BMC Head Sheetal Mhatre is ‘hooked on’ to the idea of removing mannequins selling lingerie in Mumbai. The reason, she says, is because they are “embarrassing for women”.
In fact, the municipal administration of Mumbai has been ordered to take strict action against the use of “illegal” mannequins found in the city within the next 15 days, notwithstanding the license to revoke the license of defaulters.
So, as it stands, the future of mannequins wearing lingerie in Mumbai is hanging by a thread, which, if you think about it, is also quite an excellent metaphor to describe a thong.
The diktat has deepened the ‘old cleavage’ between the conservative and the modern. While those on the former side are hailing the move, the ones on the latter side are not lending their ‘support’ to the matter, at all.
Well, don’t know who will win the D cup here, by which I mean Debate, but who will tell the BMC that the real insult women face is not from the mannequins, but from all that they are allowed to flaunt and we are not!
First of all, have you ever seen how confidently these mannequins express their sexuality, unhindered by pledges of morality or a baap, bhai, pati or fuckb*y’s ego to worry about?
Secondly, even though mannequins come with large bosoms, never have they stooped their shoulders so as not to attract any unwanted attention!
Thirdly, while these mannequins can wear the same kind of bra the whole week, we need to buy at least seven different kinds for different tops (backless, T-Shirt, off shoulder, what say you).
And let’s not even get to talking about the prices of these itsy-bitsy items. If you think the real estate prices in Mumbai are high, wait till you see the rate card of a bra and a panty. No wonder they are called assets!
The humid weather of Mumbai is also something that doesn’t affect the bra-wearing mannequin that much. She could be standing outside Mehboob studios and not have any underboob sweat!
The lucky mannequin also doesn’t have to ever worry about an underwire poking her while travelling, which those of us who have experienced it will tell you, literally feels like a stab in the chest.
In fact, I will take the liberty to speak on behalf of all women and go out on a limb to say that the mannequin, that can wear the sexiest of bras and ‘reveal’ her body with no body image issues, gently teasing the rest of us who fret about the teeniest bit of extra flab here and there, insults women only in that.
So yes, BMC, while mannequins are insulting to women in different ways, them exhibiting bras and panties is not the most valid reason. Or a reason at all.
Also, going back to your strange diktat, care to explain what exactly you mean by a ‘legal’ mannequin? Is it, as one Twitter user says, one that has an Aadhaar card? Or are its assets declared in income tax filings? In which case, uff, uff, too naughty, IT peeps!
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