Saturday, 11th March 2017, 8:40 PM IST
As you would be aware, ‘Lipstick Under My Burkha’ has faced a ban from the CBFC Board of India. In a recent interview, the movie’s director Alankrita Shrivastava revealed that she feels women are under a constant pressure to keep quiet.
Speaking on similarities between her movie ban and Gurmehar Kaur’s recent video, the director said, “The climate in India is one that is uncomfortable with women speaking out. There is the constant pressure to keep us quiet. I feel everything is connected. Violence against women, eve teasing on the roads, dowry, female foeticide, single women not getting housing, corporate glass ceilings, trolling of women on twitter, the objectification of women in popular culture, sexual harassment at the workplace, unequal pay, domestic violence, body shaming, date rape…
This is the environment for women in the country. In such an environment when women speak out, it challenges the status quo. It challenges the stronghold of patriarchy. So whether it is institutional, like the CBFC, or trolls on twitter, the urge to shut women up is really strong. But we have to create a healthy atmosphere for women in India. And a culture that encourages female voices and female points of view is really important.”
A proud feminist, Alankrita went on to say, “We need to own our feminism. Our predecessors have fought hard for women to have the right to vote, to work, to not be married off as children, to not have to jump into the pyre when the husband dies… It is time for us to move forward building on what we have inherited.”
Do you think the ban is justified?
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