A local online campaign shows that #girlpower is stronger than ever in Chennai and here to stay… These last few months have witnessed a flurry of powerful online campaigns most notably the #meetoo and #timesup campaigns targeting sexual harassment against women at the workplace. The women of Chennai aren’t far behind with two home grown campaigns on social media that seek to dispel outdated, patriarchal myths.
Team My Red Lips
Started by cosmetologist Hephzibah Vineeth — Dr. Hepsi as she is known to her patients and online followers chose to dispel the myth surrounding red lipstick. In a short video posted on her Instagram account in early February Hepsi talked about how red lipstick was more about a woman’s own self-confidence and less about the misconceptions people had about women wearing bold make-up.
“Women who wear red lipstick are not sluts or bitches. A woman with a brain can also wear red lipstick. It’s about feeling positive and empowered and not about anyone else! High time that people stopped criticising women for their personal choices.” Hundreds of women responded to her #teammyredlipschallenge by posting stories of how a dab of vermilion empowered them. Software professional Arthi Ramesh tells us “Red lipstick to me is like chocolate cake — it instantly puts a smile on my face!”
Jewellery designer and socialite Minnie Menon loved the concept and added “Red lipstick for me is a definite mood elevator.” Scarlet lips will always be in style Minnie told us reminding us how the actress playing Scarlett O’ Hara (Gone with the Wind) made a bold heroine with red lips! There were even participants posting photographs of their mothers and grandmothers rocking a red lip with traditional garb. While centuries ago red lips were associated with immorality and witchcraft, these days it is fantastic to see this cosmetic is perceived as a symbol of feminine prowess.
Team Black Saree
Another sartorial choice which is rife with negative associations is the black saree. Not just any black saree, all black sarees. “Growing up I have heard so many negative comments about black sarees being worn at family functions like weddings and pujas. A friend was even told to get off the dais at her best friend’s wedding because she was in a black saree! I just wanted to post a picture showing how beautiful the colour black really is…” says marketing executive and blogger Subiksha Venkat.
In actuality, both black and white garb occupy a dubious space in Indian society — both considered to harbour unhappiness, bad luck and death even though certain Hindu gods (Lord Shiva and Lord Shani) favour black. However, times are changing, and when the blogger urged her friends to share their stories the results were also happily encouraging. Writer Sharada Murthy tells us her Patti (grandmother) deserves her own hastag as she complimented Sharada on a quirky black saree she draped for a family function. Others poured in with photographs of themselves in stunning handloom sarees in onyx promoting sustainable weaves or simply shared photographs of themselves in their favourite black sarees.
