Entertainment /
Fighting Stereotypes Through Hashtags, Pinups, Paintings And Fashion
Cultural mindsets can be a pain in the ass, but patriarchal society's views on what's "ideal" are being redefined through creativity.
Stereotypical views on the perfect brown (or any) woman are being ripped apart, steering women into a direction of badass empowerment.
Here are three instances where creativity confronts stereotypes and redefines the standards for the ideal South Asian woman.
1. Badass Indian Pinups & Badass Bahus
Badass Indian Pinups and Badass Bahus
Photo Credits: www.nimishabhanot.com
Photo Credits: www.nimishabhanot.com
The "girl you want to take home" idea is taken for a wild ride with artist Nimisha Bhanot's work. Her series uses pin-up art to represent Indian women breaking patriarchal expectations and "explores the perception of self and societal roles from a bi-cultural perspective."
“I think all women are badass. What makes the women in my paintings exceptionally badass is that they are free to be whatever and whoever they want to be,” Bhanot told Quartz India. “They’re (the portraitures) badass because they’re looking back at their viewer. This gaze maximises the subject’s confidence and that’s what my art is all about,” she said.
2. #NotYourDulhan
#NotYourDulhan by Reva Bhatt
Photo Credits: www.hybridhues.com
South Asian culture especially revolves around the pursuit of the perfect partner and the quintessential bride.
#NotYourDulhan explores three different women who take on the challenge of beating those "perfect dulhan" expectations and stereotypes that face brown girls. These women share common ground when it comes to "small acts of resistance" in redefining marriage.
One of the creators, Reva Bhatt, said, "#NotYourDulhan is about these women transcending beyond the guilt of choosing themselves by reclaiming a level of consciousness."
3. Fashion Inclusivity
AJIO showstoppers prove fashion isn't exclusive to cookie-cutter women.
Photo Credit: Instagram
Recognizing and understanding that fashion isn't exclusive to a certain type, five women were chosen to walk the runway at Lakmé Fashion Week as showstoppers for AJIO, an online clothing portal.
The showstoppers included transgender activist Laxmi Narayan Tripathi for the “gender no bar” category, veteran actress Helen for “age no bar,” comedian Bharti Singh for “size no bar,” Bollywood actress Sunny Leone for “choice no bar," and Suman Sharma, the first woman to fly a Russian MiG-35 fighter jet, for “career no bar.”
Main Image Photo Credits: www.hybridhues.com, www.ibnlive.com, www.nimishabhanot.com
Nomaan Khan
Author
After spending some time in a completely different field, Nomaan decided to drop it all and switch to Mohawk College to pursue his longtime interest in the world of Journalism. His experience working in multimedia platforms has helped him develop exceptional skills in thinking on his feet, being ...
COMMENTS
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE
-
South Asian Cinema Takes Over L.A. – Check Out The Must-See Films At IFFLA 2025!
-
Stress Awareness Month: This Is What I Watch When I Am Tired Of Adulting (And It Works Every Time)
-
Sneaking Samosas In The Theatre To Watch 'A Nice Indian Boy' With Zarna Garg & Sunita Mani
-
Reimagining 'Mahabharata': An Exclusive Interview With The Visionaries Behind Toronto’s Theatrical Spectacle - Miriam Fernandes & Ravi Jain
-
Experience The Epic Mahabharata Like Never Before – Now On Stage in Toronto!
-
Exploring The Renaissance Of Female Characters In Bollywood, Hollywood & Beyond!
-
South Asian Stars Light Up Hollywood At Glamorous Pre-Oscar Celebration!
-
The South Asian Takeover: 2025’s Most Anticipated Hollywood Film & TV Releases
-
Bollywood 2025: The Ultimate Movie Lineup You Can’t Afford to Miss!
-
Mindy Kaling Becomes The Second South Asian Woman To Receive A Star On The Hollywood Walk Of Fame
-
8 Must-Watch Patriotic Films To Celebrate India's Republic Day
-
Up Close & Personal with Sandhya Suri on Her Oscar-Bound Film 'Santosh'
-
Bollywood 2024 Recap: The Good, the Bad, and the 'Who Asked for This?'
-
Must-Watch or Pass? Your Definitive Guide to the Upcoming Bollywood Films This Winter
-
How PBS Series 'Renegades' Celebrates American History's Most Badass Disabled Changemakers
-
14 Bollywood Remakes Vs. Their Hollywood Originals - Who Did It Better?
-
Catch Pakistan's 1st Ever Hand-Drawn Animated Film 'The Glassworker' & Other South Asian Films At Reel Asian Festival
-
World Mental Health Day: How Bollywood Has Used Its Power Of Storytelling To Address Mental Health Stigmas
-
Highlights Of Archie Panjabi, Neeru Bajwa & Iman Vellani At iSAFF2024
-
3x Emmy-Nominated Television Host & Producer Rasha Goel Launches New Podcast "Beyond the Glam" - Premiering Today!
-
Does Bollywood Accurately Portray Financial Struggles of India's Working Class?
-
Canada’s International South Asian Film Festival (iSAFF) Triumphantly Unveils Its Thrilling 2024 Lineup!
-
TIFF 2024: Our Chat With Writer-Director-Star Srinivas Krishna On The 4K Restoration Of His Hidden Canadian Classic ‘Masala’
-
TIFF 2024: First-Time Filmmaker Lakshmipriya Devi Dishes On ‘Boong,’ Her Funny & Profound Modern-Day Folk Tale Told From A Child's Point Of View
-
Nepotism Or Repetitive Content - What's Causing Bollywood's Slump Versus Punjabi & South Indian Cinema's Surge
-
Must-Watch Patriotic Films From India & Pakistan For Your Independence Day Celebrations
-
Villainous Vixens: How Bollywood's Leading Ladies Are Redefining Cinema's Most Memorable Antagonists
-
'Girls Will Be Girls' Wins Big At The 2024 Indian Film Festival Of Los Angeles (IFFLA)
-
OTT Revolution: How Streaming Platforms Are Transforming Indian Cinema
-
A Train Bloodbath With A 90% On Rotten Tomatoes - Why You Should Watch TIFF-Acclaimed Indian Action Flick 'Kill'
-
The Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles (IFFLA) Celebrates Its 22nd Edition June 27-30 With An Incredible Lineup Of 21 Films
-
Pride Month & Beyond: LGBTQIA+ Representation in South Asian Cinema
-
From Stoic Protectors to Emotional Anchors: A Father’s Day Tribute Through Hindi Cinema
-
Exploring South Asian Intergenerational Sacrifice With 'The Wrong Bashir', Now Playing In Toronto
-
Bollywood & Beyond: Must-Watch Films for Vibrant Insight Into Muslim Cultures
-
Over 50 Films From 9 Countries At The Eclectic South Asian Film Festival Montreal (May 24 - June 3)
-
Mother's Day Special: How Bollywood & Hollywood Super Moms Show Us Women Can Have It All!
-
Emerging Talents and Established Icons: Celebrate South Asian Heritage Month with Us!
-
Revealing Truths: South Asian Cinema's Contribution to Earth Day Awareness
-
Review: Monkey Man - Dev Patel Sets the Screen Ablaze with Electrifying Action
-
Exclusive Q&A With Diljit Dosanjh on the Dil-Luminati Tour and the Exciting Simplii Collaboration!
-
12 South Asian Female Artists Who Are Changing Hollywood's Landscape
-
Transitional Representation of South Asian Women in The World of Entertainment
-
Hot February 2024 Films From Bollywood And Beyond!
-
How Jesse "Punjabi Timbit" Singh Explores Emotional Healing Through His Comedy
-
Rukus Avenue Radio, The World's #1 South Asian Radio Station, Joins The iHeartRadio App
-
From Silent Frames To Global Fame: Key Moments That Shaped Bollywood
-
Hot January 2024 Films From Bollywood And Beyond!
-
Kerala Actor Santhy Balachandran Celebrates Her Three Incredible Releases In 2023
-
Hot December 2023 Films From Bollywood And Beyond!
-
The Real Reason Why Bollywood Directors Love English In Their Titles
-
Diwali Dance Fest Makes History at Walt Disney World® Resort!
-
TIFF 2023: Deepa Mehta and Sirat Taneja Share Why 'I Am Sirat’ Is The Transgender Story To Be Told
-
The International South Asian Film Festival 2023 (iSAFF) Wraps With A Celebration Of Outstanding Global South Asian Pathbreakers
-
TIFF 2023: 'We Grown Now' Director Minhal Baig Shares With Us Why Neighbourhood Stories Should Be Told
-
Event Alert: BMO International Film Festival Of South Asia Toronto (IFFSA) Is Every Filmi Lover's Dream
-
TIFF 2023: ‘The Queen of My Dreams’ Reigns Over TIFF With Style, Wit And Heart
-
The 21st Indian Film Festival Of Los Angeles (IFFLA) Returns With A Bang!
-
Brendan D'Souza Will Never Cheat On Their One True Love (Stand Up!)
-
Event Alert: South Asian Global Cinema Takes Centre Stage At The International South Asian Film Festival