Check out 16 Return-To-Work Programs In India For Ambitious Women Like You!
This restaurant, which believed that "saree is not a smart dress" blocked her entry. Smart dress or not, the question is, for how long will women's clothes be targeted?
This restaurant, which believed that “saree is not a smart dress” blocked her entry. Smart dress or not, the question is, for how long will women’s clothes be targeted?
Translated from the original in Hindi.
Women have always been a target for their dress. Sometimes for wearing something ‘too western’, and sometimes ‘too Indian’ which is considered ‘not smart enough’!
When will society understand that they have no business telling women what to wear, and that it is their choice? The restaurant maintains that they have ‘smart casual dress code’, but then who decided that a saree can’t be smart casual?
On September 19, 2021, a Delhi resident Anita reached the Aquila restaurant in Ansal Plaza to celebrate her daughter’s birthday, where she was not allowed to enter because she was wearing a sare. According to her, the restaurant employee stopped her by saying “saree doesn’t come under the ‘smart casual dress code’ and hence you won’t be allowed inside.” On this, Anita asked them to give this to her in writing.
This incident went viral after Anita shared her experience on her YouTube channel and on twitter.
साड़ी पे कहीं आप भी शर्मिंदा तो नहीं ? Do you also think Really #saree is not a smart outfit?https://t.co/18nuzKLQLh#ArnabGoswami #RepublicBharat #DelhiPolice #ArvindKejriwal #PmModi #RahulGandhi #rajnathsingh #AnitaChoudhary pic.twitter.com/aUCeTefxNL — anita choudhary (@anitachoudhary) September 20, 2021Never miss real stories from India's women.Register Now
साड़ी पे कहीं आप भी शर्मिंदा तो नहीं ? Do you also think Really #saree is not a smart outfit?https://t.co/18nuzKLQLh#ArnabGoswami #RepublicBharat #DelhiPolice #ArvindKejriwal #PmModi #RahulGandhi #rajnathsingh #AnitaChoudhary pic.twitter.com/aUCeTefxNL
— anita choudhary (@anitachoudhary) September 20, 2021
People’s reactions started coming as soon as they saw this video. Some people are demanding action against restaurants that prohibit wearing sarees while in India.
The National Commission for Women has also sent a letter to the Delhi Police Commissioner and has directed them to investigate the whole matter and take appropriate action.
The restaurant on their side has said that the woman spread the word in a wrong way, and that the video she posted is only part of the conversation. That an employee did say that “we allow only smart casual and not saree”, but that women with sarees have been allowed inside the restaurant. The restaurant management also stated that the customer was fighting with her staff and had even slapped a restaurant manager.
But it cannot be denied that some women are always trolled for what they wear. People have trolled Mandira Bedi for wearing jeans at her husband’s funeral, some women have been shamed for not covering their head, and sometimes by calling the saree an old fashioned garment.
What everyone needs to understand is that women have a right to decide what they wear when and where. And not considering saree as a ‘smart outfit’ is unbelievable – I have seen women wearing sarees in all kinds of places from formal meetings to casual events and places.
Our clothes are not a sign of our modernity or otherwise. Modernity should be in thoughts and in behaviour, and not in clothes.
Image source: YouTube
I am Shalini Verma ,first of all My identity is that I am a strong woman ,by profession I am a teacher and by hobbies I am a fashion designer,blogger ,poetess and Writer . मैं सोचती बहुत हूँ , विचारों का एक बवंडर सा मेरे दिमाग में हर समय चलता है और जैसे बादल पूरे भर जाते हैं तो फिर बरस जाते हैं मेरे साथ भी बिलकुल वैसा ही होता है ।अपने विचारों को ,उस अंतर्द्वंद्व को अपनी लेखनी से काग़ज़ पर उकेरने लगती हूँ । समाज के हर दबे तबके के बारे में लिखना चाहती हूँ ,फिर वह चाहे सदियों से दबे कुचले कोई भी वर्ग हों मेरी लेखनी के माध्यम से विचारधारा में परिवर्तन लाना चाहती हूँ l दिखाई देते या अनदेखे भेदभाव हों ,महिलाओं के साथ होते अन्याय न कहीं मेरे मन में एक क्षुब्ध भाव भर देते हैं | 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