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Some women feel empowered in skirts. Some women feel empowered in burqas. Some feel that sindoor is a patriarchal agent to suppress women. Some feel comfortable wearing sarees more than pants. There is no end to the choices that women have. But there sure are barriers between women and their ability to make a choice. In some cases, the barriers are set by other women.
An example of women bringing other women down is the recent exchange between Taslima Nasreen and A.R. Rahman’s daughter, Khatija Rahman. According to Hindustan Times, it started with Taslima Nasreen tweeting a picture of Khatija clad in a burqa.
She wrote, “I absolutely love A.R. Rahman’s music. But whenever I see his dear daughter, I feel suffocated. It is really depressing to learn that even educated women in a cultural family can get brainwashed very easily!”
I absolutely love A R Rahman's music. But whenever i see his dear daughter, i feel suffocated. It is really depressing to learn that even educated women in a cultural family can get brainwashed very easily! pic.twitter.com/73WoX0Q0n9
— taslima nasreen (@taslimanasreen) February 11, 2020
It wasn’t long before Taslima Nasreen’s comment made headlines and Khatija Rahman took notice. Responding to the tweet, Khatija took to Instagram to subtly address the issue.
She wrote, “Don’t ever mistake my silence for ignorance, my calmness for acceptance, or my kindness for weakness – Carson Kolhoff. To my dearest folks who seem suffocated. Please go and get some fresh air.”
However, Khatija later went on to address the matter distinctly with another Instagram post, reports News18. Posting a screenshot of Taslima’s tweet, she wrote:
Dear Taslima Nasreen,
I’m sorry you feel suffocated by my attire. Please get some fresh air, cause I don’t feel suffocated rather I’m proud and empowered for what I stand for. I suggest you google up what true feminism means because it isn’t bashing other women down nor bringing their fathers into the issue. I also don’t recall sending my photos to you for your perusal.”
You may view the Instagram post here:
People on the internet lent Khatija immense support for her views. Have a look:
In another Instagram post, Khatija thanked the people who supported her and also asked others to not spill any hate on Taslima Nasreen.
“I’m overwhelmed by the love and support I’ve got once again. Thank you all. I request you all not to abuse or make any hate speech against Ms. Taslima. Let’s strive to become a broad-minded society in accepting the choices our fellow human beings make and also remember Ms. Taslima in our prayers and not judge her for the choices she’s made in life,” she wrote.
However, in her most recent post, Khatija addressed the bigger issue – the double standards of society when dealing with women of a certain faith and why are men exempt from such treatment.
She wrote, “Why the double standards and sudden concerns only when it comes to women belonging to a certain faith? Haven’t we seen men wearing turbans? Why only when it comes to a particular faith are women targeted for the choices they make wholeheartedly and with pride. Why? Why? And why? I simply do not understand.”
Read her post here:
When we advocate women’s rights and women empowerment, many a time we end up dictating what an “empowered” woman should be like. Empowerment means to give women the right to make their own choices and to live life the way they want to.
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