During a TV panel discussion, a cleric asked the come to work in her underwear if she wants to be treated equally to men Anchor gave a befitting reply to the cleric I have seen lots of men like you. I am not afraid of you; I am not threatened by you She said, women, will run back into their kitchens and cover themselves up and leave the world for you again to conquer She concluded with I have news for you, we are not going anywhere We all girls feel the same, and we surely will not go anywhere just because some people criticise us
Women’s dress has been a matter of contention to many over centuries. The condition is no different now as influential, and common people continue to judge women on the basis of their dresses. From stares to rape everything that happens to a woman is connected to the dress she wears.
In a recent TV panel discussion, a cleric just said the most unbelievable thing to the woman anchor. But soon he understood that unlike centuries and decades ago women know what they are wearing and what are they doing.
When the panel was discussing equality, cleric Maulana Yasoob Abbas got furious and told Mirror Now editor Faye D'Souza that if she wants to be treated equal to men, she should come to work in her underwear.
Though taken aback, TV anchor Faye stood her ground. She told the cleric exactly what every woman thinks. She gave a befitting answer to the cleric by saying,
“Give me two minutes of silence on the panel. Maulana threatened me to show up to my workplace in my underwear because I want to be equal to men. This is my temple; this is my workplace.”
“He hopes that he will rile me up. He hopes that I will throw a fit, and lose control of my panel. And I will forget how to do my job.”
“Let me tell you Maulana; I have seen lots of men like you. I am not afraid of you, I am not threatened by you, and I am not rattled by you. Because you threatened me by something so cheap. You tried to rattle me when I am doing my job.”
“All you men think that if you rattle Sana Fatima (of Dangal fame, who was trolled recently for her photo-shoot during Ramzan) when she’s doing her job, if you rattle Sania Mirza when she’s doing her job, if you rattle all women when they are doing their jobs that they will run back into their kitchens and cover themselves up and leave the world for you again to conquer.”
But the best thing the anchor said was:
“I have news for you, we are not going anywhere.”
Recently, Priyanka Chopra was trolled for wearing a knee-length dress and sitting with her legs crossed while meeting the Prime Minister. Long lectures were given on Facebook on how she is not respecting the Prime Minister. They spoke about her dress demeaning the meeting between her and the PM.
Whenever girls have tried to wear something of their choice, they have been targeted. The glory these actors have brought to the country, sportsperson like Sania Mirza has brought to the country is forgotten, rather not discussed. But people are ready to speak about their character based on these great women’s dresses.
This problem is not only prevalent with ‘celebrities’, but there is a framework for the girls on what to wear and what not to wear.
But all we women want to say and practice is exactly what anchor Faye D’souza said. “We are not going anywhere.” We will fight for our equality and will work towards it come what may.
