Gendered Discrimination : The Social Stigma

Gender-based discrimination is a prevalent and misrepresented issue in India, perceived differently by different individuals. Over the years, women have been marginalised, overlooked, and suppressed. Despite efforts to address this issue, it hasn't received the seriousness it deserves. Our society's fabric remains rigid and unresponsive to the need for discussion. This hasn't developed suddenly but is the result of years of degradation and oppression.

The leaders we admire today have contributed to the utter degradation of women, and society as a whole – both men and women – haven't been concerned about this for years. Aristotle, known for his influential views on humanitarian and legal aspects, once stated, "A proper wife should be as obedient as a slave." St. Augustine, a renowned philosopher and theologian, said, "Any woman who doesn't give birth to as many children as she's capable of, is guilty of murder." Martin Luther, a priest and theologian of his time, stated, "The words and works of God are quite clear: women were made either to be wives or prostitutes." These quotes are just a few examples of the degrading views that have been expressed, and yet we're outraged at the thought of being spoken to in such a manner.

Over the years, speaking up for women's rights has been misconstrued as women being against men, which is incorrect. It's a collective battle against societal norms. How our society perceives this issue is problematic. To illustrate this, I'll use a simple analogy which sources from internet. Patriarchy is like a man having his boot on a woman's neck. Feminism is the woman asking for the boot to be removed. Men's rights activists think that removing the boot is a form of reverse oppression. Conservatives believe there was never an issue with the boot until the woman complained, and it shouldn't be discussed. Good guys take any complaint about the boot as a personal attack because not all men wear boots. Male allies try to discuss the issue without alienating those who wear the boot. Women with internalised misogyny don't understand why other women complain about the boot on their neck because they've accepted it as normal. Meanwhile, the boot remains on their neck. These diverse perspectives hinder a woman's ability to stand up for herself and refuse to acknowledge that women are equal to men and deserve equal cerebral opportunities. This is where the issue lies- refusal to accept women beyond objects that can be molded into puppets under misogynistic beliefs.

The problem extends beyond this. Marital rape is common in many women's married lives. Rukhmabai Raut, India's first female doctor, challenged such rules of marriage. Married at 11, she refused her husband's marital rights and chose prison over submission, despite societal pressure. She fought for women's right to say no and emphasised that marriage doesn't imply automatic consent. Many prominent leaders opposed her, citing tradition and norms. After winning the case, she became a doctor and proved that women deserve education and independence.

Today, many women are forced into silence and sacrifice their rights to maintain peace. Although 135 years have passed, we've only evolved on paper. Child marriages are illegal, women can pursue their preferred professions, and consent is recognised under the law. However, marital rape is still not considered a crime in India. This makes us question what has truly changed. It's a failure of society that we've seen no significant change in such cases. Many women and men have fought against the subjugation of women over the years, yet our society remains rigid and adheres to the same mindset. I've come across a powerful statement: if we fail to fight against something, our children will have to, because ultimately, someone has to break the cycle.

Until next time

Signing off,

Levishka Khurana