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“Sexism goes so deep that at first, it’s hard to see; you think it’s just reality.” – rightly said by Alix Kates Shulman, an American writer. Sexism is omnipresent whether you believe it or not. At every step of life, you will witness patriarchy deeply engraved in society and making you feel just like a pawn on its chessboard. Gender inequality is so deep-rooted that nowadays anything indifferent or any sexist comment seems normal to most people. Raising your voice against it would hurt your ears with comments such as, ‘Jhansi ki raani mat bano’. Ironical, isn’t it? Even to counter your opinion, they have got an example of a woman.
Anyway, did you ever imagine in your weirdest dream that sexism would sneak peek into your dining tables and food platters too? Well, the reality speaks how gender inequality has played its share of role in who is meant to be in the kitchen and cook and who will eat that food first. Sounds relatable? Then, let’s talk about it in detail.
Deciding Food Portions For Women
Let’s admit! Indian society is obsessed with women with slim bodies. Those with a heavy build-up are fat-shammed up to no limit, thanks to Bollywood’s misogynist songs. When it comes to food portions, women are expected to eat less than men as to how else they are going to achieve that lean body? In addition, women are idealized as sacrificial. They are believed to gain happiness in filling their family members’ stomachs. What about their needs, nutritional requirements, and likings? Why can’t women eat anything they want and feel like having?
Superiors Will Eat First
Men are considered superior to women. Why? Ask those men and certain conservative women too! Women are always expected to be at men’s service and serve hot meals to their male family members, be in the kitchen and keep making extra chapatis for men at the dining table. Usually, leftover meals are for women. So basically, those who kept on preparing for the meal will eat after the feast has ended, and that too the leftovers.
Even in educated households, people turn to women in the house to serve them food at the table. They justify this with flattering statements like, " women are so skilled, only they can manage to do this", "women are efficient". Why can’t they have hot meals served to them? Why can’t they eat at the dining table sitting along with their male family members?
Sexism In Food Choices
Women are now being told what to eat and what not to as if sexism in career, clothes, and friend choices was not enough. It is a common belief that heavy foods like burgers, chicken, fish, etc. are masculine while those light edibles like cupcakes and yoghurt are womanly. Women are not supposed to lick their fingers or eat by hand as these habits make them less attractive. What’s even more outrageous is how big brands are marketing their food products with sexist taglines and most of us seem okay with that. For example, do you remember that sexist chocolate bar popularized by Nestle with taglines such as, “not for girls”, ” King size not queen size” etc.? Another famous brand named Pepsico faced immense criticism post-marketing its “feminine” potato chips. So the basic idea behind the move was to introduce a type of potato chips that do not make noise when ladies munch on them as crunching loudly is not ladylike. Moreover, have you noticed that women hardly appear in ads for alcohol? This is again a gendered idea because women who drink are considered not so Sanskari by those alcohol-consuming men.
Food Selection For Widows
Have you come across widows just having plain food and that too only on plates made of steel or copper? Well, in India, widows are not allowed to eat flavourful food especially if that includes garlic and onion. Why? That’s because chauvinists believe having delicious foods or these ingredients can arouse sexual desires in them.
Fasts Are For Women Only
Women are expected to observe fasts for the long life span of their husbands and sons. They keep nirjala vrats almost every week seeking the good health of their family members. I do not have any problem with this until it is a forced practice. Isn’t it supposed to be a personal choice? If a woman is weak or she just doesn’t want to keep fast, would you still ask her to observe it? Yes! This is what most people would say. Why? That’s because women are sacrificial idols and they can bear pain and discomfort. Why don’t we just ask men to do the same? Let’s just do this for once just to record their expressions and thoughts.
Dear ladies, 'nobody' and I repeat 'nobody' can dictate what you are supposed to do and what not. Say 'no' to the rampant food sexism and take delight in what you eat!
