So apparently pre-colonial Indian women just… wore saris without a blouse?? Midriff out, tiddies vibing, nobody cared?? Meanwhile our temples have 10% pure porn on the OUTSIDE WALLS where KIDS could see because kama was a legit life goal???

Then the Victorians showed up, saw all this, had a collective aneurysm, and said “obscene” is now a crime. Let the temples rot. Invented the blouse. Made us feel ashamed of our own ancestors.

“They did not simply colonize our country; they colonized the nipple.”

Anyway 90% of “modest Indian culture” is just Victorian missionaries gaslighting us for 200 years.

Full essay here if u wanna get mad: https://medium.com/@sayyida-noor/khajuraho-erotic-temples-victorian-blouse-colonial-shame-a93ef910c539

now go stare at a khajuraho carving and rethink everything 🗿

  • PeshawarToToronto@lemmy.worldOP
    73·
    10 hours ago

    finally a comment that gets it 🙏

    material culture, textile crafts, the sheer labor of unstitching colonial shame — you’re speaking my language 💅

    and yes those women at the bottom?? that’s the energy we’re trying to get back. joy, bare shoulders, zero fucks. the blueprint 🕯️

    here for the nipple reclamation movement ✊🔥