TMF: Chitrangda Singh On Understanding The Male Gaze While Growing Up
That's quite insightful!
As a girl while growing up, I was always told to behave in a certain manner or do a certain set of tasks that many of my male cousins were never bothered with. I think in India, we all have experienced something like that, and so has actress Chitrangda Singh. In the latest episode of Hauterrfly’s The Male Feminist, the actress joined host–Siddhaarth Aalambayan for a fun conversation around feminism, her growing-up years, being an army kid and more.
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When asked about the defining moment in her life, when she felt like an adult or what defined her as a woman, Chitrangda interesting mentioned–”My father was in the army, so we usually didn’t understand the disparity since there is a certain level of equality between men and women there. Everybody was taught everything, even if it was learning to change a tyre.” She mentioned how the difference was visible when she started stepping out.
Citing an example from her growing-up years, the actress said–” I remember we all used to go for a swim together, all of us boys and girls. Slowly when you’re getting into the pool or coming out of it, you start to understand the male gaze. It is different, it is growing up and it is that time in the teenage years. But I think when you hit 14, then it is the first time that you start to get a sense of being a girl and it is different.”
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Furthermore, she talks about this attention and calls it a healthy, and basic human response. Singh also says how this attention is the most normal thing, and how it is about understanding your sexuality, and it is being comfortable with it. She also mentioned how it is important to normalise this for both boys and girls to look at with a healthy eye. Well, we think unless it is done respectfully, it definitely works.
Also Read: TMF: “Spoiled Boys Remain Unhappy In Marriages As Women Are Changing,” Says Chitrangada Singh!
In the rest of the episode, Singh explores the various aspects of being a feminist, how men should not be spoiled by their mothers and how can they be better allies. Check out the full conversation here:
