Socio-Cultural Dynamics of Eating Out Alone or just Eyesha's Rant..?

I’m talking about Maldives today.. Eating out alone in some countries is not a big deal, indeed it is a culturally acceptable norm. It is perfectly okay to sit and eat alone at some place- in fact; it is expected in some of the café/bakery sort of places, where one can sit, eat, ruminate, read, write or Internet surf endlessly and nobody will blink an eyelid.

As I was having my brunch today- alone, mind you- I recalled an incident that had occurred a year ago. Obviously, it still rankles, since that is one memory that I have never forgotten. There was this one place near my office that we often visit. Once, I was craving for that particular place, food and taste so badly that I just could not stop myself and decided to go there without further delay. Most of my friends were out of town, and my sisters were busy and I usually don’t hang out with my office mates so I went alone.

I sat there and ate the most wonderfully unhealthy hot-and-sour soup. I suddenly heard a really snarky voice at my adjacent table say loudly “I don’t understand how people can eat out alone, especially girls!” Spoken out loudly enough to make sure I heard. I still remember the disdain in that voice.

I’ve never forgotten that incident. Almost every time I eat out alone (not that very often I go alone now), I recall this. I wonder what was going on in that person’s mind as he said this. I wish I had said something. I wish I had not been hurt. I wish I could meet him again and give him a resounding slap! I was just satisfying a primal urge- to eat some delicious food that I was craving. I wish I had not felt bad about doing this one thing I wanted to do for myself.

Eating out alone- especially for a girl, ye heavens! - was overstepping certain circumscribed societal norms. It isn’t accepted, it isn’t common, and hence it was worth commenting upon. Our cultural norms are defined, created and delineated to keep women in their place, inside or safeguarded. The outside is seen as the site of potential breach, be it of norms, principles or people. We women, as the moral and physical upholders of our culture, are not allowed to breach anything. Be it norms, principles or boundaries. Be they physical, socio-cultural or psychological.

I can only hope and “Wish” things are different now. From what I hear about the new trends and beliefs, I sure hope and “Wish” that women can go and eat out alone as, when and where they want, all the kind of food that they want to eat, without the world judging them in anyway. Next time this happens to me, I’ll make sure I dump the bowl of soup on the speaker’s head.
No matter how delicious it is.