It is the wedding season. Sounds of speakers and people dancing and hooting has filled the atmosphere. The other day, when I was out on a walk outside my house post-dinner, I came across a wedding procession nearby. It was usual - loud music, lights, decorated cars and people dancing. Soon after, I saw a huge box being carried by a carriage. The box was wired like a prison. To my shock, there was a woman inside it, dancing to the beats of music while facing the people.
I have often witnessed women dancing at weddings and events, and heard of several incidents where guests have misbehaved with women performers and objectified them. A recent incident shows that nothing has changed and that a lot of men still feel entitled to behave as they please, intoxicated or not.
Punjab model dancing at a wedding harassed by intoxicated guests
A reel is now going viral for the same reason. A model, Simran Sandhu, who was invited to perform at a resort was attacked with a liquor glass after she refused to dance with wedding guests. During her performance, the intoxicated wedding guests asked her to come down from the stage and dance with them. But she refused and a ruckus was created.
The model revealed in an interview that the guests misbehaved with her and even passed derogatory comments. But when she reacted in anger and abused the guests, she was taken backstage. Watch the reel
Why do men feel entitled to demand anything from women performers in weddings and events? Why don't they respect their agency? Why aren't women dancers considered as just another working woman in society?
The incident of locking a woman dancer in a box clearly shows that women dancers are not safe. And because of this, the woman I saw gave me a feeling as if she was caged while the ones who were responsible for her lack of safety were outside dancing.
Why are women dancers not respected in society?
Women dancers are as much respectable as everyone else. Dancing in public is not only a choice but also a form of art. Men need to stop assuming that they can have their way with women dancers at weddings and events. They are just doing their job of entertaining the audience through their art. So, stop objectifying and if you still can't respect the dancers, then stop attending such functions.
Views expressed are the author's own.
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