Showing posts with label standards. Show all posts
Showing posts with label standards. Show all posts

Friday, May 31, 2013

Many questions about the Mannequins

I guffawed at the idea that mannequins somehow lead to the depletion of moral standards among men. Now, I don't always assume the best or worst in people, but this was just weird for me to understand! I agree, I've never been with anyone who has been uncomfortable around skimpily dressed mannequins, I myself have never been uncomfortable around a mannequin. But seriously, I thought about it. If I was from a tiny town with really really conservative thinking and no access to Hindi cinema. I would be uncomfortable. But that is not the case at all, I really have to question the sanity of a person who would be "aroused" by a mannequin. I have some serious questions in this said scenario.

First of all, Why would you be uncomfortable? What is it that makes you uncomfortable? The skimpy clothes? or the mannequin?. As someone who does not like creepy dolls I can see why you are uncomfortable with them. Humanoid, creepy dolls that look like they are watching you? Damn! That's scary, but clearly that's not the problem. The ban is on the "slutty mannequins", Those mannequins I tell you, so cheap they are. They shouldn't be allowed to walk the streets, oh wait but they aren't even people, they aren't provocative. Most of them have more clothes on them than most actresses in Bollywood, I have no problems with clothes, I am just questioning the logic.

Let me tell you that male mannequins are not considered a problem, it's the female ones. So what men aren't sexy enough? women aren't corrupt enough? are you waiting for women to become as corrupt as the men? Why not take preventive measures and ban those cheap male mannequins as well? That way the good women who are put on a pedestal even when they haven't asked for it, can keep their good and pristine side intact? We can yet again become the torch bearers for moral uprightness.

Is the problem that women will be uncomfortable? I *think* pointing that out is bloody uncomfortable, I don't think I can walk past a "skimpily" clad mannequin and not be asked the question "Does this make you uncomfortable?" You know what, that question makes me uncomfortable.  I'm not saying some man or woman will ask me the question, it's still going to be in my head. For so many years I've been hmm clothes for display, now I'm going to be all oh! slutty mannequin. You know what that thought is creepy. A mannequin is a plastic doll and I am judging even that by society standards.

If you think I don't understand my privilege here, you are wrong. I know that I come from a place where a  mannequin is not a sexual object. The people I talk to are not so frustrated and neither am I. So, no. I don't get the "But imagine how embarrassed a woman may be" bit. I'm not wrong to think that it is frustrating to think that we work in such claustrophobic environments, where everything we see has to be passed by a law that analyses every object from a sexual standpoint.I'm not against it per se, I recommend a more level headed approach, how are skimpily clad mannequins manipulating men as opposed to say a Mallkika Sherawat? How is Sunny Leone a hotness symbol but a lifeless doll is a sexual object? What I'm saying is, if mannequins caused rape, the possibility that all your "hot scenes" oh wait, aesthetic nudity is  obviously causing more damage. I'm not moral police, I'm just pointing out the ridiculousness of the whole thing.

The last concluding question is, are you really assuming that men are so out of control that ANYTHING will trigger such violent thoughts and actually make them commit such heinous crimes? I mean isn't that just too cruel, I'm not saying everyone is wonderful and crimes are a figment of our imagination but to assume that an entire gender, literally half of the earth is infested by people who are physically incapable of  controlling themselves is really an over the top statement. Mannequins or not, the fact that we assume men are incapable of controlling themselves is a huge generalization, research has proven that sex is not something that is constantly on the minds of people, but when you point out every single thing that we once considered normal as a trigger for rape, you are really creating that which you thought you could end. You are creating more triggers. Oh my god! A mannequin, this is awkward. Do I look, not look, am I a pervert for looking,?

In a society where we can talk and discuss issues  freely without any kind of social stigma attached to it, that is where we are truly creating a better world. Telling men and women that their bodies are somehow hampering the sanctity of the world we live in, is just all the more claustrophobic. When you place the blame on the victim it is wrong, when you place blame on an entire gender that's wrong as well. Let's not be judgmental, let's be curious, let's want to talk about it.

P.S - Yes, I know every one of my arguments can be used against me. And no I do not agree that a singular logic can be applied to matters of the genders. Yes, mannequins do not trigger violent thoughts or cause discomfort but ad's that objectify women do.







Wednesday, November 7, 2012

But But... we ARE the real normal!

You know how the world judges you. calls you names, right from 'suchha geek' to 'what a whore' I really want to tell these people, we are normal. We absolutely are. Talk to us about something and you will know. Ofcourse we indulge in different things, but so do you. Stop judging my fellow 'weirdos' and accept them. When you criticize us for over doing our love for things YOU think are important. You, my friend are making it very difficult for us to love you. 

Let me speak for myself, I am not a child, yes! I look like a child when I am drooling over comics and may be I get a bit carried away from time to time, may be I don't act my age, may be you find it difficult to have a decent conversation with me without me being distracted. Do you realise that what you are trying to tell me holds no interest to me. If you keep convincing me that I am stupid for thinking I can be 50 and be childlike, let me inform you that I was raised by my childlike parents who read comics with me. Only YOU see a problem with it. I have from time to time taken up responsibility for my life and I continue to do so. But stop telling me I cannot be interested in comics because I am "grown" up. Please. I am going to buy comics and no! I am not going to read "intelligent" books on whatever you think. No economics does not interest me. No, I dont think about life, often I am not realistic about what I want. *being realistic is strenuous and depressing*

Us, the people who indulge in books, we who buy make up, we who buy toys, people who enjoy admiring Legos,we who buy weird jewellery, we who buy cartoon print T shirts, buy funny posters, buy action figures, people who scream in public, we who hold hands, we who hug when we meet people (Not the crap hug, the hug where we really mean it and we wont let go) why is it weird? Why cant you just think of it as normal. 

So yes you, having made my/our case I have some serious issues with you. I know you secretly want to be like us. I am not even remotely well read, not great at writing, I can't have conversations about a lot of things but the things I get interested in them I am truly willing to commit to it. I will read up about it. I am not getting judgmental  but when you throw around "facts" it hurts me deeply. What you call facts are really the makings of your own mind, the standard you set for me. "Don't wear this, you look silly." For everything that is important to you, can you please stop it? Yes, my obsessions are okay. I don't dress like a style diva and I am fine with it. I am not comparing myself to anyone and neither should you. 

Yes! Please tell us what you think is normal. Because it is difficult to live upto your expectation.
When you tell me I/we am/are not normal. You know how messed up it is? we are what normal people should be like. Being non judgmental, having dreams taller than the tallest building, dreams so unreal that they are scary, I am sorry but don't you wish you loved something so passionately? This is probably from the 2 slabs of Chocolate I just ate, but don't you miss being completely free? Why don't you indulge? Why have you set standards for yourself that even YOU detest. You sometimes OPENLY wish that life was like the old times where you could do whatever. Let me tell you, YOU CAN! If only you stop pretending that there is a certain reputation you have to guard, a certain impression you have to leave. You live with so many artificial inhibitions as if the real ones aren't enough?

Please be all that you want to be, buy all that you want to buy and stop telling me that there are standards, There is acceptable behavior  that there is something beyond yourself, stop it with the society crap. I really don't care. it really doesn't matter. It shouldn't. I am not wanting to "fit in" to this. The kind of crowd I want to fit in with is the really crazy smart people. The non judgmental type, I have met a few people, people who are anything but 'normal' by society standards and you know what these are the most normal people I have met. They go about their business, they hardly mess around with people, they have zero 'standards' to talk to people, they are all accepting, they are passionate about their work, about their passions, about the causes they align with. If they have an opinion they will convince you, they will try to atleast. 

Yes! I believe I am not insane or weird or crazy. I took a long hard look at myself and you know what, I am just as normal as you. I look very weird because I compare myself with you and I think if I am doing something you are not, I am the weird one. But sadly, as much as I'd like to be called "different" or "weird" (Cuz, you know thats sooo cooooool *sarcasm*) I am normal. YOU have nothing you are crazy about, you don't even believe in a sugar high, you think me wearing cartoon shirts is not like 'other girls' , you think it is stupid to play with lion king jigsaws and you think I am clinging on to my childhood because you saw me reading "Science for children" "Fun with Light" and "Blood" and "Magic".  Excuse me, in what universe am I not normal? I am slow in some but definitely normal!

PS: By current society standards I am not normal! 



 WE ALL ARE NORMAL.  YOU HAVE TO STOP SETTING UNREALISTIC PSEUDO SOCIETY STANDARDS AND CALL US NOT NORMAL.