Adult stars are outcasts; at the same time, stage works that are full of sex are put on a pedestal. This disparity highlights a choice morality that also shies away from examining the facts of desire, power, and control.
The Normalisation of Sexuality Through Cinema
Item numbers have become an integral part of Indian cinema. They are put forth as a form of entertainment, glamour, or star power, which at the same time present very provocative lyrics and dance routines. As they are a product of the mainstream film industry, which also gives them the go-ahead, they are accepted socially. The cinema in that regard plays a protective role which allows to present sexual content in a setting that does not bring moral distress.
Shaming Adult Performers: Where do we draw the line?
Adult performers work in what is, for the most part, a legal and consensual environment, yet they receive intense judgment. We label them moral or ethical, which may be a lack of control that their work has in the hands of powerful cultural institutions. When sex is a do-it-yourself project instead of a product put out by the industry, it becomes a threat to social norms.
Role of Hypocrisy and Private Consumption.
In the main issue, we see a contradiction between what people say and do. Many who publicly critique adult performers also partake in very similar, if not more extreme, material. With item songs, people have a way to give in to their wants, which still allows them to put out an image of respectability. Adult content takes that option away, which in turn forces society to address its own issues, a thing which many would rather not do.
Gender, Control, and Selective Respect
Women are recognised for putting forward sexual in item songs but shamed when they make independent body choices. What is made of sex is an issue of who has control over it. When profit from industries is what happens, it is celebrated; when individuals benefit from it, it is condemned.
Tradition, Morality, and Convenient Outrage
Religion and tradition are put forth as reasons to condemn adult performers. But that which passes for morality is choosy. If what we value culturally was really the issue, item songs would be met with the same protest. Instead of morality, we enforce a social choice.
Time for a Consistent Moral Conversation
Indian society must choose whether this is exploitation or expression. We shame the grown-up choice of some, and at the same time celebrate sex in the media, which is very well not an issue to us that it is grown ups that is lack moral fibre. True progress is in the application of equal morals across the board in sexual depiction.
Until then, this contradiction will play out in social issues rather than cultural ones.
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