Just because we are women, we are never good enough for our society. But, things get really tough when we are about to be married. Indian marriages, especially arranged marriages, are too traumatic for many women. We are either too short or too tall or too dark or too fat or too slim! Doesn’t matter how great you are, how successful you are, the one thing that society never shies away from is shaming you for your appearances.
During the marriage discussions, many women undergo scrutiny for even the minutest element of our appearances that doesn’t fit the social standards. We are being mocked, shamed, and made to feel dejected. Recently, beauty brand Dove chooses to take a stand against the demeaning experience that many women undergo, especially against the norms followed in traditional matchmaking and matrimonial ads in India.
The ad, called #StopTheBeautyTest, made by Ogilvy, recently touched the hearts of many. It shows real women from different parts of India being shamed for their weight, skin tone, height, facial scars, and even curly hair, by prospective in-laws who have come to meet them.
The ad beautifully sums the ugliness of our society with one question:
“Kab tak chalegi, khoobsurti ki ye badsurat parakh? Aakhir kitni khoobsurti kaafi hai?”
Focusing on the habit of our society that shames brides, this ad beautifully attempts to draw attention to how we shatter the confidence of so many women and make them feel less about themselves.
Dear Society,
Please stop shaming us for our skin-color, for our weight, for our height; for our hair! We are humans and not objects to please your eyes. You tend to shut your eyes to our success and victories but never leave a chance to make us feel less!
We are not trophies that need to be shiny enough so that you can show off to the world; We are not objects of pleasure for your eyes, we are humans! So, could you please treat us like one!
From,
An Indian Woman In Love With Herself
