"I don't like it, But I am forced to do it...[t]here's a lot of pressure to veil myself". This video examines how women's choices and their voices are repeatedly nulified under patriarchal oppression in the garb of tradition.
The video reveals women performing hard labour like fetching water and cleaning with their faces fully covered. One of the women interviewed by the Community Correspondent says the veil is a practice to render women submissive: 'Men always want women to be under their thumbs'. She says the veil makes it impossible for a woman to be self-reliant.
How can we then render such voices, such testimonies legible to a larger audience? How, indeed, can we empower women to defy traditions they find oppressive? We have to start talking and have meaningful dialogues.
Let's dismantle partiarchy, one video, one conversation at a time. #KhelBadal
COMMUNITY CORRESPONDENT USHA PATEL FROM UTTAR PRADESH REPORTS FOR VIDEO VOLUNTEERS. THIS SERIES DOCUMENTING EVERYDAY PATRIARCHY IS SUPPORTED BY UNFPA
Community Correspondents come from marginalised communities in India and produce videos on unreported stories.
These stories are ’news by those who live it.’ They give the hyperlocal context to global human rights and development challenges. See more such videos at www.videovolunteers.org. Take action for a more just global media by sharing their videos and joining in their call for change.
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