MANASVI SHARMA BAWA

Recently, the digital world went crazy with the “My Choice” Vogue video under the hashtag #VogueEmpower. I am not here to rave about that , like a million other people. This is my take on “My Choice”.

#VogueEmpower is a powerful concept and I think we all believe that to be true. Empowerment is a heavy word, one that conveys a lot in short. The Alia Bhat video “Going Home”, about living in a safe society spoke volumes to me. Just like the “Boys don’t cry” video and the others by Vogue India. Kudos to them.

I have a problem with “My Choice”. I am going to be very frank. Anti-feminist to some and opinionated to others. This video is not to empower women, it is a rant. It is to tell me, “Listen, I will be whatever the heck I am and you better be happy with it or I will cry inequality.” Choices are NOT gender specific. You cannot make them so. If you are talking about choices, then a man has the same.

Being judgmental is not one sided. We all judge. What it should be about instead is the mediocrity of the society. Indian and otherwise. A man with many girlfriends is termed a Casanova. A woman with many boyfriends, a slut. A man with a hairy chest is a ‘macho and virile’ man, a woman with hairy legs is from the stone ages! Hell, even Flintstones had Wilma and the other lady all prim and proper. This was a cartoon based in the stone ages. Yes.

“My Choice” is any digital marketeers wet dream. It has gained amplification and gone viral! *OMG, pop the champagne* As someone in the Digital sphere, it’s an idea that would only gain momentum. It connects with the emotions, it has a famous actor starring in it and it has the backing of a brand. It. Is. The. Perfect. Campaign.

The power of Social Media is immense. This is a classic example. As someone who is a part of it, I only have applause for the makers and executioner. As a woman and an unbiased member of the society, it’s different.

Choices are nice. Choices make or break a person. Life is not just about “My” choice, it is about the flexibility and the striving to attain peace, success and happiness. More power to women and men, I say, but let’s not make it about choices, because the day we do there is bound to be a reaction. Good and bad.

Peace Out. xx