So I watched the Deepika Padukone video and the first thing that I thought when I was done was, “She looks so good. Amazing hair.” I gave my head a knock after that, as that was obviously not the point of the video.
I watched it again, and then I could not see beyond how she stated that being a size 15 was ok, but it showed a pregnant woman to depict it.
I don’t know – did I miss the memo that stated that pregnant women these days are supposed to be a size 0? And if you happen to become a size 15 (which really isn’t all that big by the way) it is ok, you will not be judged?
I let it be, but then all these Facebook posts, comments, tweets and articles started popping up everywhere about how empowering the video was.
I had to watch it again to see what I missed, this time more carefully. I may be completely missing the real point of the video and though I do appreciate the thought behind it, to me it was simply pretentious and hypocritical.
First of all there was a lot of emphasis on being yourself and making your own choices. “Be yourself!” If memory serves me correctly, doesn’t Deepika endorse a fairness cream? It works so well, it is actually called a miracle.
And once again, my failing memory also reminded me that she did an ad with a cereal company to lose weight. She said to lose weight and be confident. Not be confident how you are; lose weight.
Alright, this was not Deepika’s ad, she was just the actor chosen to play her part. Fair enough. She is still my favorite. But then we see – Vogue India made it. A fashion magazine that only uses specific model sizes (not 15) and airbrushes everything (even the dog) in sight. Even the pitbull looks like a poodle in the end.
Vogue Italy once did a shoot with dead animals in the background. Vogue Netherlands once painted the faces of their models black for their heritage spread. So it would be safe to say, that I find such magazines a tad bit frivolous (just my opinion). Vogue India might be different however.
Let’s just put all that aside and see what Deepika is told to say in the video.
“To marry or not, my choice.” I completely agree.
“To have your baby or not to have your baby. My choice.” Uhm, no. it involves two people. The man and the woman, to make this choice. The woman, as she will be the one who will carry and deliver the baby may have specific concerns, but the couple has to decide together. It should be ‘their’ choice. Would she give a man the same choice regarding even a pet? He just turns up one day with a pet snake in the house you share together and says. “Hi honey, my choice.”
“To have sex outside of marriage. My choice.” I am a little lost here. I should check my dictionary again but isn’t this called adultery? So, the same rule should apply to the husband too right? His choice? “Hi jaaneman, I hooked up with this hot little number at the club today. My choice.”
I see broken plates and furniture.
“I am not the snowflake. I am the snowfall. You are the snowflake. I am the universe. Infinite in every direction.” I am not even going to pretend I understood this Deepak Chopra-ishy mumbo jumbo. Why is he the snowflake when you are the snowfall? Do you plan on burying him with an avalanche? Infinite is infinite, how do you make infinite go right or left? Why aren’t you both the snowflakes in the snowfall?
*My head hurts*
“My pleasure may be your pain.” I totally thought of 50 shades of Grey here.
I do agree on many of the choices that she mentions in the video but how does this video help the average woman on the street who deals with so much more?
Where was the bit about rape? What about dowry? Female infanticide? Honor killing? Equal pay for all? Equal rights? Education for all? How women in the very industry she works in are exploited and objectified on a daily basis including her? And so much more.
This video was not empowering for women – My choice.