Women should not dress provocatively

Women should not dress provocatively in public, to avoid s*xual harassment and attacks. This advice has been given again and again not only male chauvinists, but even by women heads of women’s organisations. There have been also prompt retorts from women’s rights activists and feminists. “My dress does not mean that I am available”. “This is moral policing”  “The way I dress is my fundamental right” are some of the replies.

If you have a lot of money you have the right to possess it provided that it is legally earned and all taxes have been paid. It is also your right to carry it with you. But if you have to carry a lot of cash for any reason prudence demands that you carry it in such a way that those around do not know that you are carrying so much cash. Even if you are carrying only a lesser amount in a purse in a crowded train it would be safer if you do not let others know how much cash you are carrying. Women going along the road openly wearing a lot of expensive jewellery can invite chain snatchers.

In humans female breasts are a strong attraction for the male of the species. Shankaracharya said:

नारी स्तनभर नाभीदेशं दृष्ट्वा मा गा मोहावेशं

एतन् मंसवसादि विकारं मनसिहिचिन्तय वारंवारं

“Do not get excited seeing the breasts or other parts of a woman’s body. Remind yourself again and again that they are only a formation of flesh and fat.”

But the sight is irresistible this advice notwithstanding

  In India though women wear figure hugging blouses, the breasts are covered with a loose upper cloth. In the South young girls wear a skirt called “pavadai”.  But when they grow up and the breasts become prominent they are covered with a loose upper cloth. The sari has got a pallu. Women were wearing stitched cloths in North India. But now they are popular all over India. But the upper part of the body is covered with a dupatta. In European and other Western countries a “pallu” or a “dupatta” is not worn. But the upper garment will be loose fitting and the contours of the breasts will not be so prominent.

In India now the dupatta is done away with. The sight of young girls with prominent contours of the breasts is a common sight. The male should restrain himself. But at least occasionally one may get overcome. Inviting breasts are no excuse to react, just as exposing one’s wealth cannot be an excuse, for another, for theft or robbery. In any case we cannot expect every young man to keep a copy of the  Bhaja Govindam in his pocket and read that sloka every now and then. It would be better if we, I mean our women folk, are on guard.