Power and Gaze politics.
That person who attracts the gaze is the one who has the power, not the person who is gazing. Dr. Cooper, an emerita professor of literary and cultural studies at the University of the West Indies.
Here, we are talking about the power shift from what is assumed otherwise. Let’s elucidate this in the Indian context, where cat calls and gazing down are still common on the streets. Here, the gazers, as I would call them, can be both genders and more. A woman gazing down to tell you, with an intent, “How could you do it when I can’t? “ Men for the age-old reasons of their own.
For instance, when walking down the street, if you are gazed at. You could feel multiple things.
- Ultimately, you can ignore and be unaware, celebrate yourself, and move on.
- You are super concerned and intimidated, and you keep adjusting your attire by either adding clothing over what you were otherwise wearing or covering up. Eventually, this marred what you initially thought was the style, leaving you out of your self-expression. Yes, clothing is self-expression for many of us, more than just something to be modest or to cover us.
- You always wear something that is never out of the norm, and thus, you walk unnoticed by others. You have no story of your own that you want to tell, and thus, you are not an addition to the whole drama unfolding on the streets.
- You can gaze them down back. Tit for Tat. I see you too. Indian streets, you should do that, as It is none of their concern to police what you wear. Either be appreciative and enjoy the view and move on. Or just be oblivious to the fact and move on. In both cases, “Move on” does not create self-doubt, intimidation, or many other negative emotions in the person gazed at.
Growing up, we are told to dress appropriately and sit, stand, and behave appropriately to avoid situations like cat calls, followed, groped, or attacked even on the streets. In the whole scheme of things, the person’s individuality is lost. All of us look the same on the streets. There is no diversity of expression, peculiar colors on clothes, or hair; everyone around is plain Jane, nondistinguishable from each other. So, where is your story?
Taking power back to present the true self and comfortable in true skin on streets which are peppered with people who still thinks their opinion should matter to the next, or I am comfortable if they adjust to my norms.
Lets appreciate eachother on street, instead of gazing down, compliment what you like.
