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If we don’t condemn Mamata Shankar’s ‘sari’ remark, our next gen will laugh at us tomorrow

Mamata Shankar’s statement ripped off the dignity from her and the actress stood bare with her puritanism, misogyny, and classism. That’s all.

Shamayita Chakraborty

Mar 21, 2024

Mamata Shankar

Mamata Shankar – Momo Masi for an entire generation – has been loved by one and all. People who know her – as an actress, danseuse or as a caring teacher – will vouch for her affectionate and motherly personality. She is adored for her kindness. And then, suddenly, she gave her classist and misogynistic mindset away when she ‘slutshamed’ women whose sari pallus take a risque direction.

Mamata Shankar's 'sugarcoated patriarchy' doesn't help

Mamata Shankar compared these women with those who ‘stand under the lamp posts’, aka sex workers. And then she tried her best to sugarcoat her regressive statement out of her misplaced sense of courtesy and, in fact, further battered down the residual respect left for her.

Also read: Mamata Shankar on Projapoti: Mrigayaa was my first film, so this time when I start shooting with Mithun, I’ll revisit my old days

After all this is over, where does Mamata Shankar stand? Undoubtedly, her statement ripped off the dignity from her and the actress stood bare with her puritanism, misogyny, and classism. That’s all.

Mamata Shankar is stuck with traditional patriarchal values

Evidently, Mamata Shankar is not the only one who is stuck with traditional patriarchal values that make her believe a woman should dress modestly to ‘earn’ respect from society (read men). In reality, there have been wide leaps in consciousness and thought since then. In fact, the world has travelled lightyears from this archaic misogynistic idea and officially accepted gender equality as a norm (whether it is in practice or not is a bigger discussion). Just because a regressive mindset has always existed does not mean we can’t outgrow it. There is no pride in clinging to outdated ideas and public pronouncements defending them are even more shameful.

Also read: Pradhan-actress Mamata Shankar shares the story of working with Mrinal Sen in Mrigayaa

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Finally, there is no doubt that we will condemn the commodification of women's bodies. A deeper discussion will find its roots in the rampant growth of consumerism. But in this journey, we cannot treat the women who ‘stand under the lampposts’ as untouchables. Simply speaking, discrimination – in whichever form it comes to us – will only take us on a backward journey and will further strengthen commodification. If we do not condemn Mamata Shankar’s statement today, our daughters will laugh at us with disrespect.