Women protest for “Beardless Boyfriends,” campaign in central India
by Nishika BansalA unique protest in central India’s Madhya Pradesh has sparked curiosity and laughter online as women marched demanding clean-shaven boyfriends, with slogans like “Beard Hatao, Pyaar Bachao.”
The incident took place in Indore and the video went viral on October 17.
Visuals showed women demanding that men shave their beards or risk losing their girlfriends. The protest featured slogans such as “No Clean Shave, No Love” and “Choose: Beard or Girlfriend.” The women symbolically wearing fake beards and carrying posters that humorously warn men about the consequences of maintaining facial hair.
Social media has been abuzz with reactions, ranging from amusement to confusion about whether the event was a promotional stunt, a reel-making activity, or a social commentary on current beauty standards.
Senior psychiatrist Dr. Satyakant Trivedi from Bhopal commented on the event, saying that the protest highlights the varying standards of attraction and the personal preferences that may conflict with societal norms. He explained that while society may view beards as a symbol of masculinity, individual preferences can diverge, with many finding the clean-shaven look more appealing.
This event underscores the tension between societal expectations and personal choices. Psychologically, it reflects the ongoing balancing act between social influence on beauty standards and individual autonomy. The women’s protest serves as a symbolic rejection of external pressures and an assertion of personal freedom in romantic preferences.