As a woman in 2023, we can’t be excused anymore for even slightly hinting or agreeing for young girls to hide their sanitary napkins in black dustbin covers or teaching them to dry their undergarments inside the bathroom, away from the prying eyes of the world, including fathers and brothers. The world has shifted in the last 10 years where more and more women are opening up on public platforms to speak up about issues that their mothers couldn’t even imagine uttering.
So we are hesitatingly yet surely learning to embrace the change with absolute certainty and confidence of a new world order for women. Today, young girls have created enough storm by speaking up on issues unthinkable in the 1980s and 1990s on subjects of menstruation, sexual autonomy and the right to self. There are tons of stars on Instagram who influence a huge number of audience across India with their content of right versus wrong.
Among the most recognised names there is R.J. Karishma who doesn’t hesitate to speak up about the skewed gender inequality of the quintessential “sanskari bahu” on her feed. We also have Kushakapila and Dolly Singh and many more who rake up issues about being a failure in relationships with entitled men.
Also, with dialogues opening up, it is no longer frowned upon on being dumped by the boyfriend. Women are calling out patriarchy without fearing the hypocrisy of a society that was earlier obsessed about heralding a woman’s ability to accept indifference from a man.
The immature man with his mummy fixation is the joke. It is like a can of worms that’s bringing out a woman’s dictated marriageable age. Also, the nosey and mean relative who finds a way to dismiss a girl who is dark skinned or doesn’t fit into the standards, society has set for her. All this is being discussed threadbare.
One can’t pinpoint the exact time and stage of frustration when women realised that “enough is enough” and joined in the bandwagon of burning the bra literally and making a mockery of the perfect body shape that is considered standard in women. Anyone falling out of the prescribed parameters were earlier apologetic, the butt of the jokes among family and friends. This toxicity is being questioned for the first time ever.
With #metoo, many cases of predators at work places have been called out. Some were in very high positions and were also seen spewing words of women empowerment. The facade was pulled off and masks have been removed in the public eye.
Girls are now celebrating new concepts of Gallantine with her band of girl best friends and Valentine’s Day seems to soon become outdated as the rose glasses are falling off. A recent study has revealed that in India, women now constitute 30 % of the overall workforce in the field of technology. It is 7% more than 21% that was seen five years ago. Most women now have phone payment methods that makes life easier for many. One doesn’t need to go out to do shopping and most things can be purchased online. Women are lapping up the new apps with more gusto than ever.
More LGBTQ+ stories are being shared on social media. There are parents who are seen proudly accepting their children’s choice in gender identity and sexual orientation. With all the changes, many women are also choosing to live in with their partners before they decide to marry them, though the recent Shraddha and Aftab murder case again threw light on families who are disapproving of girls who can’t return home after a failed relationship. The debate is ongoing and gaining momentum about women and their place in society.
Himani Kapila, a homemaker who rebooted recently as a chef and is the owner of Cheeseareus, a company that curates bespoke grazing tables, charcuterie boards and starters, said, “It is amazing when women throw parties in Delhi and reach out to me. They are sure of their decisions of the food that they want, the table setting and the pairing of wines with cheese. I enjoy this process and like to share my tips on things like blue cheese like Stilton or Gorgonzola that could be paired with port wine, dessert wine or Sherry. This makes my clients happy and most come back thanking me for the bespoke experience and above all, also sharing tips on wine and cheese too. Women are embracing themselves and it’s very encouraging for me as it helps me to push my envelope a little bit more.”
Mohua Chinappa is an author and a podcaster of a show called The Mohua Show (https://www.themohuashow.com/media/).