Feminism is… unfettered and unlimited
YUKI ELLIAS, 37 THEATRE ARTIST, MUMBAI
Sometimes, I wish I could just grow a beard and moustache. I’d have so many more roles available to me and I love playing male roles, they’re so much fun. Of course, I can’t say that I can completely relate to what it is to be a man, but then I cannot relate to every female character I play either. For me, feminism is more about not defining and restricting ourselves by the notions of “femininity” and “masculinity.” We have both qualities within us, so we should have the freedom to express both in any dosage or combination. I was brought up in a family that valued equality. They told me I could do whatever I wanted and began learning karate at an early age. Conversely, in the media I was exposed to female representations that were either swimsuit-clad Baywatch blondes, Jane Austen-esque ladies or Doordarshan-droning aunties. This was not just stereotyping women, it was boring. So growing up, Jackie Chan and Sylvester Stallone became my idols instead. Whether in Mumbai or outside, in the ladies train compartment or the general compartment, I find that how conscious you feel about your femininity depends on the context; where you are and who is around you. Sometimes it’s just like the phrase: “clothes make the woman”. For instance, earlier, if I had to attend a wedding, I’d worry about dressing in the best sari, dress or salwar kameez. I’d envy the boys who could wear comfortable suits. I no longer believe in these defined dress codes. There are roles I did when I was younger that I would never take on now. Now I have no interest in playing a character that simply replicates gender stereotypes. I like to play both male female roles. It’s why I like Shakespearean characters as one can do both in one role. When I played Portia in Merchant of Venice,I couldn’t wait to just whip off the dress and put on a suit for that storming final scene. I love performing with masks; here again the actor can easily switch genders. The theatre has become an equal playing field now that I choose the work I want to be a part of with more clarity. I’m directing my own plays and gender is something I think about; it’s in the fabric of our societal make-up.