When it comes to dictating what a woman should wear, and how she should walk, talk and live her life, our society is an expert. It has already defined what a ‘good woman’ should be like and if a woman deviates from that definition by an inch, she is shamed by the self-proclaimed protectors of our ‘culture’.
Take the example of YouTuber Nidhi Chaudhary who has a massive following on social media. In an insightful video where she talks about helping those who are less privileged, she is seen donning a beautiful saree. However, she isn’t wearing a blouse.
One of the best remedy for Saturn/ Shani is to never exploit your helpers & help the underprivileged people. 💙#astrology pic.twitter.com/P8XfGKBDIQ
— Nidhi Chaudhary (@thenidhii) September 10, 2022
And several people online decided to shame her for it. From schooling her about our ‘culture’ to joking about donating money so that she can buy ‘proper’ clothes, here’s how many reacted:
Twitter Users Sending Money To Nidhi Ji For Buying blouse be like-: pic.twitter.com/NqMbH7m7Ts
— Pulkit🇮🇳❤️ (@pulkit5Dx) September 11, 2022
Whole Twitter janta donating money for Nidhi Ji's blouse be like: pic.twitter.com/debfPW6Dcj
— Dhwani🥀 (@SassyDSays) September 11, 2022
Nidhi after receiving money for blouse through her astrology video #Nidhi #Blouse pic.twitter.com/UBQH8iM5dj
— 𝓓𝓲𝓵𝓲𝓹 𝓟𝓪𝓷𝓬𝓱𝓪𝓵 (@panchal_dillip) September 11, 2022
Instead of watching bramhastra donate 500/- to this poor lady who can’t buy a blouse for herself.
Help underprivileged 🙏
— Binita (@binidjar) September 11, 2022
Aise na kia karo Nidhi ji, pallu sarak gaya to hamara mangal kharab ho jayega.
— ठाकुर साहब (@vinayrao8) September 10, 2022
Magar ap kaam ke chakar me blouse pehnna bhul gyi nidhi ji🥺
— Sejal jaiswal (@isejaljaiswal) September 11, 2022
@thenidhii Please wear a blouse. You are appearing in public. Don’t tarnish the reputation of Indian saree.
— Kunjan Panchal (@panchal_kunjan) September 11, 2022
Bahot nya aur alag gyan diya didi ne. Waise blouse chota hote hote aaj gayab hi ho gya 😃 .
— 🇮🇳Fitoor🇮🇳 (@India_Fitoor) September 10, 2022
Thankfully, on the other side, there were people with better sense who stood in support of Nidhi Chaudhary. Sharing old pictures of women, many pointed out how the concept of a blouse was introduced late into our culture. If you consider our great-grandparents’ generation, women used to roam around blouseless, covering their bosoms with the saree itself.
Portrait of a #Hindu women on the temple of Halebiddu KA.
Perhaps, our modern, self-proclaimed guardians of culture may clarify as to why ancient #India was more human than today’s regressive modernity, shaped by the imperialist monotheistic religious world view. pic.twitter.com/GQKfI2Ckps— TheMadKing (@shailesh123b) September 11, 2022
Almost everyone in comments is more interested in saying why she isn’t wearing blouse!
I mean guys really, is that the only thing left in your life to do!
Why so concerned about what she wears or not, her choice…😒🤦😒
— JAY G. (@thejayg210) September 11, 2022
People commenting on her dressing and blouse should check what kind of bra’s and blouses exist in the world. Jyada kuch nahi toh purani Ramayana aur Mahabharat dekh lo jakar. Hadd machayi huyi hai yahan toh. Arey jab bra/blouse kapde nahi thhe tab bhi log rehte thhe bina unke. 🙆🏽♂️
— Radhe Paa ❀(*´◡`*)❀ (@RadhePaa) September 11, 2022
I don't really care about astrology but I can't believe people are getting mad about her not wearing a blouse.
Can't mind their own fucking business. https://t.co/21DiMClpM5— Typo King (@Hopayega09) September 11, 2022
Cant believe people's mindset. No one in their right mind would find anything wrong in this highly educative video.
More power to you NidhiJi. You know we are always with you. 🙏🌸 https://t.co/ejihL3BIoW— NidhiJi FC 🙏 (@NidhiBAE) September 11, 2022
Blouses did not even appear in India before colonization. So I don't know why people, especially women, are calling her moral less and stuff.And no one is paying attention to what she's saying.If your attention is only on what she's wearing,then you need help. This is how it was. https://t.co/SWiooX38lE pic.twitter.com/MJBaXfdAOS
— Anushka 02_1612 (@Anushka_161202) September 11, 2022
Nidhi also tweeted in response to all the hate she received and politely asked people to mind their own business.
What a day it was 😌 It was funny but shocking that people are so much concerned about my clothes rather their own life & other problems of the society. Well.. I had a good time. Thank you everyone.
— Nidhi Chaudhary (@thenidhii) September 11, 2022
Aap logo ke memes kaafi ache the, maza aaya 😄 per please ye mere sath kisi dusri ladki/actress ka photo laga ke compare matt karo ki wo buri hai ya usko nicha dikhao mujhe sahi prove karne ke liye. Don’t demean any other women to prove me right.
— Nidhi Chaudhary (@thenidhii) September 12, 2022
There are more pressing issues in the world that need our immediate attention. And I can assure you, a woman’s clothing is not one of them.