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Blaming women for dressing 'provocatively' while the real perpetrators get away - this fashion brand is changing the narrative with #NotWhatIWear.
Blaming women for dressing ‘provocatively’ while the real perpetrators get away – this fashion brand is changing the narrative with #NotWhatIWear.
“What was she wearing?” This is often, sadly, the first question asked when a woman is sexually assaulted. The idea that clothing could have weight in a conversation about sexual assault is ridiculous – and yet so familiar. And then follow statements like “She was asking for it.” Correlating women’s clothing with rape has been around since time immemorial. It is the easy scapegoat. So much so that even women start finding fault with the woman who was assaulted.
Fashion brand Ajio, which curates products, presented its collection at the recently held Lakme Fashion Week. Before the event the fashion brand released a powerful video #NotWhatIWear – that strikes at the core of the issue – it shows independent women going about their daily lives, yet thinking twice about the clothes they will/should wear before stepping outside.
The idea that clothing has anything to do with assault is global and persistent. If a man can be tempted into inappropriate behaviour because of the skin just above a woman’s knee, then the problem isn’t the woman’s knee – the problem lies with the man. It is about time society stops blaming sexual assault victims and telling women to change their attire and behaviour so as to not get raped. The real problem here is not women, but the people who commit the crime.
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Doctor, Blogger mompreneur .I enjoy writing about health wellness ,parenting and my adventures as I explore financial freedom. I love travelling ,reading and balcony gardening.If I am not over at http://healthwealthbridge.com ,then read more...
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If her home and family seem to be impacted by her career then we expect her to prioritize her ‘responsibilities at home as a woman’ and leave her job.
The entrenched patriarchal norms have always perpetuated certain roles and responsibilities as falling specifically in the domain of either men or women. Traditionally, women have been associated with the domestic sphere while men have been considered the bread winner of the household. This division of roles has become so ingrained in our lives that we seldom come to question it. However, while not being questioned does give the system a certain level of legitimacy, it in no way proves its veracity.
This systematic division has resulted in a widely accepted notion whereby the public sphere is demarcated as a men’s zone and the private sphere as belonging to women. Consequently, women are expected to stay at home and manage the household chores while men are supposed to go out and make a living with no interest whatsoever in the running of the household.
This divide is said to be grounded in the intrinsic nature of men and women. Women are believed to be compassionate, affectionate and loving and these supposedly ‘feminine’ qualities make them the right fit for caring roles. Men, on the other hand are allegedly more sturdy, strong and bold and hence, the ones to deal with the ordeals of the outside world.
Investing in women means many things beyond the obvious meaning of this IWD2024 theme, as the many orgs doing stellar work can show us.
What does it mean to invest in women?
Telling the women in our lives how great we think they are? That we value the sacrifices they have made? (Usually though not necessarily only – a sacrifice of their aspirations, careers and earning potential in order to focus on family).
No, thank you. Just talk is no longer going to cut it. Roses and compliments are great, but it’s time people, leaders, organizations put their money, capital, resources on track instead.
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