No Damsel in Distress

नये नये शब्द, शब्दों का दरिया और दरिया में डूबती मैं

बेटी princess  बेटी

माने कहा मैं बेटी नहीं बेटा हूँ

जो बेटी होकर बेटा होते हैं, वो टॉम्बॉय होते हैं, popular नहीं

Popular होती हैं princesses, damsels इन distress

तो किताबें छोड़ कर मैंने पकड़ा eyelash curler, Booty shorts और Hair Iron

दिमाग़ घर पर छोड़ कर सीखा gucchi और saphora कि दुनिया में खो जाना

आईना ख़ुद के लिए देखना सीखती उसके पहले ही

princess dress की सिलवटों में उलझ कर खो गयी

बेटी princess  बेटी

Many people think that the Western world had solved patriarchy, however after living here and seeing my daughter grow here I know, that the way Patriarchy manifests is different. It is well and alive. In a bid to “fit in” and be desirable, I often see young girls in this country spend hours in applying and learning makeup. Study shows the more women indulge in makeup, their appearance anxiety increases and also results in a loss of free time: 55 minutes each day for the average woman, the equivalent of two full weeks each year. The average teenager would spend 100$ a month on makeup, money if saved could pay for average state school college tuition with scholarship, a significant amount of money for low-income families. It is ok to wear makeup, groom oneself, or wear good clothes, but only to feel confident, but when it becomes an obsession over every perceived imperfection when it becomes toxic and harmful to a woman’s self-worth.