Check out 16 Return-To-Work Programs In India For Ambitious Women Like You!
The whole world appreciated the Miss Peru Pageant 2017 participants sharing gender violence statistics. But is it all subversive or just skin-deep?
The whole world appreciated the Miss Peru Pageant 2017 participants sharing gender violence statistics instead of their measurements. But is it all subversive or just skin-deep?
Recently, the Miss Peru 2017 pageant contestants made headlines when they shared statistics about gender violence in the country (a dismal state of affairs) rather than their vital statistics, as is usually done.
The gesture, obviously, helped highlight the problem of women facing so much violence in the world through a platform which has a very wide reach. To draw attention to something that has been normalised to such an extreme extent is a tough job, and only something startling can work. Which is kind of funny because the numbers are startling in themselves, but it only takes something like this for people to pay any attention to them.
However, I come to another important question here: does triggering a wave on social media with infinite articles being written about it make a difference? It might. And that is all the hope we have.
BUT, here comes a less attractive side of this supposed act of subversion. The platform is a beauty pageant, a place where women are chosen for their appearance and physical features only. How inclusive can such a platform be then? I am not condemning their existence but it is something that should be pondered upon.
Writer Regina Limo’s words echo this in an article by npr.org,
“I have truly mixed feelings about this,” says Regina Limo, a feminist columnist at the popular site utero.pe. She thought it was a positive step to offer up the statistics on national TV but was conflicted over the pageant, which she says is usually a “superficial” event that reinforces unrealistic social expectations that burden women.
Speaking of the many women who die in gender-based violence, Limo adds, “They are saying ‘Hey, there are thousands of dead women’ but these women didn’t die by themselves.” She believes that the conversation must focus on who killed them and why they died, not just on statistics.”
Apart from what she says, it is also worth thinking of, that such pageants only include women of a specific body type, which doesn’t really spell out women empowerment in its premise. I repeat, I am not condemning their actions but some analysis has to be made behind what the intentions are – because sometimes, women empowerment is only a mask that commercial modes of entertainment use to grab attention to them.
Watch this video below, and let us know what you think about this issue, below!
Image is a screen grab from this video
New Delhi, India I like to read, write, and talk. A feminist through and through, with a soft spot for chocolate. 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.
It is shameful that in today's world too, women are abused and even killed for giving birth to a girl, and the infant's life is also of no value.
Trigger Warning: This deals with domestic violence, suicide, and violence against women, and may be triggering to survivors.
I am so glad that the esteemed courts are now giving the much-required verdicts regarding certain ideologies that were not at all entertained earlier. I mean we all have studied this much biology at our school level and it is our duty (our generation) to educate our elders about it.
Why someone have to lose a life to bring such awareness to the society. Delhi High Court gave this judgement concerning a case that filed by the deceased daughter’s parents against her in-laws. She committed suicide as she was harassed and tortured for dowry and giving birth to two daughters.
Please enter your email address