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I remember watching The Devil Wears Prada a few months back. I, like everyone else, was fascinated by the charisma of Meryl Streep and the captivating world of fashion. The dreamy wardrobes of Fendi, Chanel, Gucci and Christian Louboutin had me entranced as well. However, a part of my mind refused to lose itself in the beautiful shots of Paris in the movie. What I was unable to come to terms with was the constant referral of Andy as âsixâ, that is, her dress size, or in her case, her identity. The fact that she was lauded when she proudly declared her new size â four, and it was implied that she was finally beautiful, seemed highly problematic. Emilyâs strategy of starving herself unconscious to fit the ideal body type left me mildly disturbed.Â
The society has progressed through centuries to become a better space for women in most parts of the globe, without a doubt. Even as we celebrate our monumental victories over patriarchy, we do still have to walk a long road ahead. The society, even today, paints pictures of what a âladyâ is supposed to be like, and this portrait that is advertised to us is hardly reflected in the mirror of most women. These depictions result in a person riddled with insecurities, forever cursing themselves in front of the mirror, trying desperately each day to move closer to the ideal image of a lady that is ingrained in their head. This âPortrait of a Ladyâ that I see around me everyday is fair, thin, docile, quiet about what is meaningful but talkative when it comes to mindless chatter, clothed in typically feminine attire, hateful of other women, and so much more, sculpted to fit into menâs lives easily. These attributes are shackles that prevent women from expressing themselves as they truly are. At many milestones, some small and some big, we are compared to this portrait. Those who do not fit this description are ridiculed, rejected, and often left unrepresented. Â
We have all grown up hearing the intended-as-humorous remarks of âdress like a real girlâ when wearing âmasculineâ clothes, blatantly pointed out remarks of âwhat happened to your face?â when struggling with acne during adolescence, and overheard conversations of âshe has gotten so fat!â at family events. Queen Elizabeth I used lead and mercury-based makeup products. As she aged, she applied more and more layers of the deadly products to mask her age and increasingly damaged skin (caused from the use of these very products) and present a façade of youth. From the ever-famous ads of Fair and Lovely, the cruel practice of foot binding in ancient China, to the fashion and modelling industry glorifying anorexia, the history of toxic and destructive body image ideals is long. This is not to say that nothing has changed. A recent example is that of popular criticism pushing Hindustan Unilever to change the name of one of their bestselling products to Glow and Lovely. While this definitely shows how popular perception is changing, it also begs the question of whether such symbolic moves would actually redefine unrealistic beauty standards.Â
The portrait must not be, and cannot be, confined to one ideal vision. It is the vibrant amalgamation of millions of such portraits, each one ideal to the woman who painted it, that truly bring to life a lady. The portraits I see come to life each day around me are more beautiful than Iâve ever seen. They are confident, supportive, of many different colours, sizes and personalities, each one truly amazing. Their journeys are unique, and they are all an inspiration to me. It is all of us, together, who are capable of painting over the old portrait ofÂ
a shackled lady, and blaze the path forward towards a more accepting world. In the world I wish for, a lady is a stay-at-home, married mother of two; she is a trans woman; she is a single 50-year old businesswoman; she is an activist. Most importantly, she is defined by so much more than solely by her body.Â
Many still choose to force the mettle of women into fixed moulds, but I choose my individual spirit over this hate, as must we all. The dynamic movement I see around me provides so many with a wonderful, safe space of acceptance and love. It moves forward relentlessly towards a world that is beautiful, full of life and vivacious.
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By Damini Jain, for the Trans Solidarity Fundraiser