Check out 16 Return-To-Work Programs In India For Ambitious Women Like You!
BJP and AAP government have the same outlook towards women. In other cases, they might just be pole apart. These ads show how regressive they are.
While in some cases they may be poles apart, the BJP and AAP governments seem to have the same outlook towards women. These ads show how regressive they are.
The Give It Up campaign by BJP encourages citizens to give up their LPG gas subsidies so that the money can be directed towards development and so they can contribute to nation-building. While the economics of general versus targeted subsidies and who it benefits is a whole other discussion, this campaign-related ad is interesting from a gender perspective.
The woman is only shown in her role as a housewife, dutifully bringing her husband food that reminds him of his childhood and his mother’s food. She comes back from the kitchen, only to find that he is giving up the LPG subsidy. Note the irony here: if the woman is cooking, then she is the one mainly using the LPG cylinder and thus most affected by it. But what we see is a man who makes a household decision all by himself. What would have been far more inspiring would have been to see an ad without mansplaining and with a woman deciding to give up the LPG subsidy because she is empowered and sees a case for it.
But the BJP is hardly alone in reminding women about their place at home and in society. This ad by AAP talks about the reduction in corruption under their governance.
Throughout most of the ad, we are shown a housewife worrying about household budgets and electricity bills. She is shown in the kitchen, peeling vegetables, cooking all the while silently outraging about the politics while her husband sits and watches the news. The ad culminates with her serving her husband food and exhorting us to neither give bribes nor accept them. Again, this ad represents a lack of understanding of contemporary Indian women (especially given AAP’s target demographic being women in Delhi) and continues to view them in a relational capacity as wives and mothers.
Neither of these ads do justice to the diverse roles women hold in the Indian society. These include being wives and mothers but are hardly limited to that. Women work, run households, are equal partners in marriages and relationships, sometimes cook and at other times don’t. One can only hope that the irony of being united in their view of women in society while being polarized on other fronts is not lost on these parties.
Ballot box image via Shutterstock
I think of myself as a feminist development practitioner with a strong interest in issues related to gender and education. I enjoy writing about my interests, a happy step forward from the angst laden poetry read more...
Women's Web is an open platform that publishes a diversity of views, individual posts do not necessarily represent the platform's views and opinions at all times.
Stay updated with our Weekly Newsletter or Daily Summary - or both!
People say that women are the greatest enemies of women. I vehemently disagree. It is the patriarchal mindset that makes women believe in the wrong ideology.
The entire world celebrates International Women’s Day on March 8, 2024. It should be a joyful day, but unfortunately, not all women are entitled to this privilege, as violence against women is at its peak. The experience of oppression pushes many women to choose freedom. As far as patriotism is concerned, feminism is not a cup of tea in this society.
What happens when a woman decides to stand up for herself? Does this world easily accept the decisions of women in this society? What inspires them to be free of the clutches of the oppression that women have faced for ages? Most of the time, women do not get the chance to decide for themselves. Their lives are always at the mercy of someone, which can be their parents, siblings, husband, or children.
In some cases, women do not feel the need to make any decisions. They are taught to obey the patriarchal system, which makes them believe that they are right. In my family, I was never taught to make decisions on my own. It was always my parents who bought dresses and all that I needed.
14 years after her last feature film Dhobi Ghat, storyteller extraordinaire comes up with her new film, Laapataa Ladies, a must watch.
*Some spoilers alert*
Every religion around the world dictates terms to women. The onus is always on women to be ‘modest’ and cover their faces and bodies so men can’t be “tempted”, rather than on men to keep their eyes where they belong and behave like civilized beings. So much so that even rape has been excused on the grounds of women eating chowmein or ‘men will be men’. I think the best Hindi movie retort to this unwanted advice on ‘akeli ladki khuli tijori ki tarah hoti hai’ (an alone woman is like an open jewellery box) came from Geet in Jab We Met – Kya aap gyan dene ke paise lete hain kyonki chillar nahin hain mere paas.
The premise of Laapataa Ladies is beautifully simple – two brides clad in the ghunghat that covers their identity get mixed up on a train. Within this Russian Doll, you get a comedy of errors, a story of getting lost, a commentary on patriarchy’s attitude towards women, a mystery, and a tale of finding oneself, all in one. Done with a mostly light touch that has you laughing and nodding along.
Please enter your email address