Nothing much has been going on in my life. I live a boring life where a mere hangout with my male friends lands me into a deep existential crisis about my morals and beliefs as a feminist. Indian teenage boys thrive on rape jokes, constant objectification of women, porn riddled with the male gaze, homophobia, misogyny and transphobia. Sometimes I feel sad and sorry for the women associated with these young men for they’re constantly stripped of their agency and individuality just because men fail to know any better. Younger brothers being chaperones to their elder sisters is one such example we see every day but fail to evaluate. I have identified as a feminist for as long as I can recall but in a household devoid of daughters, it wasn’t until I turned 18 that I started realizing the deep-rooted patriarchy, casual sexism and misogyny which have always existed. And now I can’t help but notice this in everything, everywhere. Men romanticizing the toil and misery of their mothers instead of contributing in the housework. Men wanting homely wives. Men justifying dowry but hating on that one stereotypical gold-digger from some Punjabi music video. Men slut-shaming Swara Bhaskar for her masturbation scene in Veere Di Wedding as if they don’t joke about their penises and their emissions most of the time. Men calling effeminate men “chakka” or “meetha” as if they don’t sexualize lesbians to death. It’s a sick experience hanging out with guys and I really hope these men don’t give trauma to the women they date. Just men being men and women having to change themselves because of them.
Where are all the progressive men?
Bitter truth of the society..these are the things which people are ashamed to talk about in public.. All explained and justified clearly.. Proud of you girl✨
ReplyDeleteI'm a guy but thanks for your kind words. Really appreciate them. :)
DeleteI help my neighbor's children with studies since she doesn't know how to operate and handle online studies. Few days back I was in their house and my neighbor said she really adore my elder sister, she looks like a model and she's very beautiful. So I was showing my sisters instagram pictures to her. She said if my daughter(5-6 year old) wants to do modeling in future I will let her do. Instantly her son(10 years old) said no she will not wear short clothes and model, its bad. I was shocked. I was speechless what to tell him.
ReplyDeleteHis mom must have also noticed what he said and if she's a feminist in any sense whatsoever, I am sure she would have corrected him when you weren't there. But I get where his thinking is coming from. Growing up, the channel was instantly changed whenever there was any sensual representation of women (which itself is a product of the male gaze but that's a discussion for another day). What I mean to say is that we're raising our kids wrong.
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