the intersectional feminist

Artwork by : Aishwarya Vyas

“That’s a very delicate part of you and you need to take proper care of it,” “If you don't take care of them, they are going to get saggy, and no one wants that, right?" 

Women from lower castes in Travancore were either excessively taxed or prohibited from covering their upper bodies throughout the 18th and 19th centuries. Nangeli, a Dalit woman, protested by chopping off her breasts and refused to pay taxes. Later, she died from massive bleeding. The massive irony, she was from a place called Mulachhipuram, which means "the country of the women with breasts." 

All of us have heard the adage "everyone's different" since we were little. There are friends of ours who are funny, serious, almost brilliant, and aloof. We identify with people of other religions and observe their achievements in a variety of ways. Most of us have never given these disparities much attention; they are simply what they are, and we embrace the diversity they provide in our lives. However,about physical appearances? Do we share their acceptance of this? Or do you occasionally catch yourself criticising the bodies of others? Have you ever witnessed yourself indulging in conversations that lead to questions or statements  like “Do you have more than one male partner? Because they are quite huge and it’s not normal" or “You are so flat that you've got nothing to offer a man too. Get some good oil massages or medical treatment. I don’t think any men will come close to you after noticing your small breasts." If your answer is a clear ‘no’, then congratulations! You are in the minor category of those who have managed to mind their own business. Rest have reached a point of “shaming” women for something that is not even under their control and, for emphasis, does not have any “severe implications on their health.” 

It is rather distasteful that people seem to enjoy shaming others.Slut-shaming and body-shaming are two acts that are done so frequently, we have accepted them as a norm. In most cases, the victims of such acts eventually stop reacting and learn to ignore them. But have you ever considered why certain individuals take such joy in humiliating others? Perhaps the old saying, "Sometimes it's necessary to stand on the head of another to make oneself appear taller," might serve as a possible answer.

Breast shaming is repulsive to its core.According to society, breasts are either too huge, too tiny, too sagging, or too asymmetrical. Women are being ridiculed and condemned for having a mass on their chest, which is completely natural physiologically. They are harassed due to their shape, size, and deep cover, even while breastfeeding. Worst, the harassment most often, comes from friends & family members in the form of backbiting, catcalling, etc. The battle begins as early as age 13. At the beginning of her teenage years, a girl is already given instructions on how to take care of her breasts. The first step in the process is to cover it with a towel and wear a bra, for modesty and support.Any kind of outfit that draws attention to them, becomes an instant ‘no-no’. Further, if you have large breasts, it is unlawful to leave the house without a shawl covering your chest. Add to this, the media’s role, and ta-da! We have a society that is severely obsessed with its women’s  “mammary glands". Teenagers are the worst impacted by the unrealistic standards that social media creates. The biggest social media platform contributing to this cause is Instagram. Instagram is a place where everything is supposed to be perfect. People frequently assess themselves against celebrities and supermodels. It's important for people to realise that not everything they see on Instagram is real. It takes a whole crew of people. including stylists, makeup artists, and hair stylists who work to make the person look "perfect." One needs to stop comparing themselves with celebrities. On the bright side, people on Instagram are making sure to let people know that everything on Instagram is not real. Each aspect of the body is lovely. Every body part is beautiful. And that also applies to your breasts. Every breast is beautiful, be it small, huge, saggy, or asymmetrical.

We, as a community, have survived the lethal pandemic. Our bodies did not give up on us a while we witnessed a large number of deaths around the world. Neither, did it survive the pandemic to break itself over that one judgemental comment that made its way toward you. Your body is your temple. You are the one who needs to set realistic standards for it depending on your needs and requirements. Nobody else has even an iota of liberty to do it for you. So, forget about fitting into a ‘’certain standard’’. And, instead, be kind to yourself and others.