International Women’s Day was celebrated across the globe with pomp and the much needed marketing. You probably are thinking this might be another post dedicated to justify the need to celebrate the worth of women for a day, if at all we do it honestly.
What if we don’t take part in this tomfoolery and really, talk openly about the ground reality. Thanks to this amazing twitter feed, which got us thinking about the gimmicky attached with the #IWD. Shilpa Bhatnagar's twitter account describes her as a ‘Disillusioned Urbanist, Rusting Writer, Prolific Photographer, Inveterate Traveller, Passionate Design Junkie, Willing Cat Slave.’ So you get an idea that she is not going to mince her words. Just so you get an idea of her no-nonsense lingo, take a look at some of her tweets:-
IWD? More like WID - World Irony Day.
— Shilpa Bhatnagar (@flaneurbanite) March 8, 2017
The irony that we need an International Women's Day at all.
— Shilpa Bhatnagar (@flaneurbanite) March 8, 2017
The irony that people of influence the world over still spew sexist filth everyday - and get away with it.
— Shilpa Bhatnagar (@flaneurbanite) March 8, 2017
The irony that no one questions working men about how they juggle it all - because they still aren't expected to. And don't.
— Shilpa Bhatnagar (@flaneurbanite) March 8, 2017
The irony that women are still judged on the basis of whether they choose to have babies or not.
— Shilpa Bhatnagar (@flaneurbanite) March 8, 2017
The irony that outspoken women are still branded as spoilt bitches.
— Shilpa Bhatnagar (@flaneurbanite) March 8, 2017
The irony of women having to muffle their voices for fear of being viciously attacked - online and offline.
— Shilpa Bhatnagar (@flaneurbanite) March 8, 2017
The irony of workplaces handing out flowers to the women instead of equal pay.
— Shilpa Bhatnagar (@flaneurbanite) March 8, 2017
You know the saddest part, she is right. We applaud initiatives taken to uplift women’s status, when the fact is, it is bloody 2017. We are still in the ‘uplifting’ stage. Some recent cases to make you understand the pointlessness of our efforts.
A Stanford swimmer, ‘promising athlete’ with a bright future, sexually assaulted a woman in inebriated state. After being found guilty on the rape charges, the judge sentenced him a lenient punishment of 6 months in jail. A longer sentence would apparently have had a severe impact on him, according to this judge. The Stanford rape survivor was not only shamed by the assailant, Brock Allen Turner’s father, calling his beloved son’s 20 minute action worthy of overlooking it for his hard work and perseverance.
Movie mafia, flag-bearer of nepotism (Kangana’s words) Karan Johar slamming Kangana Ranaut for calling out on his bullshit. He thinks that she quite often plays her victim and woman card. In fact he went ahead and asked her to leave the industry if she thinks it’s all that bad. Woah! Now that’s what I’d like to call trash talk. Simple mathematics. You say something we don’t want to hear, get the hell outta here. No ifs, buts or maybes.
The shocker that we got when our most loved feminist role model, Emma Watson posed nude, exposing her brea…..shhh, don’t say that word. It might wrackle up feelings in otherwise, sombre and innocent men.
The shocker for many was, “Oh, she claims to be a feminist but poses topless for a photoshoot and that too with her pair of breasts. #HypocriteAlert
These are just a couple of examples from the rampant misuse of the terms like feminism, misconception around the word and movement. And, just how ill informed people still are, both men and women, when it comes to let the woman be’ I suppose it is unfathomable for their tiny mind to grasp the concept of freedom of choice when spoken under one single breath with the word ‘woman.’
It really is ironical. Take the case of Brock Turner, the so-called bright athlete who attempted rape on a 22 year old, intoxicated and unconscious girl, behind a dumpster. The details which emerged later were sickening. Consent was not even in consideration owing to the fact that the victim was in an inebriated state. So, a girl who is vulnerable and not in a position to differentiate a right from wrong, is definitely asking for it.
Stanford victim's powerful letter will churn your insides and make you sit back and take stock of the situation. It says all, the skewed idea of consent we have, why it is important to stand up against sexual offenders and why it is absolutely important to not take shit from anyone even if that person happens to be the most talented bugger in the world. No one and nothing justifies sexual assault.
Another incident, which amped up conversation around the Kangna -Karan fiasco. Karan Johar’s juvenile reaction to Kangana’s caustic comments on his chat show, Koffee With Karan. Yes she called him, a movie mafia, flag-bearer of nepotism and what not. Was it too much. No, not at all. It had to happen and what’s wrong in calling a spade a spade. Anybody who watched the interview without any bias or preconceived notions, could make out that it was not out of vengeance Kangana said those things. It was simply honest and a no-holds barred interview from her side.
It seems Karan couldn’t handle the truth about himself and the industry he’s part of. Newsflash: It took an actress of Vidya Balan’s calibre to land a Parineeta after 10 years of struggle and rejections. But, ladies and gentlemen, Alia Bhatt got an opportunity to prove her acting prowess in her second movie Highway, at the tender age of 21. Both are actresses par excellence. But, opportunities are the trickiest cog in the wheel of fortune here. Opportunities make a world of difference, and star kids have their opportunities served on a platter for them. But just like any other hyper-equalist who just can’t wrap his brain around the obvious prejudices and biases, Karan asked Kangana to leave the industry if she thought it was such a bad place to begin with.
And to think this is the same man who got bullied for casting Pakistani actor, Fawad Khan, in his movies. Karan you just joined the side which had bullied you a few months back for asserting your choice. Quite true, what a fucking irony!
Emma Watson, the beautiful Hermione Granger from the Potter series or the enchanting Bella, she gives us plenty reasons to admire her. Her latest Vanity Fair shoot where she went topless, faced backlash, for being anti-feminist in spirit. What?! Does that even make any sense at all? So a checklist for feminist must look somewhat like this:
Hates Men
Loathes Men
Cries Victim
Makes up stuff like Patriarchy and Misogyny
Is crazy
Can’t lead a “normal” life (You know the drill, marriage, kids and kitchen)
Lastly, has no BREASTS
A kind lady named Maya Angelou had said; “A wise woman wishes to be no one’s enemy; A wise woman refuses to be anyone’s victim.” Hopefully Karan realises, Kangana wasn’t playing the victim card, but it is him now who is flashing it all over to save face.
We don't need to play any sort of card. Our gender is not our negative point. Being a woman does not effectively translate into being a victim. And stating facts doesn't imply that I am cribbing and whining. In all fairness, you have the full right to go ahead and express your opinion. But I am going to contest your each and every absurd claim and call you out on your privilige and bullshit.