Women are often condemned and called out by society for wearing so-called ‘revealing’ clothes, partying around and enjoying their lives. While all these things are fine if men do them, women are lectured on topics like morality, culture and ‘sanskar’ for the same thing.
The troublesome reality of the situation cannot be negated. Women are time and again struck by this mindset which pushes them down. This stereotype runs deep in society and is in no manner gender-based. Men and women alike call out women who dare to dream.
Countering this anarchy against women’s right to freedom, a famous and impactful movement was brought into effect.
What Is the ‘Pink Chaddi’ Movement?
‘Chaddi’ is a Hindi word which translates into underwear in English. This mundane piece of clothing wouldn’t have got the slightest attention if it hadn’t been for Delhi-based journalist Nisha Susan.
Getting inspired by an incident whereby some young men and women were attacked for partying and were accused of sabotaging Indian culture, Susan started this campaign through a Facebook group in 2009. The name of the group was ‘Consortium of Pub-Going, Loose and Forward Women’.
The title was a sarcastic reply to all those women and men who considered the exercise of fundamental freedom as a crime against culture.
The group proceeded with the Pink Chaddi campaign whereby the choice of colour was deliberately made to represent women. Mind you, the colour pink has been associated with femininity for decades.
Read Also: Do Groups Fighting For Men’s Rights In India Seem To Promote Toxic Masculinity Where They Can’t See Women Equal To Them?
The main purpose of the movement was to call out and give a befitting reply to patriarchal, masculinist and pseudo-nationalist organizations like Sri Ram Sena, which was involved in the attack which instigated the movement.
The movement progressed in a Gandhinian manner, based on principles of non-violence. To make their point, the members supporting the Pink Chaddi movement sent pink underwear to Pramod Muthalik, founder of Sri Ram Sena.
When the founder defended the stance of the organization and revealed his plan of hounding young, unmarried couples on Valentine’s day to teach them a lesson in Indian culture, the movement gained momentum and attracted media attention.
Political angle was also dragged in the matter by including Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh but it couldn’t work because the organization condemned the act of Shri Ram Sena and favoured a ban on it.
Women are already under extreme threat of their safety and dignity, courtesy of the prying eyes and rapists who roam around the alleys and streets. The anxiety around visiting pubs, wearing clothes of one’s choice and enjoying one’s life is more for women than for men. When women are already dealing with it, someone telling them, rather, attacking them for their choices would lead to confinement of women in homes or intense outbursts from them, demanding their rights.
It’s high time we sensitize and empathize towards women and understand their need for rights in place of making them uncomfortable for their choices.
Image Source: Google Images
Sources: The Guardian, NDTV, Times of India
Find the Blogger At: @innocentlysane
This post is tagged under: pink chaddi, pink chaddi movement, Sri Ram Sena, patriarchy, patriarchal, women rights, women, pub-going women, loose character, movement, women rights movement, progressive women, progressive society, society, men, women empowerment, empowerment, women right activists, Facebook, social movements, feminist movements in india, feminist campaigns in india, #metooindia, #metoo
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