Blurred Lines- Emancipation and Objectification!!


At a cosy shindig, a friend ruffled up my hair- “It’s messy, unruly”, he said, “You should get it straightened. Look at everyone else around with their smooth straight hair, that’s how it should be.” I quipped, “But I don’t want to be a clone. This is how my hair is and as long as it’s clean I don’t care if it’s wavy or straight or whatever”.

A few days later, in conversation with another friend over a celebration, he mentioned he needed “hot women”! I rolled my eyes in disbelief- hot women? I asked, “Is there a side of you that I’m unaware of?” “Don’t get me wrong”, he said, “What I meant was since major publications would be covering this event I need women in skimpy clothes at the party for photo-ops.” This reminded me of another conversation with a fellow blogger and socialite who specifically takes “pretty young things” along to parties and launches in order to up the odds of being on page 3. Flashback Hollywood, the red carpet appearance of a glammed up Selena Gomez with her casually dressed co-stars Adam Sandler and Kevin James created a huge furore and did give everyone a glimpse of sexism. It did not just expose what’s wrong with Hollywood but it reflects what’s happening globally, including Dilli for example. Here too while the men are fully dressed for winter all suited booted, the women brave the harsh cold in their bare attire while guzzling vodka (or whatever) to help them sail through the misery. Can we ever forget a naked Emily along with 2 other beauties cavorting to violent, abusive lyrics with three men- completely covered- in the “Blurred lines” video? What’s even more shameful, I thoroughly enjoyed the song and felt nothing was wrong with it, like millions over the world, because of misleading propaganda by media as well as activists.

I am not anti-makeup per se, and I do love dressing up once in a while. I also like wearing heels –the feeling of towering over others does make a difference; and I don’t mind a woman dressing up in short clothes if she can carry it off. What I am against is the “objectification” of women. I don’t want to be taken somewhere or be invited to a do just because of the way I dress. I don’t want a person to hang out with me because he can be in a photo-op that too Page 3! Aren’t too many wannabes and  kitty party aunties there already?

I have been a part of this masquerade- makeup, dress up et al because that was what the company demanded. It turns out to be a hectic affair. Let’s admit it- which woman finds the idea of being pancaked, painted , wearing clothes so tight that it feels like a bat-woman’s costume, while tottering in those  heels , appealing? The truth is there are no “comfortable heels”! It always ends in pain, and bunions. Not to mention the eating disorders that people cultivate to stay in shape to wear those outfits. Is that what being a modern progressive woman means? I don’t think so!

It’s high time women realized they are only being taken on a ride by cosmetic companies and clothing giants all probably having men at the helm of affairs- who  need hot women to drool over, to fantasise about and also like to be seen on newspapers with to make others of their species jealous. This is not freedom, emancipation or empowerment! It’s being enslaved by an image that will wither away with time. No matter how much botox or fillers you use you will end up looking old and won’t be pretty enough for a photo-op anymore despite being clad in a skirt that barely covers the butt.
Well take it or leave it after all it could be just another sermon from the woman in messy hair who’s always clad in jeans and tee ;)

Comments

  1. Objectification is not just commercialization. Its a psychological slavery where women push themselves to any limits, at the cost of personal freedom of choice and following the blind trend of skin show, high heels and the likes.

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    Replies
    1. Tht's y the post.. It's women who are allowing themselves to be exploited !

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