1. SEXISM - INTRODUCTION - INTERVIEW BY JERRY PETER - INTERVIEW BY MUSKAN AGGARWAL - AT WORK PLACE BY JERRY PETER - AT HOME BY MUSKAN AGGARWAL - ILLUSTRATIONS - ADVERTISEMENTS - COMIC STRIP 2. BODY SHAMING - INTRODUCTION - INTERVIEW BY GAYATRI SHARMA & APURVA KATARIA - IN THE FASHION INDUSTRY BY GAYATRI SHARMA - THE PERFECT BODY BY APURVA KATARIA - ILLUSTRATIONS - ADVERTISEMENTS - COMIC STRIP
3. OBJECTIFICATION - INTRODUCTION - INTERVIEW BY TAVANPREET DHANJAL & RASHI DAWAR - OBJECT BY TAVANPREET DHANJAL - IN A WORLD FULL OF DIRT BY RASHI DAWAR - ILLUSTRATIONS - ADVERTISEMENTS - COMIC STRIP
4. RACISM - INTRODUCTION - INTERVIEW BY PARNIKA PODDAR - #DARKDON’THURT BY PARNIKA PODDAR - ILLUSTRATIONS - ADVERTISEMENTS - COMIC STRIP
ENTS
CONT-
SEX
ISM
Sexism Sexism, prejudice or discrimination based on sex or gender, especially against women and girls. Although its origin is unclear, the term sexism emerged from the so-called “second-wave” feminism of the 1960s through the ’80s and was most likely modeled on the civil rightsmovement’s term racism (prejudice or discrimination based on race). Sexism can be a beliefthat one sex is superior to or more valuable than another sex. It imposes limits on what men and boys can and should do and what women and girls can and should do. The concept of sexism was originally formulated to raise consciousness about the oppression of girls and women, although by the early 21st century it had sometimes been expanded to include the oppression of any sex, including men and boys, intersexual people, and transgender people. material practices of individuals, collectives, and institutions that oppress women and girls on the basis of sex or gender. Such oppression usually takes the forms of economic exploitation and social domination. Sexist behaviours, conditions, and attitudes perpetuate stereotypes of social (gender) roles based on one’s biological sex.A common form of socialization that is based in sexist concepts teaches particular narratives about traditional gender roles for males and females. According to such a view, women and men are opposite, with widely different and complementary roles: women are the weaker sex and less capable than men, especially in the realm of logic and rational reasoning. Women are relegated to the domestic realm of nurturance and emotions and, therefore, according to that reasoning, cannot be good leaders in business, politics, and academia. Although women are seen as naturally fit for domestic work and are superb at being caretakers, their roles are devalued or not valued at all when compared with men’s work.
INTERVIEW
A Q &
Q1) Have you ever experienced sexism at home or any other place? A. Yes, I have faced sexism at home. my cousin brother, who is the same age as me Tells me every day that ‘you know what, you can’t drive and you never will be able to, cause it’s not meant for girls’. Rather than understanding the fact that I just need a little practice, He blames it on the fact that I am a girl. Q2) Have you ever heard comments regarding your sexuality? A. No, not really. but I am confident enough about who I am, so I am pretty sure I will be able to answer the person back. Q3) Have ever been forced into things which you do not want to? A.No, I have never been forced to do things that I don’t want to, Ever since a kid, my parents, have taught me that ‘never do things that you are not sure of/ comfortable doing or might regret doing later. And if I am ever forced to do something in the future, I can make a choice by saying No to that person. Q4) Are you given a code of conduct as to how you behave as women? A.As a child, like every other girl, I was taught to sit properly, talk politely, and behave in a particular manner, but growing up and figuring out who I am, I realised that I should behave in a way that I was feel defines me the best, or in a way that I am comfortable and confident with. So now I sit the way I want. or behave the way I feel is right in the situation, and increase my voice if I have to make my point. Q5) Do you think to be gender biased backlashes at the health of the sufferer? A.Yes, I do, more than physical health, it affects the victim mentally. Only they know how low and party they feel about being who they are.No one has a right to tell the other person who they should be.This is something that the society needs to work on collectively. Q6) Do you think such incidents directly or indirectly hampers a person’s instilled confidence? A.Yes, I do. Considering how my cousin feels about me driving. Now I don’t feel very confident about it. I feel like I just might crash my car someday. Somewhere the person loses their confidence and their enthusiasm. INTERVIEWER- JERRY PETER INTERVIEWEE- MAHIKA JAIN
Q1) In your opinion, what are the most prominent examples of sexism that you have personally experienced? A. I first experienced sexism in medical school when I was doing my surgical rotations. I can’t count how many times I was questioned — by men and women, as well as by physicians and nurses — about how I was going to do this and still have a family. I was discouraged and was advised to do a more “family or female-friendly” specialty, and was repeatedly asked that “It’s so hard — are you sure you want to do this? Q2) How are female physicians and female physicians-in-training affected by this sexism? That is, on a personal, professional, and emotional level? A. These experiences drive women to constantly feel the need to prove ourselves. It is disheartening after enduring our extensive training to not be accepted as “doctor.” It is sad for me to still be fighting this battle. There are stories of women being paid less, being promoted less often, and being passed over for jobs. I have not experienced it personally, but I have no doubt that it occurs. Q3) Would you say that sexism in medicine today is as obvious or widespread as it once was? A. I wholeheartedly admit that modern sexism is now more subtle. We are not being beaten or denied the chance to get into medical school. What irks me is the belief that just because sexism is no longer extreme, women are supposed to be happy and accept the status quo as “good enough.”I wonder why it’s too much to ask to be treated the same? Almost every female medical colleague I know has experienced sexism in one way or another. The subtlety of sexism nowadays makes it harder for women to get acknowledgment and recognition in the medical community. Q4) So why does discrimination and sexism in medicine linger or persist, in your opinion? A. I don’t think it’s a problem unique to medicine. You can still find sexism in almost every field whether it is in corporates or small-scale work. What I believe is that profession has nothing to do with sexism, it is the way we think and the way we want to see world. Q5) What can your male medical colleagues do to help in the battle against sexism? A. I think it’s very simple, really. We want respect and professionalism. We just want to be treated as the doctors that we are. Q6)Thank you very much for a very interesting and enlightening interview. I’m sure this will help to open our eyes to the unfortunate persistence of sexism in medicine and elsewhere. A.Thank you for giving me the opportunity to share my thoughts with OPEN. --
ILLUSTRATION
SEXISM AT WORK PLACE Almost half of female HR directors and decision-makers think their workplaces are sexist, compared with only a quarter of men in the same position, according to research from the Young Women’s Trust. The survey also found one in eight large employers admit sexual harassment in their companies goes unreported, while one in 10 were aware of formal sexual harassment complaints, according to a YouGov survey of 800 HR decision-makers about women’s experiences at work. A significant majority (63%) of HR directors and decision-makers thought sexism still existed in most workplaces, increasing to 76% among female employers, said the charity that supports young women on low or no pay. “Too many young women are facing sexism and sexual harassment while trying to carry out their jobs. It is shocking how many employers are aware of this in their own workplace – yet the problem continues,” said Dr Carole Easton, the chief executive of Young Women’s Trust The figures are likely to be only the tip of the iceberg, warned the charity. Last year, research from the Trades Union Congress and the Everyday Sexism Project found 52% of women had experienced unwanted behaviour at work including groping, sexual advances and inappropriate jokes. Among young women aged 16-24 the proportion was 63%. The research showed a disturbing gap between male and female perception of sexual harassment in the workplace, said Joe Levenson, the director of campaigns at Young Women’s Trust. “While of course there are many excellent male managers, some men may not be aware of the experiences of sexism suffered by women in the workplace – sometimes it may be brushed under the carpet or dismissed as banter,” he said. “So much sexism at work goes unreported, women fear that they will not be taken seriously or it will be bad for their career.”
The report comes after the supreme court ruling that forced the government to promise to scrap employment tribunal fees, because they were preventing workers – especially women and those on lower wages – from getting justice. The number of women reporting sexual harassment at work halved from 2013 to 2015, while calls to the Acas helpline relating to sex discrimination increase by 14%. “Claims dropped off a cliff,” said Shantha David, a lawyer for Unison, which brought the case against the government, saying women who were already discouraged from making complaints against colleagues and managers because of the professional ramifications then faced a fee of £250 to bring a case as an individual, plus a further £950 hearing fee. Employees also have only three months to bring a complaint after any incident. With fewer complaints progressing to a hearing, employers had less incentive to engage productively with early conciliation via Acas, she added. “The introduction of a fee was always an invitation for bad employers to carry on unlawfully. Now employers are more likely to engage earlier to avoid a claim being brought,” she said. “The supreme court was very clear – unless you can exercise your rights, there is little point in having them.”
ILLUSTRATION
THE MAZE RUNNERS
Differentiation will always occur in the case of men and women as to how much difficult it is to be a woman in today’s world and such a piece of cake for men as in some cases they definitely get what they want served in a platter. Let’s talk about how it’s difficult for a woman to put up with her work and home schedule simultaneously, she’s supposed to feed her children, earn for her family, serve her in law and what not, and on the other hand how convenient for men as they’re really not expected to contribute to their homes in relation to their kids and wives, they’re only expected to earn a great livelihood. It’s not really necess that all men end up doing this with women but in great majority, this happens. A man wouldn’t like it if his wife earns more than him as he’ll be told by peers and his family that how a woman is earning a greater amount of money and because of this, the wife stops going to work so that she can manage her home and not hear things about how she’s not contributing to her home.
ILLUSTRATION
PATRIARCHY Have you ever wondered why it is standard in many cultures for a wife to take her husband’s last name rather than the other way around? Where did this come from? Within human societies, there is a tendency to divide power between various members. Some people are more powerful, while others are less powerful. This hierarchy of power manifests itself in countless visible and subconscious ways, like defining whose family name is carried on. A society that gives more social, political, and economic power to men is called a patriarchy.
Patriarchies come in various sizes and shapes, from those that are completely patriarchal to those that are minimally patriarchal, but all have institutions that naturally privilege males over females. Patriarchy is a system of power that divides society along ideas about gender, so before we can go any further, we need to define this term. When we talk about a person’s sex, we’re referring to their biology. Biologically, humans are divided into the sexes of man and woman. Gender is different.
Gender refers to the cultural rules assigned to each sex. There’s nothing biological or universal about gender, and in fact various societies have ranged in believing that there are over a dozen genders to cultures who recognize one or even zero genders. So, when talking about delineations of power, we’re talking about gender and the way that gender is understood. That being said, let’s take a closer look at patriarchies and identify the characteristics that define them.
ILLUSTRATION
The Power OF Men The most obvious aspect of a patriarchal society is the fact that the institutions of that society privilege men. What this means is that the social interactions between people are structured in such a way that constantly and ubiquitously upholds male superiority. From values, rituals, and traditions to laws and formal institutions like governments, power within a society is focused on uplifting men under a patriarchy. Let's look at some real-world examples of this. Historically, many European societies established legal systems where women could not vote or own property. Only their husband, father, or brothers had the right to do these things. Those are some concretely institutional examples of patriarchy. Others can be cultural. For example, many legends from cultures around the world focus exclusively on men as heroes, from Gilgamesh in Mesopotamia to Beowulf in Europe to China's mythological Five Emperors.
Patriarchy, as with all systems of power, cannot exist simply on the elevation of one group. It is equally defined by the subjugation of others. In a patriarchal society, this most directly means women. Women in a patriarchal society are told from birth that they are inferior or controllable through infinite social and cultural cues.
Even in societies that are only minimally patriarchal, the same values that support male power tend to specifically exclude female power. History books may focus more on male figures than female figures, men may dominate the highest levels of most professions thanks to better educational opportunities, and toys for female children may emphasize different values and roles within society, such as mother or housekeeper rather than educated professional. Social and governmental laws that place control of a woman’s reproductive system in the hands of male relatives or policymakers subjugate women by removing autonomy over their own bodies.
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BODY
SHAMING
BODY SHAMING Body shaming is one of the biggest problems in today’s generation. Society doesn’t just find humor in degrading a woman’s body; they also find humor in degrading a man’s body. Body shaming has become a problem for both genders. People take their own insecurities and aim them at other people to make themselves feel better about their own body. Body shaming, while common in both genders, is especially harmful to women. Ariana Grande received a comment after being compared to Ariel Winter. “Curves are sexy sticks aren’t,” the comment said. Ariana then fought back basically saying how in no way is this okay. Celebrities such as Taylor Swift, Miley Cyrus, and Jonah Hill have also been victims of body shaming by many people throughout the Internet. Comments like these are why both guys and girls have such low self-esteem. Even if someone is confident enough of his/her body, people will make him believe that what all flaws are there, what all adjustments should be made just because being slim is definitely beautiful more than being what you’ve grown up as.
INTERVIEW
A Q &
Q1) Have you ever heard about body shaming? A.Yes it’s a serious issue amongst the other age groups, especially teens. Q2) Have you ever struggled with poor body image? A. I have struggled with poor body in my past. High school can be cruel and teenagers can be very judgemental. Q3) Do you think body shaming a person affects his/her mental health? A. Definitely yes, as being confident about your own self is the most important thing The weight was never low enough, I wasn’t pretty enough, I was miserable. Sometimes, people hang onto things and ideas out of habit, and ideas out of habit because change is scary, it’s not the change in itself, it’s the fear that we might fail. I don’t look at it as a failure though, because everything is a lesson. You learn and you try again. The real failure is not even trying on giving up. Q6) Have you ever struggled with poor body image? A. I have struggled with poor body in my past. High school can be cruel and teenagers can be very judgemental. Q7) What do you do when you hear your friends/family using “fatty” or making comments on others bodies or on their bodies? A. When I hear family members/friends shaming their own bodies, I talk to them about how I had always found things I hated about my body, even when there was nothing wrong with the way I looked, because it was so witty who made me feel like I had to hate who I was. Q4) How can other students/young adults get involved in body positivity and body-love? (Whether on campus or just among their peers) A. By supporting their friends, and by being there for them on the bad days. Another way is by using social media to show how much body shaming can affect other and how it needs to come to an end. Q5) Have you ever faced body shaming in your life? A. Yes, I faced body shaming in my life. To me, it meant being confident enough to show other people that size doesn’t matter. Q6) Have you ever heard about body shaming? A. In our daily lives someone or the other faces difficulties in one way or another and body positivity is very rare which finally results in body shaming and feeling bad about their own bodies. Q7) What does body positivity mean to you? A. Body positivity means feeling comfortable in your spin and not caring what other people may think.
Q8) How can other students/young adults get involved in body positivity and body-love? (Whether on campus or just among their peers) A. By supporting their friends, and by being there for them on the bad days. Another way is by using social media to show how much body shaming can affect other and how it needs to come to an end. Q9) Have you ever heard about body shaming? A. In our daily lives someone or the other faces difficulties in one way or another and body positivity is very rare which finally results in body shaming and feeling bad about their own bodies. Q10) Are there days you have negative body image? If so, what are some things you tell yourself to fight those thoughts/mindset? A. I can first remember hating my body and dieting as young as nine or ten years old. I remember one of my doctors commenting on my weight and saying that I needed to eat more salads and that comment has stuck with me since then. Q11) Have you ever received any negative feedback from people around you? A. I have received some negative feedback. Its definitely been difficult to swallow some of it. I’ve had to remind myself several time that just because someone says something doesn’t mean it’s a fact. While it’s important to stay open to hearing others perspectives. Q12) Has body shaming ever affected your career for better or for worse? A. I’m not totally sure if body shaming has affected my career for better or for worse. However, I have also heard from many members of the industry that I’m inspiring and that they are grateful for the change I’m trying to make. Q13) What message do you want to give to others who are suffering from body shaming? A. If it doesn’t make you happy, let it go. Even when I saw the number on the scale go down and as my clothes got loose. I did not find myself any happier.
INTERVIEWER- GAYATRI SHARMA APURVA KATARIA INTERVIEWEE- NEHA SAXENA
ILLUSTRATION
FAT SHAMING IN THE FASHION INDUSTRY
Have you ever thought about how the fashion industry works? No, right? I’ll give you the best of an example of how exactly it portrays such a shallow world by simply characterising fat or obese women as not so beautiful or they simply don’t fit into the category of a nice human being regardless of the fact that they’re just same as an average fit girl. A fashion and beauty model has written a powerful open letter to her critics after being body shamed. Charli Howard claims she was dropped by her top modelling agency for being “too big” and “out of shape” to work in the industry, despite being 5’8” and a UK size 6-8.The London-born model, who has shot campaigns for Rankin, Rodial and Ciaté, along with editorials for magazines like Harper’s Bazaar and Glamour, took to Facebook to publicly share her experience.“I will no longer allow you to dictate to me what’s wrong with my looks and what I need to change in order to be ‘beautiful’ (like losing one inch off my hips), in the hope it might force you to find me work,” she wrote.“I refuse to feel ashamed and upset on a daily basis for not meeting your ridiculous, unobtainable beauty standards.” Howard, who has chosen not to name her former agency, also made an important point that the more models are forced to lose weight, the more designers will make clothes to fit smaller sizes, stating that being “ill” not an image she wants to represent.
“In case you hadn’t realised, I am a woman. I am human. I cannot miraculously shave my hip bones down, just to fit into a sample size piece of clothing or to meet ‘agency standards’,” she wrote. “I have fought nature for a long time, because you’ve deemed my body shape too ‘curvaceous’, but I have recently begun to love my shape. I don’t have big boobs, but my bum is ok plus, a large majority of my clients are ok with this.” Howard also revealed that even when she weighed seven and a half stone, hitting the gym for five hours a week, she “still wasn’t thin enough” for her agency. Howard concluded by writing that she loves modelling and will continue to do it, but only on her terms. “My mental and physical health is of more importance than a number on a scale, however much you wish to emphasise this.” “Until (and if) an agency wishes to represent me for myself, my body and the WOMAN I’ve become, give me a call. Until then, I’m off to Nandos.” This was about a single model who shared what she went through her fashion journey, there are plenty of more little girls who’ve been triggered in such a shallow manner.
ILLUSTRATION
THE PERFECT BODY
I remember the first time I was “skinny shamed” although the phrase had not yet been invented. I was in my granny’s house in Moville, Co Donegal. There was a crowd of people around the kitchen table and gran’s friend entered the room, took one look at me and said, “Gosh do her parents feed her?” Looking around I noticed everybody in the room nodding in agreement. I was 10 years old. There was no compassion.
Nobody told the woman to leave me alone, or chastised her for being rude. They just continued their conversations. I sat there feeling ashamed and abnormal, as though there was something wrong with me. I remember the feelings of emptiness and upset. Even 10 years later I still think about that experience. The interesting thing is, not much has changed. When I tell people about this incident now, I never get much of a reaction never mind sympathy. “Skinny shaming” has become socially acceptable to the point where it is now unrecognisable.
I have never been big, I have always been “tiny” as people like to say. You might think in this body-obsessed era thin or tiny might be seen as a good thing, but it turns out when you are slim, people think it won’t hurt to describe your body shape and make it a talking point.I eat until I’m full I don’t eat a lot but I do eat until I’m full. People say, “Do you eat rabbit food?” but I’m not super healthy. I eat pizza and burgers like anyone else. I am the way Iam due to genetics and a fast metabolism. I don’t have to worry a whole lot about gaining weight.
Everyone has dreams of their ideal body. Because I’m thin I’m told I already have a dream body. I may be thin but just because I am does not mean I’m in good shape. Maybe I want to be more toned or muscular. Maybe I don’t feel completely comfortable in my body. Many people don’t. People say I should be happy I am thin but it’s hard be happy when I am judged for my size. It’s got to the point where when I meet new people it is the first thing people comment on. I get told I look like I am “sickening for something”. When someone is annoyed at me, quite often, the first insult I receive, especially on social media, is “anorexic bitch”. It’s upsetting that a life-threatening disease is being used to describe my physique. The person saying these things does not usually stop to consider their target may have an eating disorder. Skinny shaming is very easy to get away with. The comments are made slyly, through unsolicited advice and jokes. After most comments the person will give me a little smirk as though that will make it acceptable. Bearing the brunt of these comments makes me highly sensitive in the way I speak about other people’s appearance so I don’t understand why someone would say these things. It could be jealousy or envy. Maybe the person is trying to put me down to make themselves feel better. Or is there more to it than that? Perhaps people are genuinely blind to the fact that these comments are insults.
ILLUSTRATION
STEREOTYPICAL WORLD When we look at a fat woman the first thing which pops up in our head is the bad eating habits she has and also the bad exercising regime she follows which can be untrue in some cases as they might be trying their level best to lose the extra weight.
I always failed to understand the people’s definition of being beautiful so I thought of taking this forward when I got this opportunity so that I could somehow make a change in some people’s ongoing thinking.
But, are unable to do so and on the other hand, skinny women are considered to be taking good care of them by taking lots and lots of fresh fruits and vegetables and maintaining a good workout schedule, which again can be untrue as sometimes such women have worse eating habits than some fat women which are considered to be neglecting their health by such unhealthy habits.
Some people highly believe in name calling and fat shaming too which is very hurtful to the person who’s receiving all of the above and might be hard for her/ him to handle it and still be confident and comfortable with thyself as such things degrade the morals of the being and can make the world a living hell for the same.
This image is an example of the existing mindset about the ongoing craze for being skinny over anything else even if you’re getting deprived of the basic necessities as a living being which is forced onto some people because of the society’s perception about being beautiful.
In this world everyone is busy in their own lives, I would urge the people to understand and empathize, I repeat empathize and not sympathize as that person might be already facing challenges which life offers or might be prone to some disease and should not add
ILLUSTRATION
THE NEED TO FIT IN
Did you ever stop and think about how often we are told to change our appearance? Magazines constantly offer tips about how to lose weight “in days,” appear slimmer “instantly,” and hide our “imperfections” without actually knowing anything about us, much less our appearance. This is one example of body-shaming, and it is everywhere. Sitcoms so frequently use overweight characters’ bodies as the basis of many of the show’s jokes. It has become the norm to criticize aspects of our bodies as some type of bonding experience with friends – if we all hate our bodies; it somehow makes us feel connected and united. Body-shaming (criticizing yourself or others because of some aspect of physical appearance) can lead to a vicious cycle of judgment and criticism. Messages from the media and from each other often imply that we should want to change, that we should care about looking slimmer, smaller, and tanner. And if we don’t, we worry that we are at risk of being the target of someone else’s body-shaming comments.
Body-shaming manifests in many ways: 1) Criticizing your own appearance, through a judgment or comparison to another person. (i.e.: “I’m so ugly compared to her.” “Look at how broad my shoulders are.”) 2) Criticizing another’s appearance in front of them, (i.e.: “With those thighs, you’re never going to find a date.”) 3) Criticizing another’s appearance without their knowledge. (i.e.: “Did you see what she’s wearing today? Not flattering.” “At least you don’t look like her!”).
No matter how this manifests, it often leads to comparison and shame, and perpetuates the idea that people should be judged mainly for their physical features. This leads to the question: if it has such harsh consequences, why is body-shaming so common? An example we often discuss at the Braintree Adolescent Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) is dealing with conflicts with peers. Why, when we are upset, annoyed, or intimidated by someone, do we default to criticizing their appearance? “Whatever, she’s ugly,” can be a go-to defense in these situations, particularly during adolescence and the young-adult years. In some ways, it feels easier to shoot for something that will hurt, like targeting physical appearance, rather than expressing what is really going on emotionally. Saying, “I’m really hurt by how my friend treated me,” or “I’m terrified of losing this friendship” opens us up and makes us more vulnerable, and therefore feels easier to bury underneath the body-shaming comments that rush to mind. How do we challenge this? In situations like those listed above, expressing true feelings rather than physical criticisms can be a great first step. While recently discussing this with the Adolescent IOP, several patients admitted that it is hard to identify ways of expressing frustration without using body-shaming, as this has become an almost automatic response. Practice identifying why you are upset about a situation. For example, it’s unlikely that you’re mad at a friend because she’s breaking out, and more likely that you’re upset about a miscommunication or feeling of rejection. Practice thinking it, and eventually, verbalizing it.
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OBJECTI
FICATION
OBJECTIFICATION
Objectification is the act of treating a person as a mere object of sexual desire. It more broadly means treating a person as a commodity or an object without regard to their personality. Female sexual objectification by a male involves a woman being viewed primarily as an object of male sexual desire, rather than as a whole person. It is also a notion central to feminist theory. It can be roughly defined as the seeing and/or treating a person, usually a woman, as an object. In this entry, the focus is primarily on sexual objectification. Objectification is most commonly examined at the level of a society, but can also refer to the behavior of individuals Objectification in the media can range from subtle forms, such as the lack of main female characters, to very explicit forms such as highly sexual dialogue and provocatively dressed female characters.
INTERVIEW
A Q &
Ques 1. What is objectification? What does it mean to be sexually objectified? Ans. Sexual objectification is generally thought of as looking at and viewing people’s bodies as objects for consumption so, parts of people to be viewed, to be judged, to be consumed, to be used, to be discarded. Not seeing people in their full humanity. We aren’t valuing how they feel, what they do, what they say, what they contribute to the world. We’re simply valuing bodies for what they can do for other people, particularly men how men can consume those bodies, how men value those bodies. Ques 2. What’s the difference between being objectified and not being objectified, in terms of imagery? Ans. For me, from my perspective, objectification really happens through the viewer. It’s the “look” of the viewer. This also happens through the “look” of the camera. So when we talk about the male gaze, it’s really valuable because so much of what we see in media especially in mass media and the social media that reflects that mass media we see cameras tilting up and down women’s bodies, zooming in on parts of their bodies. The dialogue from other characters the text about those women revolves around what their bodies look like, what other people think about what those women look like and how those women are valued. Ques 3. How can I objectify myself? Or, If I’m choosing to objectify myself, it can’t be oppressive? Ans. Because representations of women’s bodies are so fraught and because women, throughout their lives, learn to hate their bodies, to self-objectify, and to obsess over their bodies in a pretty superficial way, there’s a lot of energy put into teaching women and girls to feel good about their bodies… Sometimes this is called “body positivity. Ques 4. What does this change in terms of that idea that women are things to look at and things that men should want to have sex with things that are beautiful, things that are desirable, etc.? Ans. Yeah, definitely. There’s no way to talk about objectification or really anything related to feminism without getting huge backlash, and you know that better than anyone. That’s something that I’ve really struggled with because it is very exhausting and it makes me not want to post anything else online for the rest of my life. And I did have to go on a little media fast after this last little bout of extreme backlash. But it’s really important and it’s the thing that keeps me up at night, thinking about it. Because I know how important it is for women to be really critical of what feels like empowerment. Ques 5. So, we know what empowerment isn’t… Objectified, sexualized imagery of women’s bodies doesn’t equate to empowerment. But what does? What does empowerment mean? What does it look like? Ans. I think it’s probably a little different for every person. I’ve never heard a really amazing definition of it and so I think it becomes this really abstract. So empowerment for me, personally, was learning to see more in myself than my body, than my appearance, regardless of what it looked like. I didn’t feel more empowered when I was my very thinnest, or when I was considered most beautiful by other people. I felt most empowered when I achieved things. And I know that comes with privilege being able to go to college and get a Master’s and a PhD that certainly comes with privilege. But it contributed to me feeling like a capable person.
About the IntervieweePraatika Mehra 25 Working under the department of Executive Sourcing & Brand Management at Nykaa
Ques. Okay so firstly, how would you define objectification in your words? Ans. The first thing that comes to my mind is the male gaze, the idea that women are properties to be owned. Second thing that comes is, how this word, can devalue me and other women in terms of our worth. The minute someone objectifies us, I feel our essence chips away, like we are not humans. Ques. How do you feel about being objectified? Do you think it affects your life as a female? Ans. When I sense that I’m being objectified, I point it out. I verbally make it clear that I’m acknowledging the move and not in the favour of it. 9/10 times, people back off, some times they apologise and some times they say that are joking around. Either way, I don’t leave the chance to fight it. I give my piece of mind and make it clear that it is not tolerable, and shouldn’t happen in the first place. It doesn’t stop me from living my life, fighting against it makes me feel even more empowered. Ques. What are your views on self objectification? Ans. I’m a partial victim and survivor. There are times when I look at myself, and think that I can be fitter, lose a little more weight. But then, luckily I bounce back from it soon and get back to loving myself again. It sounds very corny, but it is essential to do so. Can’t beat myself up for not looking a certain, or having the perfect skin. What matters is to be mentally, spiritually and physically healthy at the end of the day. Ques. Some say that self objectification can also be empowering, what would you say about that? Ans. If the thought process is not pull yourself down but to motivate, then absolutely. Three months ago, I decided to get fit. I couldn’t jog for 5 minutes straight before. But now, because I became mindful of my body, I made myself disciplined about the process. What may have started as a mere act of objectification, became a positive lifestyle. I feel stronger, healthier and more in control. So in the end, if one takes it in a positive stride, it can be powerful. However, the word “objectification” comes across as a negative term more than often. So maybe, awareness around self objectification should be supported with ideas of being mindful and positive. Ques. Why do you think women engage in self objectification despite its downsides? Ans. Conditioning. One is not born, being aware of self objectification. Like all basic and initial knowledge, one learns of self objectification from our family first. Sometimes our grandmothers comment how our skin colour can be improved with a turmeric Besan home remedy or an aunt will taunt us for not wanting another parantha cause we are chubby already. The breaking point is our mothers. She can empower us, or really show us the spite of self objectification. Then later comes our peers, the media that keeps bombarding us with a linear definition of beauty and perfection. Ques. How do you know when someone is being sexually liberated or sexually objectified, since they can sometimes look similar from the outside? Ans. It all boils to consent. Sexually liberated is when you consent yourself to go beyond the societal expectations or conformity. Sexual objectified is again consent, which people don’t often understand. INTERVIEWER- RASHI DAWAR TAVANPREET DHANJAL
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OBJECT You often hear the term "objectification" to describe media depictions of wom-
en, but it also comes from a less expected source: women themselves. Over the course of their lives, there are many subtle ways women are taught to view themselves as objects. This internalized objectification can lead to low self-respect, body image issues, and lack of awareness of one's own autonomy. While it may seem like objectification is something entirely separate from, say, wage inequality, it's really at the heart of a lot of feminist issues. If you look at misogyny in all its myriad forms, it usually comes back to the idea that women are objects, not subjects. By "object," I mean something that exists to fulfil someone else's desires, and by "subject," I mean somebody who has their own desires. Someone can be both an object and a subject — for example, you can be an object of your partner's affections, and they can be an object of yours, while both of you also remain your own subjects — but "objectification" specifically means reducing someone to complete objecthood. Women are told they must look like this woman. They should aim to have those long legs, that perfect skin, beautiful hair, and incredible body. Here's the problem that woman does not exist, anywhere. She is the product of hours of in the makeup chair and days of photo retouching. Every woman has imperfections in her skin because every woman is human. The women in ads are not human. They are a creation of an industry obsessed with perfection, and selling products to women that they claim will help them achieve the impossible goal they have set. And yet, this kind of advertising is pervasive because it appears to still work.
SHALLOW SIDE Sexual objectification is the act of treating a person as an object of sexual desire. Objectification is most commonly examined at the level of a society, but can also refer to the behaviour of individuals. The concept of sexual objectification and, in particular, the objectification of women, is an important idea in feminist theory. Sexual objectification plays an important role in gender inequality however, some social commentators argue that some modern women objectify themselves as an expression of their empowerment. Objectification of women taking place in the sexually oriented depictions of women in advertising and media, women being portrayed as weak or submissive through pornography, images in more mainstream media such as advertising and art, stripping and prostitution, men brazenly evaluating or judging women sexually or aesthetically in public spaces and events, such as beauty contests, and the presumed need for cosmetic surgery, particularly breast enlargements.
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IN A WORLD FULL OF DIRT It has been pointed out by some feminist thinkers that women in our society are more identified and associated with their bodies than are men, and, to a greater extent than men, they are valued for how they look (Bordo 1993, 143; Bartky 1990). In order to gain social acceptability, women are under constant pressure to correct their bodies and appearance more generally, and make them conform to the ideals of feminine appearance of their time, the so-called ‘norms of feminine appearance’ (the standards of appearance women feel they should be living up to) (Saul 2003, 144). Some feminists have argued that, in being preoccupied with their looks, women treat themselves as things to be decorated and gazed upon. In her book Femininity and Domination, Sandra Bartky uses Marx’s theory of alienation to explain the objectification that results from women’s preoccupation with their appearance. A feature of Marx’s theory of alienation is the fragmentation of the human person, this “splintering of human nature into a number of misbegotten parts”. For Marx, labour is the most distinctively human activity, and the product of labour is the exteriorisation of the worker’s being. Under capitalism, however, workers are alienated from the products of their labour, and consequently their person is fragmented (Bartky 1990, 128–9). Bartky believes that women in patriarchal societies also undergo a kind of fragmentation “by being too closely identified with [their body]… [their] entire being is identified with the body, a thing which… has been regarded as less inherently human than the mind or personality” (Bartky 1990, 130). All the focus is placed on a woman’s body, in a way that her mind or personality are not adequately acknowledged. A woman’s person, then, is fragmented. Bartky believes that through this fragmentation a woman is objectified, since her body is separated from her person and is thought as representing the woman (Bartky 1990, 130). being (Bartky 1990, 131–2).
Bartky explains that, typically, objectification involves two persons, one who objectifies and one who is objectified. (This is also the idea of objectification put forward by Kant as well as by MacKinnon and Dworkin.) However, as Bartky points out, objectifier and objectified can be one and the same person. Women in patriarchal societies feel constantly watched by men, much like the prisoners of the Panopticon (model prison proposed by Bentham), and they feel the need to look sensually pleasing to men (Bartky 1990, 65). According to Bartky: “In the regime of institutionalised heterosexuality woman must make herself ‘object and prey’ for the man. … Woman lives her body as seen by another, by an anonymous patriarchal Other” (Bartky 1990, 73). This leads women to objectify their own persons. Bartky argues that the woman “[takes] toward her own person the attitude of the man. She will then take erotic satisfaction in her physical self, revelling in her body as a beautiful object to be gazed at and decorated”. Such an attitude is called ‘narcissism’, which is defined by Bartky as the infatuation with one’s bodily being (Bartky 1990, 131–2).
In being infatuated with their bodily beings, Bartky argues that women learn to see and treat themselves as objects to be gazed at and decorated, they learn to see themselves as though from the outside. Narcissism, as Simone de Beauvoir also points out, “consists in the setting up of the ego as a double ‘stranger’” (Beauvoir 1961, 375). The adolescent girl “becomes an object and she sees herself as an object; she discovers this new aspect of her being with surprise: it seems to her that she has been doubled; instead of coinciding exactly with herself, she now begins to exist outside” (Beauvoir 1961, 316) (See the entry on Simone de Beauvoir.) However, this ‘stranger’ who inhabits women’s consciousness, Bartky writes, is hardly a stranger; it is, rather, the woman’s own self (Bartky 1993, 134).
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Objectification involves lowering a person and viewing or treating them as an object therefore depriving them of their identity and their ability to think and feel. Objectification is often targeted at women, we cut them into parts in order to treat them, not as whole human beings but as objects of male sexual desire. Women are more recognised and related with their bodies than are men, they are assessed for how they look. Females are hence constrained to interiorise others’ opinions of their bodies as their view of themselves, putting them under constant pressure to change their appearance to gain social acceptability. Moreover, they are constantly exposed to media that tells them how they are supposed to look, giving them false ideals that are impossible to achieve in real life. Objectification and exposure to such media then leads women to objectify their own bodies from others’ point of view and create an unrealistic ideal physical appearance for themselves, having observed media and those around them. Self objectification makes women narcissistic and they learn to see and treat themselves as objects to be gazed at and decorated. Being seen and treated as an object can also have a serious impact on a person’s psyche often leading to anxiety, body shaming and eating disorders among women.
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RACISM Definition of racism 1 : a belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race 2 a : a doctrine or political program based on the assumption of racism and designed to execute its principles b : a political or social system founded on racism 3 : racial prejudice or discrimination
Racism appears to be a word of recent origin, with no citations currently known that would suggest the word was in use prior to the early 20th century. But the fact that the word is fairly new does not prove that the concept of racism did not exist in the distant past. Things may have words to describe them before they exist (spaceship, for instance, has been in use since the 19th century, well before the rocket-fired vessels were invented), and things may exist for a considerable time before they are given names belief that certain races of people are by birth and nature superior to others
INTERVIEW
A Q &
1 What’s your name? Reema Saria My name is Arushi Parmar Saloni Poddar 2 How old are you? .42 years old. . I'm 20 years old. I am 41years old.
3 How does media’s portrayal of beauty makes you feel about yourself? .Media portrays beauty in many ways..documenting the world beauty pageant where beauty and brain come together, sometimes a short biopic on Mother Teresa whose beauty is beyond comprehension...a sports personality like Sauna Nehwal......so to me beauty is everywhere it just depends on us what we are looking for. So I always find myself beautiful. Self esteem and self judgment are requisites of independence and I feel that the media's portrayal of beauty creates a cloud of inferiority and to reach such high expectations of “beauty” makes it almost unachievable. Everyone has a different size, shape and color but the demanding media pulls down the confidence. According to the media, you have look half-starved and bony to look beautiful but I detest this notion. I am a full figured woman and I am happy with the way I look .Zero figure is bullshit as per my perspective. 4 If you could, would you swap places with/ be as “beautiful” as a model/actress? Certainly a big No If given a chance, I would definitely want a model’s body, because who doesn’t want to be tall, hot and sexy? No, I don’t want to be anyone else’s place. I’m happy and content with where and how I am. 5 Do models in magazines make you feel beautiful? Yes definitely I find I don't need tons of makeup and surgeries and diet to look like them. Thank God. When I look at the models in the magazines, I compare them with myself and realize how imperfect I am. So yeah, they don’t really make me feel beautiful at all. I really haven’t thought of it that way. Those models obviously look good and are sometimes even impressive but they don’t really affect my happiness or my definition of being beautiful.
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6 Do you feel pressured to achieve the standards of beauty the media portrays? Why is media always to blame? Media has never defined what is beautiful. Beauty lies in the Eye of the beholder so beauty is in strength, compassion and smile. And media portals all such things, it's only on us what we find beautiful. It is a lot of pressure and I won't deny that. Even though I know that the models have layers and layers of makeup and a LOT of Photoshop to create an ideal body but that is what beauty means to me as I’ve always been told so, directly or indirectly. .Not at all. In fact, it’s the contrary .Come to think of it, it’s rather funny that people want to look pale and haggard to look beautiful. I’d rather be a celebrity like Oprah Winfrey any day who is not beautiful in the conventional sense but has demanded an identity of her own and even achieved it.
7 What concerns, if any, do you get when you think of young girls being exposed to the media’s standards of beauty? I believe today’s generation is educated and they really know beauty is much more than skin color/ weight. So if there is any pressure it's only their own it's not forced on them by media The only thing that concerns me is that, that girls at a very young age try to achieve the “right size”. And in order to achieve that they stop eating and it causes psychological disorders like bulimia nervosa, and anorexia nervosa which is a very serious issue. My most serious concern is health; both mental and physical. These girls are losing themselves in the race to become picture perfect.
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Beauty standards in India ‘An “ideal beauty” is an entity which is admired, or possesses features widely attributed to beauty in a particular culture, for perfection.’ Being an “ideal beauty” is so important in India. You have to be an “ideal beauty” if you want to get married to a good boy. You have to have fair skin and a 36 inches waist. You have to have long black hair and you must know how to cook. Acne is a big ‘no-no’ and you must dress “appropriately”. Young girl these days are encouraged to dress up pretty and worry about their size. Fat shaming or body shaming in general is an every-day occurrence. Not only does body shaming create low self-esteem, poor eating habits, and correct body care, but there seems to be no change in amount that it happens. Every body is a different body with many different cares and need. Placing a stereotype on what a “perfect body” should look like is an unrealistic goal that hurts everyone in the long run. There is a high cost for women who pursue these unrealistic beauty standards, including physical, financial and psychological pain. The highest cost to pay to achieve these standards is psychological. One of the biggest impacts of unrealistic beauty standards for women is the belief many women have that what they see portrayed in the media is achievable. The media is an influential source of socio-cultural values, which are easily learned. From a young age, we are assaulted by unattainable “‘body perfect’ ideals in the mass media that become a source of body dissatisfaction. For many women, the “body perfect” images we see are of models that are extremely thin and underweight. The value that women and girls then consume is that what is normal in reality is not good enough; they must be normal by media standards, and that “normal” means being both unattainably beautiful and thin. Advertisements make it look easy for women and girls to become as thin as the magazine models we idolize “Even more destructively, they get the message that this is possible, that with enough effort and self-sacrifice, they can achieve ideal,” because we live in a “culture that encourages us to believe we can and should remake our bodies into perfect commodities.The media bombards us with images of unrealistic beauty, and as a society, most women and even girls are aware of the digital manipulation that goes on. What we don’t realize is how much these images are altered. I’m sure you have bought a fairness cream atleast once in your life or have drooled over “digestive diet biscuits”. a profit-driven idea of normal and beautiful that women will spend their lives trying to achieve” even though we are aware of how unrealistic these expectations are.
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#DarkDon’tHurt She sat in front of the mirror in her button-down shirt, the table in front of her Covered with hairpins, flower rings, jewelry, a pair of scissors And bottles and bottles of peach-colored make-up. She closed her eyes as her face Changed shades, getting lighter and lighter with every base. Her eyes stung as they were painted darker to stand out against the fairness, and a tear ran down Her cheek. ‘Don’t worry’, the make-up artist sighed, applying yet another round Of foundation. The girl had everything she needed for her performance – Her costume, her choreography, her concentration, her confidence. That’s all she needed, didn’t she? She slid her bangles onto her wrist, three On each arm, and tightened the gold belt on her hip. She was getting late; She packed her bag and was about to leave when, a loud, ‘Wait!’ The make-up artist walked towards her with a peach-coloured sponge and Covered her arms with the colour; from her shoulders down to the tips of her hands. He looked at the girl and smiled. “Now, you’re ready.” As the girl walked out, she contemplated How much the world had changed from when her dance form was first created. It didn’t matter that she was to depict Lord Shiva in her performance that day; Shiva, whose skin was dark as night. It didn’t matter that she was going to portray Goddess Kali — again darkskinned, fierce and powerful. No – In the final performance, regardless of the perspective a dancer wishes to show, Regardless of the statement she tries to make, regardless of the story in her art, She is made fairer; ‘prettier’, such that it is impossible to tell her apart From the others. It didn’t matter that she wanted to use her dance to empower, To change the narrative, to tell stories from the nooks of reality; to flower. With all the modernity around her, she was still a dark girl who took hours To become lighter; to ‘look’ like a classical dancer. She wished she had the power To bring a little change — to bring the contemporary Into a traditional dance form, and a seemingly traditional society. - an article by Anoushka Agrawal for the magazine ‘Kajal’.
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