Not too long ago, I came across an Instagram post
of a well-known Australian influencer and travel blogger with over 1.2 million
followers on Instagram (who I’ve chosen not to name as she apologised for her
actions after discussing it with me). She had posted several pictures of
herself in a lehenga, an Indian garment usually worn on formal or ceremonial
occasions, and a variety of Indian jewelry, posing in front of famous and
historical forts of Jaipur, Rajasthan (which happens to be my
birthplace).
Now see, what irked me about this wasn’t the fact
that she had chosen to sport these items of great history, religious and
traditional value, as a form of ‘aesthetic’, without shedding the tiniest bit
of light on the importance of them, no.
I suppose it was pushing the line, but even when
there was no mention or any informative caption addressing the jewellery
such as the nose ring, usually worn as a symbol of marriage and prestige,
honouring Parvathi, the Hindu goddess of marriage, and which according to the
Ayurvedic belief is associated with the female reproductive system or
the tikka, typically placed on the bride’s hairline, for the first time on the
bride’s wedding day and is an essential element of the solar shringaar (the
sixteen traditional bridal adornments) and which signifies the holy union of
the male and female, on a spiritual, physical and emotional level, or perhaps
even the giant pink monument in the background, for which Jaipur is known and
holds centuries of history involving the kings and queens of India; I suppose
even then, that wasn’t really what got me.
What got me was the hypocrisy; the hypocrisy which
had become so very evident amongst all this.
See, personally, I’m the most ‘in touch’ with my
Indian roots. I’m not religious and actually, I haven’t even lived in India
since I was 12. But my ethnicity and culture still make up an enormous part of
who I am, whether I like it or not. Growing up, living in several different
parts of the world, and still living in a place where I’m considered a minority
due to my skin tone, has shaped me into the person I am today. Now, whether
that may be due to the bullying for my brown skin at 13, or because of
opportunities I am overlooked for when it is assumed my skills aren’t par with
those whose first language is English, is a different discussion, but a
relevant one here that drives this anger and frustration.
What truly got me was how uneducated and ignorant
people seemed to be under the influencer’s post. Not a SINGLE comment
questioning her actions, whilst at the same time Trisha Paytas’ photo of her
box braids was bringing in thousands and thousands of fuming, rage-filled
comments, ’ canceling’ her for appropriating black culture and trying to
educate her about the history of the hairstyle.
Similarly, Kim Kardashian’s recent shapewear launch
‘Kimono’ brought in media coverage from tens of thousands of news agencies,
influencers, enraged Instagrammers on their stories, twitter trending list
etc.; resulting in the name being removed, a change being made; but have you
heard or seen anyone talk about Gucci’s turban named ‘Indy Full Turban’?
The turban is traditionally worn with a religious significance
and is an article of faith that millions of Sikhs around the world view as
sacred.
The item was first worn by white models during
Milan Fashion Week in 2018. Has the coverage for this, in over a year, been
anywhere near comparable to the Kardashian’s scandal in the past few weeks? The
biggest insult is the fact that Gucci is yet to comment on it.
It was torture seeing how quick people were to turn
a blind eye or be outright oblivious and uninformed about the fact that this
influencer had done exactly what would be considered killing her own career if
she had done it with literally ANY other culture or tradition.
Flaunting around in a Native American traditional
War Bonnet, posing for a quirky photo at Coachella? You’re absolute goner,
might as well get rid of your internet router.
Dressing up in a Korean traditional Hanbok to take
photos in, with your new BTS album? You’re an absolutely trash Koreaboo.
I come across as resentful and as if I don’t
approve of other culture being treated with respect when honestly, I’m just
envious.
I’m jealous and frustrated that other minorities
are being talked about, getting the recognition they deserve and the
stereotypes around them are being demolished, whereas mine is still being
misrepresented and dumbed down to ‘creepy Indian dudes in DM’s’ or simply being
cast as the ‘old store clerk uncle’ or ‘the burnt-out math nerd who speaks with
an accent’. I feel vulnerable that people aren’t as accepting of who I am, just
due to my skin colour. I’m ashamed that there are so much powerful history and
so many people of might that deserve recognition for their courage and
influence, that aren’t being talked about, that aren’t being celebrated for the
heroic forces they are.
We need to represent the brown community. We need
South Asian (YES, Asian. Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Nepali, Sri Lankan,
Afghani, etc. are also ASIANS, they’re literally on the same continent of ASIA)
representation in media. We need to cut back on the stereotypes. We need to
educate ourselves.
Because, either ALL of it's ok or NONE of its ok.
Either we choose to get offended over all
misrepresentation and disrespect of any and every culture appropriation or we
choose to ignore all of it. It is not acceptable to be choosey about which
cultures and ethnicities we deem valuable enough to defend and spread awareness
of.
We are not going to discriminate within the already
existing discrimination.