For last few years, whenever I happen to scan through the traditional
hindi women's magazines, they leave me appalled/frustrated/infuriated -
I am at a loss to find the right word.
One thing that really gets me is the language - half of the words in any so-called article are english, merely written in Devanagri script - when most of them have perfectly equivalent, easily understood hindi words. Why on earth?! If anyone wanted to read english, wouldn't they just read the english edition?
And much as they try to project themselves to be moving with the times, by using such language, and carrying a large number of articles on makeup and beauty, the mindset remains regressive. They continue to perpetuate the stereotypes in the stories and features they carry - the working, ambitious woman is vilified as one who rejects everything else including the family, while they eulogize the educated woman the height of whose ambition is to teach in a government school/college, and that too only when pushed by a "benevolent" husband. Makes me want to tear it up and throw in the face of the editor!
There was a time, when they used to carry some interesting creative ideas related to different kinds of hobbies, apparently not any more. These days all they seem to have are make-up and make-over tips, and some silly fusion recipes. Though I sadly admit that the reason for no articles on things like crochet, embroidery, knitting, sewing etc is perhaps that hardly anyone pursues those any more.
One thing that really gets me is the language - half of the words in any so-called article are english, merely written in Devanagri script - when most of them have perfectly equivalent, easily understood hindi words. Why on earth?! If anyone wanted to read english, wouldn't they just read the english edition?
And much as they try to project themselves to be moving with the times, by using such language, and carrying a large number of articles on makeup and beauty, the mindset remains regressive. They continue to perpetuate the stereotypes in the stories and features they carry - the working, ambitious woman is vilified as one who rejects everything else including the family, while they eulogize the educated woman the height of whose ambition is to teach in a government school/college, and that too only when pushed by a "benevolent" husband. Makes me want to tear it up and throw in the face of the editor!
There was a time, when they used to carry some interesting creative ideas related to different kinds of hobbies, apparently not any more. These days all they seem to have are make-up and make-over tips, and some silly fusion recipes. Though I sadly admit that the reason for no articles on things like crochet, embroidery, knitting, sewing etc is perhaps that hardly anyone pursues those any more.
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