After the recent ban on burkini — a full-body swimsuit design — in France saw anger and protest worldwide, the highest administrative court later suspended the ban on Friday. Despite that, it has prompted debate worldwide. Is it something to do with religion? The burkini inventor, Lebanese-Australian designer Aheda Zanetti said she invented it to allow Muslim women to participate more in Western culture. But one has to look at the comfort level too. It’s not rare to see Indian women in a swimming pool or enjoying waterpark rides fully-dressed, be it in the supposedly forward Mumbai or the conservative Tamil Nadu.
Banning burkinis in France brings to light the problem of policing what women wear. In a recent incident where a woman was asked to shed her bikini publicly, people asked whether it wasn’t just as oppressive as asking women to cover up on the beach.
For others, it is more about being comfortable with one’s body before donning a two-piece swimsuit. “I am not comfortable wearing a bikini because I feel I do not have that kind of a physique to flaunt about. I do not want my audiences to cut a sorry figure watching me in a bikini. They may not like it,” says actress Kriti Kharbanda.
Chennai-based designer of renown, Rehane, is angered by the incident. She says, “Frankly, I think banning burkinis is stupid. Even in India, women jump into the pool donning a pair of bermuda shorts and T-shirts, however unaesthetic it may be, because they’re conscious. Then why is it such a big problem in France to wear a burkini? How a person dresses, talks or walks is none of the goverment’s business and they should be focussing on more important issues.”
She goes on to say, “I understand where Europe is coming from. France is reeling from terrorist attacks but they’re lashing out on the wrong people. Banning clothing at the beach will not help the terrorist situation and will only further antagonise people who aren’t responsible for it. They are trying to clamp down on something they believe are Muslim fundamentals, but they’re actually part of the Eastern world as a whole. I don’t mind if people want to wear bikinis, shorts or burkinis to the beach and neither should the government. This isn’t the 1940s or 1950s!”
Shouldn’t it be a person’s right to wear what makes them comfortable? “It should be a personal choice because it’s all personal body preference. Considering that in India people stare, it can make you really uncomfortable,” says an advertising professional.
(With inputs from Kaavya Pillai)
