Since Wednesday, social media has been abuzz with angry comments calling the story and its images as derogatory to women.
After Tamil magazine Kumudam Reporter's latest cover story that said women wearing leggings crossed the line of decency caused uproar on social media, an online petition has been started asking the magazine to apologise for the story.
Kavitha Muralidharan, an independent journalist, was so outraged by the article that she started a petition on change.org on Wednesday, asking Kumudam to apologise for the story. Nearly 5000 people - men and women - across India have signed the petition so far. In fact, many people on Twitter are advocating for the petition as well.
Muralidharan told dna, "I started the petition because I was really outraged. Being a mainstream magazine, I believe Kumudam had a role in solidifying and perpetuating misogynistic attitudes and thoughts in Tamil society. I was outraged as a woman because Kumudam was trying to teach me what I should wear and what I shouldn’t wear. I was outraged as a journalist because the self-appointed moral policemen of Kumudam had flouted the norms of ethical journalism and has indulged in gross violation of privacy."
The cover image image and the pictures featured inside show women's backs and seem to have been taken when their kurtas flew up in the wind. Since Wednesday, social media has been abuzz with angry comments calling the story and its images are derogatory to women. Both women and men have been up in arms against the magazine and the story.
Some questioned whether the women were aware that they were photographed without their consent. Others felt that the pictures and story was sleazy in itself. Many condemned the fact that a photographer went and deliberately took pictures of women’s behinds when their kurtas flew up because of the wind.
Muralidharan's petition states, "Kumudam’s editor and managing director have refused to comment on this story. They’re refusing to acknowledge that their magazine has done anything wrong. Sign my petition and make Kumudam apologise and promise to publish responsible stories."
Kumudam is a weekly Tamil magazine that was founded in 1947 by PV Parthasarathy and SAP Annamalai.
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 "Kumudam Reporter's cover story on leggings")
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