Political Diary
New
Delhi, 23 October 2018
#Me
Too Singes
INDIA
SAYS TIMES UP
By
Poonam I Kaushish
Last
week India was agog to Her Story. Two diametrically opposite tales which
showcased the dichotomous position of women in 21st century India.
One, wherein she emerges victorious, the second where she is victimized. Both,
culminating in victory with the God or devil taking the hindmost!
In a landmark 4:1 majority verdict the
Supreme Court did the unthinkable: It allowed menstruating women between 10-50
inside the over 800-year-old Sabarimala temple abode to the eternally celibate
deity Lord Ayyappa. Asserting a dualistic approach in religions and prohibiting
women entry as a form of untouchability which results in lowering dignity of
women, it added, “Subversion of women under garb of biological and
physiological factors can’t be given legitimacy and can’t pass muster of
constitutionality and religion can’t become a cover to exclude and deny basic
right to worship... nor can physiology be a reason.”
Yet, despite the judgment, none from the
“banned” age group could make it to its hallowed precincts amid a welter of
protests, chaos and violent
clashes. On the fallacious plea that entry of women of menstruating age was an
age old tradition and antithetical to the celibate nature of the deity. Big
deal if it stereotyped women as seductresses and stripped India of
open-mindedness, equilibrium and tolerance!
As the fight between Hindu Renaissance and
Obscurantism rages another battle front exploded of hundreds
of instances of courage which singed male celebrities
in the #MeToo inferno. From journalist-turned-junior Union Foreign
Minister Akbar who was forced to resign, Congress NSUI President, actors Nana
Patekar, film director Vivek Bahl, music composer Anu Malik, author Chetan
Bhagat, adman Suhel Seth, male journalists, stand-up
comic was accused of sending explicit images, another filmmaker accused of
masturbating on a colleague, one more of sexual harassment and assault etc.
It all started with a small-time
actress Tanushree Dutta recounting her story of being sexually assaulted by
Patekar in 2008 on a film set. When she objected the actors goons
misbehaved making her quit the film, industry
and country. Twenty
women journalists named Akbar for propositioning
them, groping their breasts and violently assaulting them. Raising a
moot point: Why are women viewed as sex objects? A plaything of males to
satisfy their libido and massage their egos? Why are we so complacent when it come
reporting sexual crimes?
Clearly, in a society which lives
with the regressive mindset that freedom and equality for women tantamount to
promiscuity, we swing between two extremes. One where a girl child is bad news
and nurtured on a “conform” paranoia: Not to rock the boat, be fearful of what
lies around the corner and subjecting them to countless restrictions in the
name of women’s protection.
For many girls even talking about
periods is taboo and life freezes for five days: confined to a room, disallowed
from entering the kitchen and temples lest they dirty it. Whereby fathers make
the rules, husbands enforce them and male bosses reiterate them, speaking out
against someone’s wrong doing is tough.
A girl raped by one of her male relatives in locked in the
precincts of her home, is told to keep quite to avoid repercussions on the facetious
pretext of ‘what will people say’ and ‘nobody will marry you.’ Several women
who face sexual abuse at work stay quite in order to avoid further harassment
and unwanted attention. Or are hesitant to speak out fearing they will be
dubbed ‘loose charactered’ at best or ostracized at worst. Either which way the
damage is done. Getting married and
raising kids is the core of female existence. Sic.
Not a few women complain that they are viewed as sex objects and
mince-meat for male lust camouflaged as human animals to either comply or
reconcile to battling it out at every level. To rise professionally they need a
‘godfather’ who can make or break them.
A profession where sexual abuse is rampant is the film industry.
Actresses complain of “couch” tactics where it is extremely difficult to land a
film. Not only are actresses asked to show lot of skin but visit the director,
producer, actor after shooting. In the advertising world colleagues’ comment
that women should wear things that make them look luscious, some pinch while
greeting you,
Perhaps it has something to do with our patriarchal lineage and
misogynistic culture. Whereby, we show utter disregard and disrespect for
women.... rape, marital rapes, sexual assault and systemic harassment et al. A culture that believes that the worst aspect of rape is
the defilement of the victim, who will no longer be able to find a man to marry
her — and that the only solution is to marry the rapist.
Pertinently, till date Prime Minister Modi has never been held to
account—by an increasingly pliant mainstream media or the public—for his
behavior toward women. He has maintained a calculated silence in the face of
countless rapes across the country. Be it BJP colleague, MP or MLA accused of
sexual harassment or molestation he has chosen political opportunism over the
rule of law. Rape accused Unnao MLA is still in the BJP. When he speaks it’s
vague, calling it “shame of daughters establishing his patriarchal thinking of
a woman’s place in a ‘man’s world.
Alas, despite umpteen promises of empowering women, the
Government has failed the Women’s Reservation Bill reserving 33% of seats in
Parliament and State legislatures for women. Neither has he taken proactive
measures to improve female labour force participation, which stood at a
dismaying 24% in 2015-2016, down from 36% in 2005-2006.
All eyes are on what happens in the Akbar defamation case. However
either which way, women have identified their predators and they will determine
what happens next. True, lies have no legs but truth is the best defense.
Notwithstanding the #Me Too campaign, in a culture where the
national narrative conditions people to think that sexual harassment has no
consequences; where sex crimes are dismissed as result of an imbalanced sex
ratio; and where women have little or no cultural respect, it is going to be a
steep uphill to change what is just par for the course.
Where does one go from here? Given that this oppressive atrocity
against women will get worse, not better. Clearly our leaders need to pay heed
and address this seriously. For starters why haven’t our policing laws been
strengthened? Laws tightened which would deter men to think thousand times
before they commit crime?
Our education system needs to emphasise the importance of gender
equality and eradicate the sick male mindset. We need to change our approach to
sexual harassment. One option is radical feminism to make a social impact and
safety of women should be an important article of faith with people, society
and Government. Along-with dignity, equal opportunity and independence of
thought and action.
To that end, we need stricter laws that ensure that those found
guilty of workplace harassment are punished. The Vishakha judgment guidelines
provide many safeguards, like having an “appropriate complaints mechanism with
a complaints committee” at all. Political Parties should constituted a Internal
Complaints Committee.
Tough times call for tough action. A revolutionary change is
needed. The Constitution has given equal rights to women. Merely mouthing
platitudes of freedom will no longer work. We need cry a halt to women being
playthings of voyeuristic men. Will women continue to constitute the weaker
gender? Continue to rot at the hands of lecherous, predatory or pedophile men?
Will we break new ground and unshackle women?
A time to introspect and say times
UP. Enough of sexual harassment! ---- INFA
(Copyright,
India News & Feature Alliance)
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