Yami Gautam Moved Back From A Fan Offering Her A Shawl. She Called It An Act Of Self Defense. We Can Relate
Have you ever walked down a street without a care in the world? Yeah, you’re probably a man. As a woman, it’s more dramatic. The way I walk down the street, I am always alter, always on the edge, fidgeting with a bag strap, lest the need to pull out my pepper spray should present itself, always looking over my shoulder for any and every sudden movement. Now, while some may call this my paranoia, I like to call it defense. With women being attacked almost every day, no matter the time or the place, being too cautious is not just necessary, it is now a lifestyle for most of us women. And turns out, it also hardly matters whether you’re a commoner like us or perhaps a star like Yami Gautam, because the fear of being attacked or assaulted or groped doesn’t discriminate. And the Uri actress is here to confirm just that with her recent statement.
After being at the receiving end of criticism for having pulled back from a fan trying to put a gamosa ( a piece of cloth with great cultural significance in Assam) around her neck. The actress received a lot of flak for being cocky, inconsiderate and rude for this. Turns out, while arriving at the Guwahati Airport, when she was walking past the crowd and mob of fans, one fan in particular tried to greet Yami by putting a gamosa, which is an Assamese scarf, around her neck, to which the actress almost instinctively reacted to by pushing the guy away. He was asked to back off by her security detail as well.
And the reason why that this should happen isn’t rocket science. Considering how often it so happens that celebrities are mobbed or even groped in aggressive excitement, it was only natural for Yami to save herself. And that is exactly what she meant when she addressed the criticism and said, “My reaction was simply self defense. As a woman,if I am uncomfortable with anyone getting too close to me, I or any other girl has every right to express it. I dint’ intend to hurt anyone’s sentiments but it’s very important to voice out a behavior, inappropriate in any manner.”
My reaction was simply self defense. As a woman,if I am uncomfortable with anyone getting too close to me, I or any other girl has every right to express it. I Dint’ intend to hurt anyone's sentiments but it's very important to voice out a behavior, inappropriate in any manner https://t.co/sUc4GPxfWv
— Yami Gautam Dhar (@yamigautam) March 1, 2020
Also Read : Yami Gautam Says She Felt Stereotyped In The Role Of A Pretty, Dainty Woman But Is Glad Things Are Changing. But Are They?
And she wasn’t wrong. Not just an actress or a celebrity, but every woman has the right to protect herself, because getting up, close and personal to anyone without consent is not just unacceptable, it is borderline assault and not to forget, scary. We need to understand, respect and also remember to not violate anyone’s personal space. Because they may be public figures but they are not required to acknowledge all of our actions, nor we as fans are entitled to receive anything from them, especially if it involves standing up in their face, or touching them. Jolting back from such unsolicited actions comes to us as a reflex and we don’t hold think Yami was wrong.
These are troubled times and one can never be too careful, which is why when Yami spoke about how it was an instinct that came from a feeling of self-defense we could relate to it, all too well. There is a certain decorum that we need to maintain, be cause at the end of the day, what good is expressing our appreciation for the ones we like if it comes at the cost of making them feel uncomfortable?
