I came across this woman once who was a victim of an acid attack. Her face was destroyed yes, but her heart wasn’t. People called her ‘ugly’ because of the beauty standards set by society. You don’t know about the guidelines regarding what ‘beauty’ is in India?! How are you alive?! I’ll tell you, don’t worry.
1. Only fair skin is acceptable – nahi toh rishta kaise ayega apke liye (otherwise, how will you find a partner)? If your complexion is dark, slap your face with all sorts of fairness creams because Snow White gets the prince at the end – and if you’re looking like a piece of chocolate, then they’ll eat you, and not marry you!
2. The curves of your body have to be perfect like an hourglass. Deflated chest? You’re a boy! Short hair? You’re a boy! Tattoo? Oh god, you are a disgrace to every woman. You are overweight? Koi shaadi nehi karega apse (No one will marry you).
3. Do not be outspoken. Instead, be soft-spoken – or better yet, don’t talk at all. The more silent you are, the easier it is to dominate you.
4. Shaadi nahi karni hai kya ( You don’t want to marry, do you)? Family nahi banani hai (Don’t you have to make a family)? – you are already so old!
To all the people who set these guidelines of what beauty is and are enforcing them: Nahi karni hai shaadi, yaar (No, my dear friend, I don’t want to be married)!
My parents raised me so that I can get a job and help my family financially. They raised me to teach people and help distinguish the right from the wrong. They didn’t raise me like a queen, They raised me like a warrior.
So, aap apne guidelines apke paas saja ke rakho (please keep your guidelines to yourself). Mujhe shaanti se par-likh ke job karne dijiye (Please allow me to pursue my studies and get a job in peace). I wasn’t born with a tag which said, “My life’s ultimate destiny is to get married.” I was born with a spark – and my parents have worked hard in kindling that spark into a tiny fire. Therefore, I will not let anyone put water on me – and turn me into a fire to be used in a gas stove. Toxic people with toxic opinions are like onions – they make people cry pointlessly.
You know the woman I talked about in the first paragraph? Yeah – now, that woman runs a beauty parlour. She’s independent, earns money and is living a strong life. But you know what? She earned something society will never earn. She earned respect – respect for picking herself up from the ashes.
So, this is my message to all the woman out there fighting against society’s guidelines and doing just great: Woah man! What a woman!
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Featured image used for representative purposes only.