BURKINI’S HERE TO STAY
FRANCE MAY HAVE LIFTED THE BAN ON THE BURKINI, BUT THE DEBATES AND DISCUSSIONS THE BAN HAD PROMPTED ARE CARRYING ON ALL OVER THE GLOBE
After the recent ban on burkini — a full- body swimsuit design — in France saw anger and protest worldwide, the highest administrative court has suspended the ban on Friday. Ban or no ban, it has prompted debate worldwide. Is it something to do with religion? The burkini inventor, Lebanese- Australian designer Aheda Zanetti said she invented it to allow Muslim women to participate more in Western culture. But one has to look at the comfort level too. It’s not rare to see Indian women in a swimming pool or enjoying water park rides fully clothed, be it in Mumbai, our so called New York, or the conservative Tamil Nadu.
Bikini girls look good on the silver screen and in magazines. A girl in a two- piece grabs more eyeballs than anything else. We’re so conscious about the way we look and, more importantly, the way people think we look. Isn’t it every woman’s right to wear what she wants? Not everyone goes to a beach, pool or lake to see and be seen. Not every woman can sport a bikini. “I am not comfortable wearing a bikini because I feel I do not have that kind of a physique to flaunt about. I do not want my audiences to cut a sorry figure watching me in a bikini. They may not like it,” says actress Kriti Kharbanda.
BIKINI VS BURKINI
It’s not that they are ashamed about their bodies; it’s about what’s morally right and wrong vs comfort and sense. “India is a land of diversity and contradictions. Most of the world agrees that banning people from wearing clothing they are comfortable wearing is wrong — so banning the burkini or a speedo are both discriminatory. I think, a world of tolerance, where we accept and embrace each other’s differences and respect diversity is what is needed. Banning one’s attire doesn’t help — instead of that, banning an attitude of intolerance is better. A person’s body or clothing needs to be a matter of choice and comfort — so teaching our children to make choices that work for them and not just inculcating our prejudicial views in them is important. Or it is likely that we will create a future where men and women carry on the same prejudices,” says Dr Diana Monteiro, a counselling psychologist.
Shouldn’t it be a person’s right to wear what makes them comfortable?
“It should be a personal choice because it’s all about personal body preference. The fact that in India people tend to stare can make you really uncomfortable,” says an advertising professional.