By Dhriti Mehta
It seems that just about every person on this planet has become an expert in a brand-new field called Judgemental Female Anatomy. They have extensive expertise in making quick judgements about how women’s body parts should be kept well hidden in public.
In a recent tweet, Kim Campbell, the former Prime Minister of Canada (who incidentally was also the first woman to be elected to the position), and our first Judgemental Female Anatomy expert for this article, criticised female newsreaders for showing their bare arms on television!
Yes! Their arms! *GASP*
I am struck by how many women on television news wear sleeveless dresses- often when sitting with suited men. I have always felt it was demeaning to the women and this suggests that I am right. Bare arms undermine credibility and gravitas! https://t.co/plBRrrtqKV
— Kim Campbell (@AKimCampbell) February 13, 2018
Her findings suggest, very conclusively of course, that women need to stop showing off their bare arms if they ever want to command respect for themselves. Because respect obviously has nothing to do with the work the person does or the qualities they possess.
Luckily for humankind, since Campbell’s post, many internet users have stepped up to defend women’s choices about what they want to wear and reprimanded Campbell for her sexist remarks. Her comments have sparked a debate in Canadian and International media about the freedom to dress among women.
Hey @AKimCampbell: women have been wearing sleeveless clothes on and off air for many years. Judge less. Think more. The only thing demeaning to women is your tweet. #RightToBareArms 💪 https://t.co/oWLPZxQcWO
— amber mac (@ambermac) February 13, 2018
To Ms. Campbell we just want to say that calling out women for the choice of their clothes is in itself a demeaning act that undermines your credibility not theirs.
Unfortunately, Campbell’s thoughts aren’t an isolated case of people thrusting their own unwanted opinions on women about how they dress. Women all around the world are reminded every day of the implications of their clothing and are given tips on how to dress ‘decently’. Indians have, in fact, been at the pioneering forefront in the field.
Here’s a handy list of Dos and Do Nots drawn from our very own desi sanskar.
Don’t wear indecent tops, because hawww, boobs
#tb #PostShootSelfie #funtimes #girlstakeover pic.twitter.com/p5LSXLYwmA
— Mithali Raj (@M_Raj03) September 6, 2017
Mithali Raj, the captain of the Indian women’s cricket posted a casual picture of herself with her girl gang on Twitter, but judgemental female anatomy experts on Twitter were not impressed and were quick to point out her ‘indecent’ top and asked her to “please delete”.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BUtYm-GA64m/
Actor Priyanka Chopra decided to wear a dress to a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Berlin. Experts on Instagram were quick to slam her decision of wearing clothes that go against Indian culture and switched her title from our Desi girl to Videsi girl. Indian women don’t wear dresses, you see.
Mid-riffs are only acceptable when you’re wearing a sari, okay? And mostly not even then
Deepika Padukone’s Midriff Covered By CGI Effect In #Padmaavat As Recommended By CBFC. #Padmavati pic.twitter.com/XAIZjoSOwF
— Sir Ravindra Jadeja (@SirJadeja) January 19, 2018
As part of a whole other saga surrounding Padmaavat, Deepika Padukone’s blouse from the song ‘Ghoomar’ came under scrutiny of a particular sena due to her three-inch wide skin display. But don’t worry, a major special effects cover up was orchestrated on her bare mid-riff to protect her ‘honour’.
So, ladies, please hide your arms, legs, mid-riffs, boobs to avoid hurting our sanksaar. Or better yet, just ignore everyone and do exactly what you want to.
February 18, 2018 at 10:32 pm
This article is rather flippant in an attempt to be funny without digging deeper.
No one should tell women how to dress, obviously. But I can’t say that nothing about the differences in dressing between men and women bothers me.
I don’t want women to “cover up”. On the other hand, I actually wonder why men are always relatively covered up. The human body is a glorious thing!
But in all seriousness, when only one sex is primarily exposed, that’s an issue too. Instead of wishing that women would cover up, I actually just wish that booty shorts and tank tops would be acceptable attire for EVERYONE. When only women are in tiny outfits then yes, that points to a deeper problem.