In 2003, Dwayne Bell initiated a moral movement dedicated to educating people about the moral nature of female beauty.

In his study, Bell discovered that women who possess or appear to possess the things that we value in our lives or the things that represent values to us (health, intelligence, strength, character, femininity, success, etc.) are more beautiful to us than those who do not have.

Thus, a smart healthy-looking woman appears more beautiful than a sickly-looking stupid one.

Now, if female beauty (irrespective of caste or race) is the representation of true value then it must follow that it is perfectly ethical, moral and good.

Then, it is not really a contradiction to the traditional idea that women who use their beauty are whores, and the men who admire them are philanders. Again, mention may be made about the Dove's Love your body campaign, which was a huge success both in India and abroad.

Their advertisements featured real-looking women with 'girl-next-door' aura as a part of a campaign to promote female physical confidence and self-esteem irrespective of their shapes, sizes or features.

Feminists, following that campaign, have argued that women do not try to look good or beautiful because they lack self-confidence or self-esteem sans make-up or good clothes. In reality, most women invest in their looks, not only for other's compliments or fear of criticisms, but for themselves.

I call it 'pampering our own self' attitude.

Psychological literatures on beauty and intellect attribute to a stereotype mindset 'that defines high level of beauty and competence as incompatible traits for women'.

Some kind of a 'stupid blonde' syndrome I must say. 'Sex sells'- is a well known advertising and marketing principle, which has been used and overused.

Again, if we look back to India's cultural history, the cultural-scape is dotted with naked aesthetics. Jain and Hindu temples are decorated with erotic sculptures displaying sexual positions.

Prior to Islam's intrusions, traditional Indian dress, did not even involve concealing female breasts. Nevertheless, other kinds of public eroticisms were disallowed, for instance, kissing.

The balance indeed is between the two extremes: the erotic sculptures on the one hand and serious asceticism on the other. Manipuri society, at least do not have such kinds of contrasting extremes.

Why then, are we victimised by racist comments such as 'Chinky' or 'Nanga-Pahari' by the mainland Indians and addressed as being 'cheap and immoral' by many of our own brethrens?

How many of us when encountered by such biased prejudices and sexist remarks have given a decent protest, at least verbally?

We can not of course reason with all the morons in the street.