CALLING OUT MISOGYNY

Congress’s Shrinate, BJP’S Ghosh must know there is no excuse for crude sexism, no matter how bruising the electoral battle

AS THE LOK Sabha election draws closer, barbs traded between political opponents get sharper. Misogynistic remarks from senior leaders of the two major national parties are a reminder, however, that there can be no excuses for crude sexism. Following close on the heels of a deeply offensive post about actor Kangana Ranaut, the newly selected BJP candidate from Mandi, appearing on the social media accounts of Congress's national spokesperson and social media head, Supriya Shrinate, on Monday — “kya bhaav chal raha hai mandi mein...” (what is the going rate in the market?)” — came BJP leader Dilip Ghosh’s extremely unseemly comments about West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, asking her to “identify her own father”. Even as accusations and whataboutery fly back and forth, it is important that there is accountability, from individuals and parties. It is not enough to merely distance themselves from the incident, as Shrinate has attempted to do, by talking about a parody account and alleging that the post was made by someone else who had access — given her position in the Congress, this does not sound persuasive. A larger reckoning is called for on the part of Congress, and BJP, on the coarsening terms of political exchange.

These remarks betray a mindset that refuses to see what is evident to even the most casual observer — as women claim their rightful place in the public sphere, their empowerment is an irreversible force. Across economy and sports, art and culture, the growing presence of women, including in leadership roles, is a palpable and growing reality. In the electorate, the proportion of women voters is steadily increasing, outnumbering men in over 100 Lok Sabha constituencies, and this is forcing political parties, too, to take into account their growing aspirations, as through the demand for women’s reservation in legislatures. But it has also triggered, at the same time, a denial and an unwillingness to recognise and respect the autonomy and dignity of women. This view continues to paint women either as passive beneficiaries to be wooed with schemes, or as people to be sexualised and humiliated. Cutting across party lines, this frequently manifests in crude comments, such as those put out by Congress's Shrinate and spoken by BJP'S Ghosh.

In the bruising electoral battle that lies ahead, much will be said in the heat of the moment. Yet, parties must ensure that the battleground is not made any more hostile to women. India is moving with the times. Those who seek to represent its people must catch up.