Re: Women and Western clothes
Dear Anandinii ji,
The idea that the woman needs to take responsibility for the man's reactions is to say that men have no responsibility for their own reactions or behavior. Worse, it implies no man should even be asked to control because it is somehow impossible, that in this regard men are as beasts who cannot possibly control their instincts. Is this true? Of course not, it's the worst kind of untruth and perpetuates the problem on both sides. I agree with Anirudh in this. This kind of thinking have been imposed on women for centuries by men who simply do not want to have to control themselves so they blame women. Women are not wanton seductresses and succubi who have to carefully watch and hide their every movement because some guy might see assume it's an invitation and lose all self control.
Actually, why me (as well as many who hold similar views including Yesudas) might say women have to be modest (in their attire) is because, irrespective of who is right (or wrong), it is ultimately women who suffer the consequences. Not for any other purpose.
Sensuality is a very tricky point, and any culture is an example of this. We might argue the West offers better freedom for women in that people (men) don't look at women, but I think this perception is wrong. It is only because the man and woman of the West have been told right from the beginning 'to not to look' and that 'it is rude to look', many do not have this behavior. But, you simply see the statistics on how many Western men will want to see Kate Upton in the Swimsuit issue and other similar models, the count will be in Billions. This is because sensuality of the female body is a fact and no culture is really protected against it. So while in India or elsewhere, we can say that women should wear anything and not be ridiculed in any way for it, we cannot control the normal human tendency to atleast 'look'. By this, I never said that men have right to misbehave, I am only saying that owing to sensuality being the inherent nature of female body, no one can completely stop men from 'looking'.
Somehow I do not subscribe to the view that male body is equally sensual. If it is sensual, we cannot see them walk around barely clad, especially in the upper portion of the body, even in somewhat conservative society as India.
But as I said in the OP, perceptions could really vary. As I said somewhere in my reply to EM ji, I too strongly feel that India should develop to the point that people and women especially, feel responsible for preserving their culture and heritage, but at the same time, offer others freedom to live and dress as they want and choose to be.
@Anirudh ji,
If you have literature references, please post them. I am not convinced that Indian women wore a 'bra' type of attire.
Also, honestly, I feel very disappointed that when issue of Western clothes on women should arise, one should say that the most beautiful, elegant and modest sari that Indian women of today wear is somehow 'brought on by invaders' and that somehow true freedom and broad-mindedness should somehow be procured only by embracing Western clothes! The vast majority of the West does not hold this view towards other cultures! For example, sometime back there was a huge furor in America from schools introducing Yoga classes.
Thanks friends,
Viraja
jai hanuman gyan gun sagar jai kapis tihu lok ujagar
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