Why blame women?
Poorvi Hattikudur
WHEN I was reading the article `Dress code for women' (Open Page, October 9), at first I thought it was a joke and that the writer was being sarcastic. As I continued to read I was shocked and outraged, and just had to write in.
I am a 19-year-old student, about to do my bachelors through the Open University system. I have been closely following the dress-code controversy in the papers and on TV and I have a few observations to make.
The first is on the actual dress code issue. I have noticed the repeated use of words such as modesty, decency and obscenity. Would the people who use these words please tell us what they mean? What is so indecent about jeans, T-shirts and skirts? If women wearing jeans are viewed as lacking modesty, women wearing saris should also be called immodest, as they expose some parts of their body.
Women wear jeans and T-shirts not to emulate western culture, but because such clothes are more comfortable. No one is deriding and discarding anything because it is age-old, or accepting some things just because they are modern. If it is a question of micro-mini skirts and barely-there tops, which leave little to the imagination, it should be known that only a small minority of girls dress this way. Even if they do so, it is their choice. If people are offended by them, then they should not look at these girls.
The feeling of insecurity
The Hindu editorial on the dress code issue was excellent. It is true that implementing of such `codes' only heightens the feeling of insecurity and paranoia among women, and makes us feel more vulnerable. The issues of dress codes and other such dictates arise from the need of people, particularly men, to control and dominate women. I find it very distressing to see that educated people condone such patriarchal behaviour. It is especially disturbing to see that some women also encourage this behaviour. While it is fine to have your own views, it is improper to impose them on others. Why is there such fear of a woman's freedom and empowerment?
Some people believe that what women wear, how they conduct themselves, etc., determines how men conduct themselves around women. While it is true that violence against women is on the rise, it is also true that such violence has always existed. It is only now that more such incidents are being reported. Thanks to the media, there is also more awareness on these issues.
The implementing of dress codes could have arisen from the university's own feeling of helplessness in protecting its women students. However, I do not believe this is the case. Many people feel that women are to blame for the violence that men perpetrate against them. Does this mean that all men are wild beasts with no control over their actions? This is an insult to most men. If anything, this violence should be blamed on the men who perpetrate it and their corroded values on morality.
While I agree with Ms. Girija that women should take care of themselves and be alert (there will always be a few perverts), why should we be held responsible for other people's actions? If we do so, are we not absolving such people of any responsibility and accountability for their actions? This mindset of blaming women for everything should change. Without this change, our country will be stuck in this very position for years to come.
In conclusion, I feel that we are trying to treat the symptom and not the disease. We are trivialising the problem by issuing dress codes and other such dictates and restrictions. The real issues are our medieval views on women, and that is what needs to be changed. We, the women of this country, can bring about this change by being more assertive and standing up for our rights and refusing to accept and conform to backward notions.
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