CHENNAI: Who said that salons only bring out the beauty in a person. They also unmask the ugly inner side. This reporter was witness to such an uncovering (of character) when he visited a salon for a regular haircut.
The media reportage on the birth of twins for Nayanthara and Vignesh Shivan via surrogacy elicited distasteful remarks by the male customers there.
A couple of college students set the tone for a dose of toxic masculinity with their opening remarks, “Why surrogacy?” Obediently responding to their catcall-summons was a hairdresser, who wondered, “Why should she marry if she will not beget a child?”
Notwithstanding that it’s about a woman asserting her reproductive freedom, another rusty male mind joined the party, and said, “She’ll lose her beauty if she delivers a child. Hence, surrogacy.” Out came another apologist of patriarchy, arguing, “Hey! She’s not as beautiful as you imagine. I’ve seen her in close quarters at a movie shooting spot.” “No, she was beautiful earlier. Of late, she has turned ugly,” complained another voice, adding a few undesirable words about the star-couple opting for surrogacy.
The banter of the band ended with a consensus that the actor should have conceived a child of her own.
It was a perfect trifecta of patriarchy, misogyny and men’s sense of entitlement over a woman’s choices on display, which is sadly a common among most men, irrespective of age and socioeconomic factors.
Visit news.dtnext.in to explore our interactive epaper!
Download the DT Next app for more exciting features!
Click here for iOS
Click here for Android