India Debates Patriarchy Amidst Outrage Over Actress's Cleavage

India is grappling with the pervasive issue of patriarchy, a concept that has recently ignited heated debates across the nation, from political speeches to social media spats.

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Whenever I speak to a man, women are put in three boxes, you are either seen as a daughter, as a wife or as a mother.

The controversy erupted when a Raksha Bandhan advertisement by jewelry brand GIVA, featuring actress Kriti Sanon, was met with inexplicable outrage. The brand ultimately pulled the advertisement due to accusations that Sanon displayed too much cleavage for a traditional occasion. This incident starkly illustrates how deeply ingrained patriarchal norms continue to police women's lives and choices, denying them agency.

Adding to the discourse, opposition leader Rahul Gandhi had already initiated a conversation about patriarchy. Speaking at a program called 'Chhatron Ki Goonth,' Gandhi questioned why a woman's identity should be confined to being a daughter, wife, or mother. He also criticized the Manusmriti, an ancient text, for its "shameful" dictums on gender. The GIVA ad controversy, occurring just days later, served as a potent, albeit ironic, validation of Gandhi's concerns.

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The mindset is that a girl has a place, that she should be closed in a cage, she should be control

While a mainstream male politician publicly condemning patriarchy and regressive scriptures is significant in India's one-dimensional, gendered political landscape, the persistence of such attitudes suggests a long road ahead. The GIVA controversy, in particular, highlights the absurdity of policing women's attire within a tradition already rooted in a flawed concept of male superiority and female helplessness. It reveals a society that not only dictates women need male protection but also prescribes their clothing while seeking it, all under the pervasive influence of the male gaze.

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One cannot deny the significance of a mainstream male politician publicly slamming patriarchy and calling out a regressive scripture in a very one-dimensional, gendered polity.