and jeans or a mini dress is seen as a chic, someone very smart and forward. Not good as a 'wifey' material but cool enough to be ogled at continuously and unblinkingly. On the other hand, a girl in a salwar-suit or a sari is seen as conservative, decent and worth a lewd stare.
All right!, I agree that one cannot but look at something/one beautiful, but can it not be an innocent glance?! Is the demand of this much decency too much? How many girls/ women have you come across who do that? Not many. OK, I agree again that they (the fairer sex) are made of a different material so far as this is concerned and it is not fair to compare. But then, do these ogling owls stop at that? No they do not. How can their pervert mind rest without passing a lewd comment, making an indecent gesture, or breaking into a medley of double meaning songs....all too suddenly! Do they have no control over their sense organs? Does their body system function 'by default'?

While dealing with attire, it is also relevant to mention a very popular complaint which is heard often from the opposite sex as the reason for their odd behavior. It is said that girls dress up meagerly which fire their desires...provocates them. This argument suffers from a serious lacuna. It seems to suggest that commission of heinous crimes as rape are restricted to semi clad babes. This is not true of course. It has to be rubbished outright. The only thing that can be concluded is that they are and have been lying....it is not the attire or the absence of it that 'provocates' them. Had it been true, there would not have been any case of eve teasing with females clad fully and 'tradionally'. There would not have been instances of criminal assaults on girls of tender years, and rapes on infants. There would not have been any Bhanvari Devi or Dr. Aruna Shanbaug or a bunch of nuns still awaiting justice.

So, what do all these examples suggest? Are all such males mentally sick as some of them often plead to be to mitigate their offence? Is there something seriously wrong with the way their body and mind functions? But God cannot make the blunder of sending so many dysfunctional pieces to Earth. Can He? So this one ought to be omitted. These morally depraved people are basically corrupt, prurient and lewd. Whatever they do is intentional and planned. They cannot be allowed to take shelter behind some disease of the mind to justify their act. This is the view which I intend to go with.

Another aspect related to female attire has come to the limelight (it was always there) because of religious fundamentalists. All their norms seem to have been written for females. The reasoning is particularly interesting. It is a way to protect their culture they say! Pray tell me how a composite and complex aspect as 'culture' be protected by threatening and coercing ladies into dressing themselves like sacks!! Just because males do not have control over their Casanova type tendencies, is it fair to put blames and restrictions on females? It is not fair...but then did I not say that it is essentially an 'unequal' world?!
By wearing what she likes, a girl/woman does not seek to provoke. She does not intend to corrupt minds. And please for Godssake she is not at all throwing an invitation to be raped! All that she probably intend to do is to flaunt whatever she has. Is it a crime? Does she deserve to be punished for this innocuous little act by throwing acid on her? Can not the male mind digest her individuality and freedom for once? She is also a human being after all! Why are all the controls and restrictions female oriented? I will tell you why....It is a convenient measure taken by this male dominated society for its inability to, or rather its reluctance to develop a semblance of morality in themselves; it is because of their lack of courage to face competition; it is to protect their hegemony.

Recently there was a news article in the newspapers that a 17 year old unwed mother was stoned to death for her immoral act. The man of course is free....same old story. Now do you see the convenience with which justice is imparted outside courts by 'guardians of morality'! Nice - quick summary procedure with no hassles of human rights, no need for principles of natural justice....for justice comes 'naturally' in these cases! 'Forsaken female is at fault'. Always.
In today’s context, many believe in the success of women's liberation. I regard it as a misconception. The grand idea of liberation is still in hibernation....or rather it has been comatosed deliberately. Otherwise how can one explain the ignominious presence of dowry deaths, infanticides, child marriages, flesh trade? A woman today does not even have the freedom to conceive at her own will. That a woman should 'plunge' into procreation post' haste' after marriage is still the popular notion. Thereafter, is she allowed the freedom to keep her little one to herself? No.
Result: Female foeticides,
Lower sex ratio,
Try again till you succeed.
Now I would like to turn your attention to a totally unrelated topic....'civic sense'. It would not be an exaggeration to say that men lack it. Mostly. “Give us one good reason behind making a blanket statement like that!" they would cry. Well; I can give them many.
They consider this planet as a spherical spitoon. Chew paan and spit. Don't chew paan and spit. Spit spit spit...you don't need a pit. Spit till you give Municipality a fit!

Smoke and burn your tensions out. Smoke to turn heads. Smoke to remain in vogue. Smoke to impress. Smoke till you drop dead or everyone else near you does!
(I have no qualms about admitting and blaming even the females for the above two. Some fall in this category.)
Men are born incontinent. Their urinary bladders are faulty. Only that can explain peeing in public.
(No, females cannot be included this time. None fall in this category.)


Dated: September 3, 2001

Sunanda Bharti.