I believe its necessary for me to begin with the definition of gender and sex before I give an insight into the whole two and a half hour session we had with Mrs Preeti Das. So in essence sex refers to the biological differences; chromosomes , hormonal profiles, internal and external sex organs and gender describes the characteristics that a society or culture delineates as masculine or feminine.
If you are a woman (or a man) your identity is immediately drawn up on the basis of a few things. There has been a ridiculous pattern in this patriarchal society where waiters bring bills to the man accompanying the woman. And no, they WILL not acknowledge your presence , simply because you are a woman, you know?
Thinking on a philosophical wavelength I have come to realize and thus question a few things that made me churn up this thought. Why do we have swear words that attack our mothers or sisters? Is a woman wearing high heels or a skirt obliged to hear that she is some “Maal” or “Item” ; merely equating her to a commodity? I say NO!
Ever notice the crucial message today’s advertisements and movies provide? (Pun intended). One ad of diapers shows a woman caretaking the baby and another showing the father planning for the child’s education and future. Isn't it plausible enough to agree that these little stereotypes do have a role in shaping our frame of mind?
Top actresses bringing out hideous versions of Sita today, center piece in Shiela ki Jawaani or Munni , with hungry men drooling around them. Believe me ladies, you cannot become Katrina Kaif in this life at least. It will only make you despair of something you cannot attain so forget about them Barbie dolls with chiseled bodies that your parents gave you in childhood.
Also I urge you to please notice the fact that women protagonists are merely given any screen space unless they remove their clothes. For instance taking the example of Kareena Kapoor’s parallel roles in movies like Chameli and Talaash. The only difference is that in Talassh it has been portrayed from the lens of a female director that actually makes the audience admire her screen presence in a less obscene way.
Let us all acknowledge the fact that women CAN have it all ,that a menstruating woman isn’t disgusting and that the ultimate goal of a woman after marriage is not to produce babies. Also that its not necessary to brush your teeth every morning. Jokes apart . Lets take pride in being a woman because you have a body that belongs to no lover, no father, belongs to no one but you.
About the author: Heenakshi is a first year student of English Literature. A fresh fellow at Sauhard this year, looking forward to gain new experiences and making new bonds.
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