While we are busy celebrating the power of Goddess Durga, sadly our society is still struggling to let women live life on their own terms. A woman in Bengaluru was harassed by the passerby and told to wear appropriate clothes.
Recently, a young woman in Bengaluru was harassed and humiliated by a passerby all because she wasn’t wearing ‘Sanskaari’ enough clothes.
The shocking incident happened on Thursday night in Bengaluru’s HSR layout area, when a young woman riding pillion on a bike with her boyfriend was allegedly stopped by a passerby. The whole incident was shot on a mobile phone and now has been circulated across the internet to show the irony of our society.
In the video, there is a man, who could be seen commenting on the woman’s clothes and instructing her to “follow Indian rules” and even yelling at her for not wearing “proper clothes”.
Recalling the horrific incident 28-year woman told The News Minute:
“I heard someone yelling. I was riding pillion and I looked to my right side. There was a man on a two-wheeler, who began yelling at me and said, ‘Don’t you have any clothes at home?'”
The woman further added:
“When I asked him what his problem is, he began yelling at me, saying Indian women must not wear ‘such’ clothes. I was wearing shorts and a T-shirt. I don’t see what the problem is.”
The horrific incident was recorded by her boyfriend, who could also be heard trying to school the man as he humiliated his friend for not wearing appropriate clothes. We could hear him saying:
“I know the Constitution. Do you know the Constitution? We have the freedom to wear whatever we want”.
As per the woman, when the harasser realized that he was being recorded, he lowered his voice and tried to be polite. But still the man kept asking this woman to change her clothes. She further added:
“Maybe he expected us to be scared. I also told him that I would go to the police. That’s when he got back on his bike and fled.”
After watching the video, many came forward to support the woman:
Wears Western formal outfit, Speaking English and Telling that girl to wear according to Indian Dress code. Hypocrisy at its peak. BTW he should be fined for wearing that ugly red bag
— Akash (@Akash_9515) October 6, 2019
I am not surprised these people have now acquired so much audacity and entitlement .. next step from SM bullying… because the mental framework remains.
— shilpi tewari (@shilpitewari) October 6, 2019
Again in the name of Culture imposing restrictions on women.
— Smita (@SmitaGan) October 6, 2019
But, it isn’t the only case where women are being told what to wear.
Also Read: Girls Like You Should Be Raped: Kolkata Woman Abuses & Slaps Girl Wearing Shorts
Last month, a college in Hyderabad banned girls from wearing short kurtis.
Under this new rule, college students were not allowed to enter their classes if their outfits were not as per the ridiculous ‘guidelines’. However, after the extensive protests from the student and the media coverage, the college had no choice but to withdraw the circular.
Also Read: Respected Saree Blouse vs. Shameless Crop Top: Funny Comics On Hypocrisy In Society
At IFORHER, we applaud the courage of this boyfriend to stand for this woman. Sadly, this incident makes you question how can we expect to empower women if our countrymen have such a regressive thought process. We feel it is high time that our society stops judging women’s character by their clothes.
