FEMINISM IN POP-CULTURE: OF THE BROWN GIRLS, FOR THE BROWN GIRLS, BY THE BROWN GIRLS

2023 was the year that witnessed Barbie become the first movie with a woman holding the sole director credit to surpass $1 billion box office records, Taylor Swift's concerts literally increase an entire country's economy, Claudia Goldin become the first woman in history to be the sole winner of the Nobel Prize in Economics. But, is this westernized-packaged-and-marketed version of feminism which is portrayed in pop culture enough to further the idea of feminism in our beloved nation? Let's start with a basic question.

What do we want in terms of representation in popular media and culture? Us street-food, jhumkas and KK loving women with an upbringing so drastically different from the western world. Sure, education and globalization go hand-in-hand and sure, I am generalizing. Of course, not all women have to love jhumkas and street-food. Just kidding, all Indian women do, in fact, love street-food. But, that's not the point. Point is- do we find this western, whitewashed, shiny and updated version of feminism in pop-culture relatable, or constructive, at a root level in India and specifically, to the rise of the brown brand of feminism in pop culture? I, a not so self-assured brown-feminist, kinda disagree.

Bend It Like Beckham was a sleeper hit, and if you haven't seen this movie, I highly recommend you to do so. It should've made Parminder Nagra, a British-Indian actress who was the lead, an overnight sensation. It didn't. Instead, Keira Knightley and Jonathan Rhys Meyers became the recipient of all the fame and attention. Barbie had a tremendous marketing strategy with an advertised brand of modern feminism. It resultingly performed quite well in almost every western (perhaps, developed) country and yet, somehow, its entire brand of marketing didn't ensure its commercial success in India. Priyanka Chopra should've received more serious roles in Hollywood by now, crediting the experience and mettle her Bollywood track-record has to show. Yet, all I see is her either being cast as the secondary character, supporting castmember, or the yet again fetishized/sexy/badass fighter-agent. (Quantico and then Citadel. Russo Brothers aren't exactly my all time faves, despite their best efforts with that one scene in Endgame where a squad of all of Marvel's kickass female heroines materialize next to one another. Kinda cringe.)

Which, again, begs the question- what do we want as representation in pop-culture?

For starters, bring back Sarabhai v/s Sarabhai. Another classic recommendation from yours truly, thank me later. Maya- with her sass, unapologetically high standards and occasional behavioral demerits (she's only human, which guess what, all women are) is the kind of three dimensional character I want to see. Before Rupali Ganguly was the national treasure Anupama, she was Monisha. Monisha is not your meek-and-submissive-Gopi-bahu or the scheming-and-evil-Rashi-bahu type character in the era which was so riddled with such mundane saas-bahu stereotypes. Despite Maya giving Monisha so much sass as her mother-in-law, she holds her own, remains playful and taunting, and upholds her middle-class heritage with pride. Also, surprise-surprise, the show didn't garner much viewership in its time and was never renewed for a second season.

To all of you who instantly imagine the (in)famous scene from Animal the moment I mention "Tripti Dimri", kindly watch Bulbbul. A film which I can't describe without feeling sorry for Tripti, Bulbbul is the definition of a well-crafted chilling tale of revenge, shrouded beautifully in an almost see-through sheen of feminism. Imagine the same actress receiving the fame she definitely deserves, but for exactly the wrong reasons. From Piku's expressive and defiant kohl-laden eyes, to Rani's fragile strength as she decides to go on her honeymoon solo, to Mary Kom's indomitable spirit as she embarks on the journey to becoming a national and global champion, to Sashi's dignified composure as she bears the taunts of strangers and family alike owing to her broken knowledge of English- are perhaps, what I would like to see on screen as representation of the "modern Indian woman."

Even though these might seem like just examples, they hold the key to bringing about a shift in what it means to be a woman in this country. The fights fought by majority of the women in this country isn't against paid maternity leaves or unrealistic western beauty standards. Very fundamentally, it's against a husband who physically assaults his wife, a mother who bestows generational trauma on her daughter, a president of a sports organization who sexually harasses the same female players who strive to win laurels for the country, a film director who refuses to acknowledge social responsibility for his extremely regressive, blockbuster movie in a country like ours where the art and the artist just simply can't be separated. It's not me saying that all the achievements made by women who do not fit into this mold of brown-feminism need to be disregarded. All I simply ask of you, dear reader, is to explore further within the idea of womanhood in India, weigh the eons of heritage and culture and stereotypes and oppressive practices you are laden with, and then, start to form your own feminist ideals with that foundation. You don't have to be inspired by Margot Robbie's Barbie, you don't have to consider Taylor Swift a feminist icon, you don't have to be empowered by Kamala Harris, you don't have to acknowledge white body-positivity as your own path to self-love. You don't even have to be a "feminist".

Just be you, girl. I am rooting for you.