“You’re a girl, you have to learn to keep your voice low”, said my grandmother, when I spoke at home and tried to reason out that just because I am a girl, I don’t have a separate set of regulations to live my life. And then came the line from my grandmother, which I am sure every girl who has entered adolescence would have heard; that we have to leave behind our own house and enter another house after marriage and such behaviour would not be accepted there. I just sat there wondering, does being a girl make me any less than a man? I always thought that male and female were two equal creations of God. But, probably that’s not how people in India understood the difference in the sexes.

This in a small way sums up the mindset with which girls are brought up in India. They are subjugated to men and made to feel that it’s the right way to behave. The stress on a different set of rules is so strong that to break off from it and fight against it is a tough matter. The social hierarchy prevalent in India in terms of caste, gender, age, roles etc., has had a strong hold over society and women in India for centuries. The most striking feature of feminism in India is that it was initiated by men and women joined the fray only in end of the 20th century.

Feminism in Indian context

Feminism is closely associated with terms like identity, woman empowerment, equality etc. And if we look at the way Indian society is structured, we would realize that women in general did not question their situation because they never realized there was something amiss. In that sense, western feminism was concerned mainly with the needs of women in the West; it was essentially about winning the same rights for women as they existed for men, and then activating the means for those rights to be utilized.

Rita Banerji, an author, photographer and gender activist differentiates the interpretation of feminism in India and the West, with two unique factors – one, that it rejects the notion of deep rooted, tradition encouraged gender hierarchy, defined and exploited by men in the Indian society. And two, it does not ascribe the appalling state of women in India who continue to silently tolerate the patriarchal oppression, and hence sees no reason to rebel against it. While these factors might seem oddly perplexing to western feminists, there is within Indian feminism a rationalization of these outlooks.

Another proclaimed feminist writer, Sarojini Sahoo, pointed out in one of her interviews that in the ancient Vedic period India had equal rights for men and women. But, the later Vedic period created the discrimination and polarized both the sexes. Males dominated the females and treated them similar to how lower castes were treated.

Does India need Feminism?

India needs feminism campaign by Kalki Koechlin

Having understood feminism in the Indian context, we may wonder why at all, India needs Feminism? The answer to this is clear. When there exists extreme oppression and male dominance in almost every industry, and women in the country have their self-respect and dignity at stake, both mentally and physically, then feminism, which demands for an equal status of both the sexes, is the only solution.

I would like to quote an example from the Indian media itself, when Bollywood stars like Salman Khan or Akshay Kumar demand for higher remuneration for their roles in a film or an appearance in any public event, it is covered showing their star power, whereas when actresses like Priyanka Chopra or Kangana Ranaut demand fees on par with their male counterparts, it is covered showing the rebellious attitudes, and not as a fight for equal status.

“It’s simply risky to be a woman at all”, argues Kavita Krishnan, Secretary of the All India Progressive Women’s Association, in the wake of the recent Uber rape case. She adds, “Blaming the survivor of an act of violence has become another brick in the wall of ‘protective’ boundaries that imprison women rather than open up safe spaces”, after seeing messages that blamed the victim to be responsible for being raped. Not just the Uber rape, but many other rape cases in the recent past has made all the big wigs, god men of the society to spill out few illogical views.

Even today, unwed mothers, separated, single or unfaithful women are considered outcasts. Living out of wedlock with a partner is still virtually unheard of. An unmarried daughter is seen as a spinster even in her late twenties who brings shame upon her parents, and is a burden. But once married, she is considered the property of her in-laws, spoke Sarojini Sahoo in an interview.

Women are not born weak. They are purposely made that way, and taught to be voiceless by the society. “Victims of violence, be it race, religion or gender based violence, are NOT inherently weak, but are weakened by constant social battering”, claims eminent feminist writer Rita Banerji. So she believes raising strong daughters is the virtue to offset the very social and cultural conditioning and values that are meant to rob women of their strengths and potentials as individuals. Parents have to consciously provide their daughters with an environment where they can realize and proudly assume their powers in full. And are able to let “their strong woman within” shine through, Ms. Banerji believes.

Thus feminism in the Indian context should not be confined to the struggle between men and women only. Their emancipation involves breaking away from the clutches of social mores. There are many social institutions and practices that act as barriers and need to be crossed.
So the next time, you say ‘Ladies First’ and give women priority, remember she does not require that; she requires opportunities equal to yours, justice similar to yours, and a LIFE just like you live!

Image sources –
Lead Photo –  American Center Mumbai
Sarojini Sahoo – commons.wikimedia.org

Factfile –

Burka Avenger has decided to merge into the group of cape and coif, midst the Dark Knight and the amazing Spiderman. Burka Avenger is a story of a young teacher named Jiya living in a small town in Pakistan. She has a secret to hide. An identity of a masked vigilante who aims to educate her female students and save her village mates from the rising enemy attacks. The super-heroine character of Jiya isn’t blessed with many supernatural powers, but is a master in Takht Karate. She uses this martial art to fight against all odds.

I recently viewed the trailer of this Pakistani TV serial, which seemed quite interesting and gripping. The storyline brings out both excitement and curiosity. A teacher by profession, Jiya takes the meaning of a pen being mightier than sword little too seriously. She believes a pen has a major role to play to win over her enemies. Even being trained in karate, her pen gives her the efficiency to perform all the odd jobs as the secret master. Her students encourage her to stand up against the wrong ones.

The magic comes in when she dons on her cape, the Burka. Oh! Don’t look puzzled, it doesn’t get stuck in between her legs; rather it makes her a free like a bird. The Burka Avenger can’t fly, but her modified burka helps her to swing from trees and glide over the mud huts of her small town. While the action sequences are quite hilarious, this funky portrayal of burka is a good reply to all those who question its need. This Pakistani animated series has raised serious apprehensions: is this clothing actually a state of oppression or does it help in creating a vigilante?

Many critics have questioned the need of burka in the show. But the answer is quite simple. The use of burka is as important as the mask of Batman or of Spiderman, who believe it will help them in safeguarding their secret identity. The Niqab or the Burka has strong opinions around the world. Some call it a clear mode of female oppression; while some have made it a feminist issue. Thoughts around the world about this clothing are changing, both in a negative as well as in a positive manner. Some regard it as a rule against feminist values and some call it a necessity. The major question: is it really an anti-feminist stay?

Not everyone discards it; many women take pride in following this culture. They feel their burka secures them, not just physically but also emotionally. Women deal with burka in a manner to rejuvenate their soul. They strictly take it as a matter of an offense, if people infuse it with feminism. In few matters, this burka doesn’t include a state of oppression. There a situations where women are compelled to follow these norms under the name of religion. Few extremists, which let the patriarchal ideas play the upper hand, have this belief in beating down appraisal of a woman and her emotions.

Have we ever tried reasoning with a woman who covers herself? A woman belonging to a backward class, who doesn’t have the strength to face its surroundings with an open face, regards burka as a good friend. She generates it as a mode of power and to challenge the society. A housekeeper, a less educated one, prefers burka to communicate. Where one degrades its use, many take it as a way to freedom. All of these women have situations, and all enjoy their burka to all possible extent.

Being born in a Muslim family, I and my sisters were always asked to cover our heads. It wasn’t an unpleasant doubt, but a continuous one. I have few cousins who do cover, like a full burka, which to some extent also tempted my father in requesting me don this avatar. Let me be clear, it was a request, which I did accept. But later due to medical reasons and due to Chennai weather, I was asked to remove it. My family never commented or forced me to follow it. My paternal grandmother, a woman we all look up to as an idol has believed in giving girls the upper hand, and made us believe that we are the stronger one.

The situations dealing with burka have different viewpoints. It is a piece of cloth for few, but for few it is a moment of glorifying. One cannot pass a verdict just by listening one side of a story. The creative head of the Burka Avenger show, Haroon Rashid mentioned that there is a message at the end of each episode. The show focuses majorly on the importance of education, especially to girls. Burka’s usage comes with the reference to the cultural background where even young children wear it.

We can easily take Malala Yousafzai as our role model of woman empowerment, but is it feasible to transplant her empowering ideas into the tiny brains of 5 and 6-year olds. The medium of animation has helped the show gain popularity, not just on a market level but also in breaking off the stereotypes of clothing. It is inspiring to observe a cartoon film, making people understand the larger idea, which initially seemed an impossible act.
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Image sources –
comicsbeat.com
burkaavenger.com