Each Breath Labelled:

Stereotyping women as India’s highly invested venture

A TALK ABOUT INDIVIDUAL CHOICES

BY ALINA AHMED

How your choice of wardrobe acts as a measure of your character

Photograph by Aayush Jindal

Media plays a significant role in the portrayal of society. In this context, stereotyping of certain sections and traits and prove to be dismantling for generations that look up to these icons on the screen. One such stereotyping that has become the rule of the thumb is the wardrobe choices that female antagonists seem to have. Alina Ahmed writes a relatable piece that talks about individual choices, especially in females.

In frame: Sheikh Almaas Islaam

In this country, the phrase, ‘where the mind is without fear’ is only practiced by writers who write Indian television soaps or the patriarchal society that judges every woman through the lens of societal standards. They act unafraid and pass unlevelled judgments on how a woman should dress, look, live, and even breathe! Character certificates unasked-for are easily handed down to women who wear what they like, making their life open to stereotyping. Here, character assassination is carried out in a well-organized and competent way by tools of patriarchy such as calling out names, connecting academic and social aptitudes to the way a woman decides to dress, and yes, the most used one, ‘they are asking for it.’

Moral policing at school.

This stereotyping of women based on their choice of clothing starts from the place that should have been a haven but has ultimately turned out to be a place, which an average teenager would kill to avoid. Yes, you guessed it right! School. This moral policing is based on quite a few rules, and let me introduce them to you. The first being no tight uniforms, or the person has mistaken the school premises for a fashion show. The second being plaited hair, don’t care, but if by chance you couldn’t part your hair into three and braid them girl’ should, you’re instantly a hot pick in the staff room where your character basically depends on your hairstyle. Last but not the least, your male friendships instantly upgrade you from the angelic damsel to someone who is labeled ‘bad company’. Teachers, who should act as moral support and guide to students do not shy away from such remarks that leave a deep impact on tender minds. I do not encourage disrespecting school regulations but moral policing cannot be the only solution. Come on, miss, you have so much potential!

This portrayal and stereotyping have been engraved in all minds through the commonly consumed drug which will make you hallucinate about the ‘Adarsh woman’. She is a mythological character who was born with a brain and a tongue but is expected to never use either of the two. She has no identity of her own and will only walk on the path shown by her father, brother, or husband. Someone who is only to be found in a highly distressed state until and unless rescued by someone who is violent and cusses but these qualities reflect a strong man. I repeat, a strong Man. Not a woman. And if God forbids if she tries to use her tongue in the matters that concern her life, she would be shown wearing bold make-up and dark clothes. You know, women in power have to villainized just because they want to live their lives following their choices. This is how a typical female character with grey shades perceived.

Are clothes enough to categorise?

Inframe: Sheikh Almaas Islam and Sneha Barua

Photographs by Aayush Jindal

From the time a woman takes birth, she has to face society’s moral policing andconditioning for them to accept her as a ‘good woman’. In this view, I would like to bring up how clothes are enough for women to be categorised as good or bad. And I would have taken it too far if I just mention clothes because even the shade of lipstick is enough to label women the most derogatory colloquial reference you can find. The more creative the label is, the more points you get.

TO EACH, HER OWN.

Indian media seemed to have confused the physical appearance of a person as theircharacter and the irony is that this wardrobe stereotyping isn’t about men but onlywomen and the queer community that is stereotyped when it comes to how theircharacter is supposed to look like. The message is clear, anyone who uses too muchmake-up and jewellery is dangerous and should be avoided. Maybe this undertone conveys that the antagonist uses a bold wardrobe and a heavily made-up face, and thelatest addition to it - light eyes, to hide their ugly character. If that is to be held up, then Indian media should spend hours in the dressing room.

Women dressed differently are judged openly by the society

Photograph by Aayush Jindal

One thing that society needs to unlearn is that women in power do not necessarily have a dark character. And neither is having a ‘dark character’ a bad thing. They do not have to be fond of their husband’s money so that they can shop from the same. Women have the right to wear what they want, look the way they want to, and even present themselves as they want. Their fondness of materialistic pleasure should not be seen as a negative trait. Anything that is termed as ambition in men should not be judged as selfishness in women. The cause being deep-rooted patriarchy. Choices might not be identical for individuals with similar pursuits, just like for some, a rhyming quatrain was woke enough to know that we have patriarchy to smash, for others, it takes an 800-word article. Just like wardrobes and styles, to each her own.

Photographed by: AAYUSH JINDAL

In frame Models: Sheikh Almaas Islam & Sneha Barua