Clothes are used to label women even today. Our opinion on what we wear doesn’t matter as much as that of society.

Why is it that even in the 21st century, women are morally policed for the clothes they wear?

Moral policing of women and their ways has taken many forms and mediums. These days it has led to something we also know as cyberbullying.

Earlier, women who crossed their twenties were expected to fill their wardrobes with salwar and dupattas. But today, “the more dresses a woman wears, the more modern she is!” my mother said pointing towards a red dress and stylish hair-cut.  

Does feminism or empowerment advocate the right of women to wearing certain kind of clothes? No, feminism advocates a woman’s right to wear as and what she pleases.

Can you imagine a firm telling men to dress as per their body type? Or to wear flattering clothes, that didn’t “scramble the signals they give out? No, but women sure have to bear this advice.

How do we get through to women and men who believe patriarchal convictions so deeply? How do we tell women and men to stop seeing rape as a consequence, but rather as a crime?

It all comes down to the freedom of choice then. Especially for women. Especially in modern India. To wear sarior not, she and only she has the power to decide that. She does not owe any explanation to anyone for her choices, writes Gunjan Pant Pande.

Are trousers and full-sleeved shirts not formal attire across genders? Do millions of modern Indian women not wear them to offices on daily basis in our country? Then why can’t female government officials do so?

Gone are the days when women wore suits and sarees to their workplace. Most women wear western outfits to work. Then why should it be any different for elected women leaders at the Parliament?