After a “fake or not” list of no-nos for girls in an engineering college in Chennai hit the internet, the Kumudam magazine has been slammed to cover a highly condemning story. Kumudam is a weekly, sensational Tamil magazine that has just covered a story on wearing leggings as an act of obscenity. The magazine asked the readers, ‘Are females out of line’. But this time the magazine has gone too far away from the line. The story “Leggings Vulgarity” was accompanied with some uncomfortable and unfortunate pictures of women posterior, just to make sure of their point. These pictures have created another controversy simultaneously that were the women aware of being photographed this way and if not, then what gives the magazine the right to hamper someone’s autonomy over their body and its exposure? The magazine specifies that they have used the pictures to show how much they care about “our mother and sisters” and not to invade privacy.
According to the magazine, these dresses reveal the bodily structure of women very sensuously and erotically, making men stare and ogle. They have also used a poem of an anonymous male writer, stating that since men cannot change and will continue ogling at women, it is better women should change themselves.
Journalists and female right activists have started referring the magazine as misogynist because this is not the first time Kumudam has come up being sexist and regressive. Earlier, it covered a story on an actress, which degraded the reputation and honour of woman. This series of different controversial stories covering the delicate issues of women freedom of choice and to take charge of moral policing of women lie somewhere between extremely offensive and disgusting for the country which is trying to portray itself as having an unorthodox support from media. It is disappointing to note that this is where we are progressing. On one hand we claim of giving women equal stature, equal opportunities and on the side we try to get onto them with every possible means.
In reference to this matter, an online petition started by activists on Change.org ‘Apologize for your story insulting women and be responsible’ already had over 1,500 supporters by the evening. They also received various rage filled tweets and Facebook posts criticizing and asking them for apology.
Making ones clothes a basis to judge someone else’s unethical act is totally insane. And to be clear men does not get aroused by the woman’s clothing. You can easily prove this by pointing out a man from the crowd staring at a woman wearing traditional Indian clothes. So, the group of people whom Kumudam impresses with this article, you control your freakish attempts to get hold of women because now we are sane (as we are not guided by your insensible logics) enough to decide for ourselves.
This issue of Kumudam has refreshed again our tainted memories of all the unjustified blames on women. The misunderstood concept of sexuality and making it the basis of all the sexual crimes committed does not make us progressive and neither does economic and political development mean anything until we improve ourselves socially. For a long time, it has always been asked that now when world is preaching about equality of sexes, why do men always get to make social rules according to their own moral understanding. This is to tell those moronic orthodox people who try to restrain women because they fear the loss of their authoritative power on them that if this is the only way you can make yourselves comfortable, then continue doing it because there are always some things no one can teach you. And those who reacted to this matter are the representatives of the hopeful bunch who will try to make you understand where exactly you are at fault.
Featured Image: Kumdumam Magazine Cover Image
News Source: The Hindu
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