'Break the bias' initiative biased towards Indian identity?
The whole can of worms was opened with what one should wear or not and was highlighted again with "Hijab". Every picture and poster of IT companies or corporate companies have a "Hijab wearing women" in the center place and not a single Hindu woman or a woman wearing saree or bindi or salwar kurta or ghagra is depicted.
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-Suwarna U
Usually, the women's wing of the UN decides the agenda for Women's Day every year. This year, the agenda is to "break the bias". The idea is to create an unbiased, welcoming world for not only women but for every person.
However, most of the companies in India have a different agenda on the card. Many corporate companies have published Women's Day mailers and posters with a picture having a woman wearing a Hijab in the middle. Then there are 4 -5 other figures, like an African-american lady, a lady wearing shorts, someone from LGBT group, and if at all there is some space left, then some women wearing trousers and blouse, or t-shirt and jeans having different hair colors. Many IT companies have adopted a similar pattern.
What is formal? By definition, formal dress in western countries refers to the dress that is regarded to be suitable for events like weddings, garden parties, etc. Formal wear or full dress is the Western dress code category applicable for the most formal occasions, such as weddings, christenings, confirmations, funerals, Easter and Christmas traditions (including court dresses, diplomatic uniforms and academic dresses), in addition to certain state dinners, audiences, balls, and horse racing events. Formal wear is traditionally divided into formal day and evening wear; implying morning dress (morning coat) before 6 p.m., and white tie (dress coat) after 6 p.m.
Women should wear a formal floor-length evening gown during these occasions. However, for businesswomen, formals mostly consist of shirts and trousers or skirts in mostly black and white colors or dull colors.
The British took their formal wear to their colonies. All export-oriented businesses adopted formal wear for the ease of business. Customers were more comfortable doing business with other parties who are following a certain dress code. During the initial days of the IT industry, formals was one of the key factors in winning the clients and established IT as a flourishing industry.
Over the period, casual wear has replaced formals in most of the companies, even in the USA. In fact, to the extent that Jeans became a mandatory dress on Fridays. In India too, we have agreed to consider salwar kurta and saree as an Indian formal for women, since quite some time now. However, there are some colour schemes, which are mandatorily considered as formal or informal even in sarees and Indian dresses. It is during lockdown, people uncovered that business can flourish even in pajamas as everybody was working from home. "Wearing formals for business is unavoidable", was proven a myth.
Let me get back to the point of bias. Suddenly one fine day, a movement started in India to wear "Hijab". Then some people started agitations against it or for it. Then it was highlighted by the media that people have a bias against "Hijab", and women who wear Hijab are victims of bias. Suddenly, throughout India, protests start supporting and opposing Hijab. However, the trend of wearing Hijab is surprisingly started only by these protestors, religiously in India. That trend too started recently. This trend is absent across the world as seen even on various media in western countries or other places. Even Muslim girls returning from Ukraine were also not seen wearing Hijab. Then, why is this agenda only in India?
Let me give some insight into the culture in the IT industry. Many IT companies have a week-long Christmas holiday. The reason is most of the customers are on vacation during this period. 99% of customers abroad are Christians and celebrate Christmas vacations. It is highlighted as the respect western society has for cultural values, the importance of family time, and vacation time. To extend that happiness of Christmas, most IT companies started celebrating Christmas in a big way in their branches across India. Usually, the HR department is very active in organizing various events, business quizzes, Christmas decorations, cubicle decoration competitions, building decorations, etc. Company canteens are flooded with menus having a Christmas theme and red and green colors.
Ironically, over the period, these same IT companies started reducing Diwali vacations. I remember we used to have a three-week holiday for school during Diwali. Even in companies, we used to have 4 to 5 days of holiday. Slowly these company holidays started shrinking from 4 days to 3 and then 2. In the last two years, Diwali vacation was only for a single day. I fear that, in the coming years, it may only remain as an optional holiday.
In many IT companies, there is a place and time for namaz. Our Muslim colleagues vanish for half an hour to one hour, for Namaz on weekdays and during Fridays they go outside, for even couple of hours. Officers and managers give this concession citing these colleagues will complete their work backlog by staying back. However, these kinds of concessions are not provided to other people, and definitely not for Hindus.
Hardly any IT company celebrates Ganapati Utsav. None of the companies have competitions, quizzes, Ganapati decorations around Ganapati season, except few companies having typical Marathi culture. Holidays are definitely given during procession days, to avoid traffic. The apt reason provided is, worshiping statues in office is not a professional gesture. One can celebrate or worship at one's home. However, the same logic does not work for reciting Namaz, booking meeting rooms for this or celebrating Christmas with decorations, or celebrating Secret Santa. It is a gesture of an unbiased open culture. It is part of team building, and very professional.
If you look at the above examples, in all these biases, Hindu belief system, festivals, dresses are not even getting full respect. In none of the "break the bias'' pictures, we can see women wearing saree or salwar kameez with a big bindi. Bindi or no bindi, how does it matter? Your work only speaks for you. So why should we highlight saree or bindi? However, for "Hijab" there is an exception. It is not a double standard.
If we consider what is formal by the definition of formal, it is ideally the dress which we wear during a wedding, lunch or dinner, or while meeting people formally. Since ages, during all these occasions, we Indians wear colourful clothing. We usually wear black and white only during mourning. Then how can wearing black and white be formal and wearing colourful dress is anti formal or anti business? India has a variety of cultures and dresses. Can we imagine an Indian woman wearing a ghagra attending a business meeting with a British or American customer? Or at least wearing any south Indian attire? Does that mean, a man wearing dhoti or women wearing saree cannot do business? Our rich culture and heritage shows that a couple of thousand years back, India was a superpower and a great business hub. Since those days, till the British invaded India, none of these businessmen were wearing shirts and trousers. Then why should we mandate formals?
I am not questioning formals. One can wear what he or she likes, is comfortable with and carry well. The whole can of worms was opened with what one should wear or not and was highlighted again with "Hijab". Every picture and poster of IT companies or corporate companies have a "Hijab wearing women" in the center place and not a single Hindu woman or a woman wearing saree or bindi or salwar kurta or ghagra is depicted.
In India, we had hardly seen any women wearing Hijab roaming around till a few months back. Then suddenly one fine day, how can we call it an Indian attire? Since when did all Muslim employees start growing beard or started wearing white caps in offices? When did someone even start wearing the white robes in the office (which was actually suitable for desert climates)? When did it all start? Why started? Who started?
During all this period the original Indian man and his attire are being lost, gone missing, forget about Indian women. Where is she? Where is her Core existence? Where is her attire? Where are her sarees, salwar kurtas or her festivals? None of the international events or initiatives are talking about the vanishing Indian identity.
Hence, I think this whole "break the bias" initiative is completely biased towards Indian identity. We should boycott it. Every Indian and every Indian woman, should introspect and decide for herself and himself whether it is really an all-inclusive event, and am I really part of it? Personally, I strongly oppose the biased initiative called "break the bias".
Usually, the women's wing of the UN decides the agenda for Women's Day every year. This year, the agenda is to "break the bias". The idea is to create an unbiased, welcoming world for not only women but for every person.
However, most of the companies in India have a different agenda on the card. Many corporate companies have published Women's Day mailers and posters with a picture having a woman wearing a Hijab in the middle. Then there are 4 -5 other figures, like an African-american lady, a lady wearing shorts, someone from LGBT group, and if at all there is some space left, then some women wearing trousers and blouse, or t-shirt and jeans having different hair colors. Many IT companies have adopted a similar pattern.
IT companies were known for their formal dressing till not very long ago. Formals were mandatory in every IT company, at least at client locations.
What is formal? By definition, formal dress in western countries refers to the dress that is regarded to be suitable for events like weddings, garden parties, etc. Formal wear or full dress is the Western dress code category applicable for the most formal occasions, such as weddings, christenings, confirmations, funerals, Easter and Christmas traditions (including court dresses, diplomatic uniforms and academic dresses), in addition to certain state dinners, audiences, balls, and horse racing events. Formal wear is traditionally divided into formal day and evening wear; implying morning dress (morning coat) before 6 p.m., and white tie (dress coat) after 6 p.m.
Women should wear a formal floor-length evening gown during these occasions. However, for businesswomen, formals mostly consist of shirts and trousers or skirts in mostly black and white colors or dull colors.
The British took their formal wear to their colonies. All export-oriented businesses adopted formal wear for the ease of business. Customers were more comfortable doing business with other parties who are following a certain dress code. During the initial days of the IT industry, formals was one of the key factors in winning the clients and established IT as a flourishing industry.
Over the period, casual wear has replaced formals in most of the companies, even in the USA. In fact, to the extent that Jeans became a mandatory dress on Fridays. In India too, we have agreed to consider salwar kurta and saree as an Indian formal for women, since quite some time now. However, there are some colour schemes, which are mandatorily considered as formal or informal even in sarees and Indian dresses. It is during lockdown, people uncovered that business can flourish even in pajamas as everybody was working from home. "Wearing formals for business is unavoidable", was proven a myth.
Let me get back to the point of bias. Suddenly one fine day, a movement started in India to wear "Hijab". Then some people started agitations against it or for it. Then it was highlighted by the media that people have a bias against "Hijab", and women who wear Hijab are victims of bias. Suddenly, throughout India, protests start supporting and opposing Hijab. However, the trend of wearing Hijab is surprisingly started only by these protestors, religiously in India. That trend too started recently. This trend is absent across the world as seen even on various media in western countries or other places. Even Muslim girls returning from Ukraine were also not seen wearing Hijab. Then, why is this agenda only in India?
Let me give some insight into the culture in the IT industry. Many IT companies have a week-long Christmas holiday. The reason is most of the customers are on vacation during this period. 99% of customers abroad are Christians and celebrate Christmas vacations. It is highlighted as the respect western society has for cultural values, the importance of family time, and vacation time. To extend that happiness of Christmas, most IT companies started celebrating Christmas in a big way in their branches across India. Usually, the HR department is very active in organizing various events, business quizzes, Christmas decorations, cubicle decoration competitions, building decorations, etc. Company canteens are flooded with menus having a Christmas theme and red and green colors.
Ironically, over the period, these same IT companies started reducing Diwali vacations. I remember we used to have a three-week holiday for school during Diwali. Even in companies, we used to have 4 to 5 days of holiday. Slowly these company holidays started shrinking from 4 days to 3 and then 2. In the last two years, Diwali vacation was only for a single day. I fear that, in the coming years, it may only remain as an optional holiday.
In many IT companies, there is a place and time for namaz. Our Muslim colleagues vanish for half an hour to one hour, for Namaz on weekdays and during Fridays they go outside, for even couple of hours. Officers and managers give this concession citing these colleagues will complete their work backlog by staying back. However, these kinds of concessions are not provided to other people, and definitely not for Hindus.
Hardly any IT company celebrates Ganapati Utsav. None of the companies have competitions, quizzes, Ganapati decorations around Ganapati season, except few companies having typical Marathi culture. Holidays are definitely given during procession days, to avoid traffic. The apt reason provided is, worshiping statues in office is not a professional gesture. One can celebrate or worship at one's home. However, the same logic does not work for reciting Namaz, booking meeting rooms for this or celebrating Christmas with decorations, or celebrating Secret Santa. It is a gesture of an unbiased open culture. It is part of team building, and very professional.
If you look at the above examples, in all these biases, Hindu belief system, festivals, dresses are not even getting full respect. In none of the "break the bias'' pictures, we can see women wearing saree or salwar kameez with a big bindi. Bindi or no bindi, how does it matter? Your work only speaks for you. So why should we highlight saree or bindi? However, for "Hijab" there is an exception. It is not a double standard.
If we consider what is formal by the definition of formal, it is ideally the dress which we wear during a wedding, lunch or dinner, or while meeting people formally. Since ages, during all these occasions, we Indians wear colourful clothing. We usually wear black and white only during mourning. Then how can wearing black and white be formal and wearing colourful dress is anti formal or anti business? India has a variety of cultures and dresses. Can we imagine an Indian woman wearing a ghagra attending a business meeting with a British or American customer? Or at least wearing any south Indian attire? Does that mean, a man wearing dhoti or women wearing saree cannot do business? Our rich culture and heritage shows that a couple of thousand years back, India was a superpower and a great business hub. Since those days, till the British invaded India, none of these businessmen were wearing shirts and trousers. Then why should we mandate formals?
I am not questioning formals. One can wear what he or she likes, is comfortable with and carry well. The whole can of worms was opened with what one should wear or not and was highlighted again with "Hijab". Every picture and poster of IT companies or corporate companies have a "Hijab wearing women" in the center place and not a single Hindu woman or a woman wearing saree or bindi or salwar kurta or ghagra is depicted.
In India, we had hardly seen any women wearing Hijab roaming around till a few months back. Then suddenly one fine day, how can we call it an Indian attire? Since when did all Muslim employees start growing beard or started wearing white caps in offices? When did someone even start wearing the white robes in the office (which was actually suitable for desert climates)? When did it all start? Why started? Who started?
During all this period the original Indian man and his attire are being lost, gone missing, forget about Indian women. Where is she? Where is her Core existence? Where is her attire? Where are her sarees, salwar kurtas or her festivals? None of the international events or initiatives are talking about the vanishing Indian identity.
Hence, I think this whole "break the bias" initiative is completely biased towards Indian identity. We should boycott it. Every Indian and every Indian woman, should introspect and decide for herself and himself whether it is really an all-inclusive event, and am I really part of it? Personally, I strongly oppose the biased initiative called "break the bias".
