Prehistoric

... was the attitude of the auto driver who took us to Malleshwaram yesterday. I mean come on.

The whole of last semester was about feminism. Psychology seminar, Psychology Fest, Psychotic people, all screaming their lungs out at how women are looked down upon by the entire world.

I'd had enough of it. I hadn't ever experienced any kind of difference in attitudes because I was a girl. These people must just have some kind of need for drama. Perhaps they just needed something to scream about, vent about. That seemed to be the only explanation.
And it kind of defeated the purpose, I thought. If they want equality for women they should stop screaming about the fact that they need special treatment.
They all seemed highly irrational to me.

Anyway all that changed on Thursday. Su2 and I were to go to Malleshwaram CET cell to "get some sensational sob stories ya, so we can write up an article on it."

So we took an auto. Mistake. The auto driver was, unfortunately, a madman.

He told us, "Girls should never wear jeans. Now I'm not saying you're bad girls, but what kind of impression are we supposed to get?"

We were wearing kurtas and jeans, let me just add.

"Now imagine," he says, "What am I to you? Your anna? Or your Chikappa, right?"

Alright, if you say so, although I'd rather not be related to a crackpot like you, increases the chances of passing on the insanity to the children.

"Now, will you sit in front of your anna or chikappa like that?"

Uh, yeah. Why the hell not? You git.

"Girls must only wear sarees. Makes them look decent. So that we men can feel respect for you."

I see. So we should dress with the sole purpose to gain the respect of morons like you. Yes, that is all that occupies our minds. What you think of us. We dont dress to make ourselves feel comfortable or feel good. No, no. We dress to please you, to suit your whims and fancies.

And just then, I caught him stare at a girl crossing the road who was wearing a saree.

Men will stare whatever you wear. We all have to learn to live with that.
Who the hell does he think he's kidding?

"Under the Kumaraswamy government, in 2015, a law will be passed making it compulsory for girls to wear only saree."

WHO does he think he is to decide what the entire population of women across the world should wear? WHO? Does he think he OWNS us?

What if we made it compulsory for men to wear dhothis at all times? Or suits at all times? Nothing but suits? What of it? Ass.

"Also, girls shouldnt wear all these pretty pretty chains."

Ok sir. Yes yes. I shall go home and throw away all my jewelery. Happy?

"I have two daughters"

My heart aches for them.

"My daughter asked for a chain. I said NOTHING DOING. See, women should not want to dress prettily."

Says the moron. URGH!!

I now understand a little bit why all those people were ranting and raving at the psych seminar. I feel the same sort of indignation at the frighteningly prehistoric attitudes some men have.

Recently there were articles in the paper about how they are planning to ban working at late nights for women. I think that is really ridiculous. Really. If your so concerned about safety for women, make the place safer! Don't decide to imprison women! Ha! Madness.
It should be the woman's choice! What if she wants to work late nights and you're not letting her? Last I heard, it was a free country.

I'm reminding myself of those ranting raving ladies. I now understand how its difficult to sound sensible when you're that angry.

What scared me was how rational the auto driver sounded. He didnt look like a person with a mental disorder. His eyes werent rolling and there was no uncontrollable salivation. He was a normal person, with this really abnormal idea.

Lots of people are like this, Su2 tells me.
But isnt it ridiculous?