Apparently the feminist debate is more alive than I gave credit to in my post, and I took Ghose’s word for granted that feminist discourse was dead. It is nice to see a critique of her argument, even if it is in defense of more conservative Indian women (perhaps I myself suffer from a bias against them too, in favour of the more liberal):
The yearning for freedom—individual, sexual and collective—is coming right from inside conservative Indian families, from inside the heads of sindoor-stained women.
As I mentioned in my post, I did take issue with Ghose’s portryal of the vapid ’sex goddess’, as a potentially dangerous depiction of the process of change around sexual morality. The author of the critique does too:
I also take exception to the assertion that the pursuit of looking sexy takes away from a woman’s freedom. In fact, desexualising the woman was the classic patriarchical power manipulation. In retaliation, looking sexy and revelling in it is a way to be free for many. Some do it obviously with glossy lipsticks and black halter tops, others like my Kantaben by wearing lacy bras, which may be for their eyes only, but it is freedom from the unsexy, enslaving Libertina versions of their mothers’ days.
Very true. However, it is a blurry line between expressing one’s sexual freedom and the mass exploitation or exaggeration of this, i.e. in the media, porn, prostitution etc. And where one ceases to be a subject, an agent, enacting her authority, and becomes a sexual object against her will. Is it not empowering to feel like a ’sex goddess’ at times?
