Intimate intimidation

The proposal to ban skimpily-clad mannequins from shop windows in Mumbai has drawn mixed response from shopkeepers and customers

Arshad Ansari routinely sizes up women's chests. Usually afterwards, the 27-year-old salesman helps them purchase a bra at his street-side stall in Bandra where he sells intimates. Like several other shopkeepers in city markets, Ansari, who does not feel uncomfortable or shy doing his job, is flummoxed by the recent proposal to ban the window display of skimpily-clad mannequins. "Lingerie is a common product. What is to hide?"

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, on May 16, passed Bharatiya Janata Party corporator Ritu Tawde's proposal to clamp down on such displays which, she said, can "lead men and young boys to indulge in dirty thoughts and committing wrong acts". Her idea was prompted by complaints of students from SNDT women's college facing harassment at a pavement populated by two-piece clad dummies outside shops. If ratified by the commissioner, the proposal would allow civic officials to have a mannequin taken down if they find it insufficiently clothed.

At the popular shopping destinations in Bandra, salesmen say they will continue displaying products until there is checking and they are asked to remove the dummies. Most shopkeepers here may mispronounce 'mannequin' and 'lingerie' but the words spell just one thing to them - business. Parked at the entrance of stalls and shops, dressed in bright underclothes are a variety of deficient dolls: limbless torsos, torso-less legs or headless busts. The more complete ones sport coarse wigs, a haughty expression and have one leg outstretched gently, as if testing invisible waters.

Window shopping is all about presentation, explains Ansari's colleague Behlun. "Jo dikhega, woh bikega. (What can be seen, will get sold)." Another shop-owner, Nafees, says he will switch to posters if the ban comes into force but sales could suffer by about 60 per cent. "Pictures don't really do the trick. Customers mostly walk in after seeing the product on the mannequin and ask for similar patterns or colours."

The salesmen interviewed say they have not faced such objections before or had troubles with lingering perverts. "Men who commit rape have a psychological problem. There won't be a decrease in crimes against women if you just get rid of mannequins," Nafees observes. "Maybe because of such rules and bans, sexual crimes are on the rise. Repressed sexuality is finding no expression and women are looked at as objects irrespective of their attire," says shopper Divya Naik.

Imran Abu Bakr, who runs the 103-year-old undergarments store, Khamisa, in Crawford market and its branch in Bandra, however, thinks Tawde's suggestion is a good one. "It makes sense because when families with young children go to a mall and see a full mannequin wearing just a two-piece, it is awkward." He says he is careful in keeping the window displays appropriate and respectful to women, while stocking more racy garments only inside the shop.

In Ghatkopar's MG Road market, which falls within corporator Tawde's N ward, stores have been dressing their mannequins in conservative chemises. An intimate-wear shop manager, Eijaz, rues that customers are not able to see the assortment of products available. For the crimes to really decrease, he lists a number of other things that need to be banned, including bra ads on TV and item songs. Media professional Megha Kuchu sees nothing wrong in the displays. "Next, we'll be asked to stop using the word lingerie because it provokes 'vulgar' thoughts."

The embattled mannequins, meanwhile, did not comment.