Modern Implicatoins

These photographs, a testament to Natasha Thasan's influence, depict her traditional saree draping style. Thasan, an Instagram influencer, has been a vocal advocate of the pre-colonial saree draping style, emphasizing that the use of blouses only gained popularity after the British introduced Victorian moral standards. 

These pictures show that there is an effort to spark conversations about the Western ideas of morality and why women today are sexualized for not covering up in South India when women had the right not to and were sometimes even prohibited from covering up before British colonial influence. Women seek to reclaim autonomy in the way that they dress and present their bodies by showcasing that women were not always held to the same moral codes in terms of covering their bodies. These conversations help us understand how male-dominated systems and British influence introduced new standards by which women in South India and all over the world have had to abide. When the British introduced blouses, they were often worn and embraced by upper-class, upper-caste women. At the same time, the lower caste was still denied chest coverings, thus creating a visible distinction between the “civilized” and the “uncivilized.”

This source is a significant addition to our project, as it shows that modern-day women of South Asian descent, including our audience, are actively participating in these conversations. While the post's comments may suggest a direct influence of the West on the dressing and moral standards of Kerala women, it is important for us, as part of this ongoing discourse, to approach and address these narratives from a research-based perspective.

This Instagram post was made by Natasha Thasan, an influencer known for her traditional style saree-drapings. She made this video in response to the overturning of Roe v Wade in the United States, and draws parallels to the historical pattern of patriarchal control over women, which took place through the imposition of blouses and chest coverings in colonial South India. In both cases, the creator seems to show how societal norms and laws created by Western men and their male-dominated systems have limited women’s autonomy in the name of morality. 

The video implies that the taking away of women’s right to choose (in terms of reproductive healthcare), and their infringement on bodily autonomy is similar to the way that the Victorian standards for clothing and morality infringed upon the way women dressed in pre-colonial South Asia. In a hot and humid country, women were typically observed to be dressing for function rather than form. Yet, the British perceived the revealing nature of their clothing to be “uncivilized” and “uncultured”, and introduced blouses which were quickly adopted by the upper class women who frequently interacted with British women who lived in India. Lower class women were denied the right to cover up, creating a clear distinction between class and caste groups. 

This social media post supports our project by displaying contemporary conversations about sartorial practices in South India and its evolution under British influence. Young women of South Asian descent and Indian diaspora seem to find this subject interesting, and thus confirms that our target audience is sure to engage with the content.