Deepika Padukone's video is about a
woman's right to choose for herself. But then the word ‘choice’ does not exist
in the Indian dictionary, specifically for women. Hence, all guns aimed at
Deepika, shaming her for unhooking her bra in a video (but it’s completely ok
if our politicians look at porn in the Assembly or have rape and murder cases filed against them).
Freedom of speech and expression, for women in India, only exists on paper.
A video of women and their choices is of such great national
importance that BJP leader Murli Manohar
Joshi, had to come out and speak against it. who I never heard him speak when the December 16 gang rape was reported or against female foeticide or trafficking of women (Guess that's part of Indian tradition and culture).
A woman keeps the child in her womb for
9 months. What man does that? Yes, women lose their jobs when they take
maternity leave. A woman's promotion is held back if she is pregnant. Clearly,
a woman does not have a choice when it comes to taking control of her life, why can't it be her choice if she wants a baby or
not? And for those pointing that a man has a say too, the video does not say a
man does not.
To those saying the video is anti-men, the
word ‘man’ is not even mentioned once.
As the video says: "My choice… to
marry, or not to marry." In India, girls can legally get married by the
age of 18 while it is 21 for a boy. Our laws too have failed to maintain gender
equality. Then why bash the video and why not start with the government?
"My choice… to have sex before
marriage. To have sex outside of marriage. To not have sex." So how does this statement make girls
want to have sex before marriage or to have an extra marital affair? Are you saying if you see
someone stealing, it makes you want to steal too?
A visible bra strap is an issue and so is Deepika unhooking her bra but it is completely ok when men walk
around in their boxers and scratch their groins?
A simple video on a woman's choice was
enough to attack the country's tradition and culture but rape, domestic violence,
female foeticide, molestation, acid attacks and dowry deaths are ok. And we actually talk about gender equality!
Give it a rest, people.
© 2015 Nasreen Ghani
