Sexism means discrimination based on sex or gender or the belief that because men are
superior to women, discrimination is justified. Such a belief can be conscious or unconscious.
In sexism, as in racism, the differences between two (or more) groups are viewed as indications that one group is superior or inferior. Sexist discrimination against girls and women is a means of maintaining male domination and power. Oppression or discrimination can be economic, political, social, or cultural.
Some feminists have argued that sexism is the primal, or first, a form of oppression in humanity and that other oppressions are built on the foundation of oppression of women.
The word "sexism" became widely known during the women's liberation movement of the 1960s. At that time, feminist theorists explained that the oppression of women was widespread
in nearly all human society, and they began to speak of sexism instead of male chauvinism.
Whereas male chauvinists were usually individual men who expressed the belief that they were superior to women, sexism referred to collective behaviour that reflected society as a whole.
The Boys Lockerroom Case
An Instagram chat group called ‘Bois Locker Room’, with hundreds of boys from south Delhi, was allegedly used for sharing photos of underage girls, objectifying them, and promoting rape culture, revealed a user on Twitter on Sunday, 3 May. A day later on Monday, a Delhi schoolboy was taken into custody by the police.
The incident has reignited online conversations about toxic masculinity, the prevalence of rape culture and the young age at which It is permeated as well as calls for punishment and accountability for the accused. The outrage was appreciated by many, many of the netizens considered it as empowerment, but there were a few of us who had a little different perspective. This outrage was often regarded as selective criticism by the netizens. It may sound offensive and negative but the facts state this is the harsh reality of today's world.
When women are harassed on social media platforms, and in premises which we consider aso ur habitat. We feel the threat personally. But when a Dalit woman is raped and hanged we don't see that as unsettling. When poor women are harassed daily we consider it as a routine we spare a second to shed a tear and get back to normalcy and some cases even a second isn't spared. We don't outrage enough and feel the threat personally when we don't belong to the same identity axis as them.
The Overlooked Incidents
According to a report by, Human Rights Watch, Four Dalit Women are raped every day. But do we know or are well versed with such cases or incidents? The answer is No! Every time a poor or lower caste women are raped, the incident doesn't make it to the news nor electronic nor social media unless the incident takes a horrendous turn. And by horrendous I mean when the rape victim is murdered, either by being hanged on a tree or by burning her alive. A New Indian Express report said that according to the 2016 National Crime Records Bureau data, of all crimes committed against the members of the Scheduled Castes, the highest is against Dalit women.
Now moving from the underdeveloped rural area to modern cosmopolitan cities.
The JNU Protests in November on the hostel fee hike which shook the country was followed by a lot of online social media bashing of JNU students. Many social media trolls shared misinformation about the protesting JNU students and their lifestyle which was shared widely by other netizens believing them to be true. Women were especially targetted by the trolls. Photos of female students smoking or while being in the state of intoxication were widely shared and derogatory remarks on their character were made all over the social media openly but did it made it to the mainstream? No, because those students didn't share the same identity axis or maybe differences of ideology compelled all of us to shut our senses and ignore the open female bashing and rampant sexism.
And it's not about these particular students only. The Media Houses who don't bring such stories to mainstream also are infected by the virus of sexism. A survey conducted by the Network of Women in Media, India, and Gender at Work, found that over one-third of respondents had experienced some form of sexual harassment at their workplaces and over half of them did not report the incident. Also, a large percentage of respondents had never attended a training workshop on sexual harassment, as required by the law. Over a third (36 per cent) of all respondents reported having experienced sexual harassment at their workplaces. Of the respondents who experienced sexual harassment at work, more than half (53 per cent) did not report it to anyone.
In the last few years, the employment rate of women engineer has worsened from 35% in 2005 to 26% in 2018, said a survey by the Society of Women Engineers and the Center for WorkLife Law at the University of California, Hastings College of Law. Engineers play a very important role in the development of society and nation. Engineers of different disciplines help in their respective ways so that our society progresses forward. But these figures show Engineers aren't being progressive and they are also stuck with the age-old disease of Sexism.
Disregarded Sexist Politics.
Politicians are the representatives of the people. Their role as a politician is to make policies, amend laws and give voice to the problems face by the people for the improvement and betterment of people and society. "Betterment of People and Society." Sounds nice? Gives positive vibes? Absolutely it gives good vibes. But, are they doing the betterment thing? Well, I will leave it to you to assume and judge with the help of these few reports.
Nearly 100 Indian women politicians faced abuse, including rape and death threats, on social media during elections last year, with researchers on Thursday raising concerns over rising online violence against women globally. A study by Amnesty International India said 95 female politicians received nearly 1 million hateful mentions on Twitter between March and May, one in five of which was sexist or misogynistic. In all, there were 724 women candidates. Digital rights experts said gender-based online violence was increasing which was intimidating women and deterring them from putting themselves forward for public office.
From Rahul Gandhi's comments on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to the remarks about Mayawati, sexism and attacks targeting woman politicians have been featured in an Article named "Political Dhobi Ghat" by India Today which might totally change your perspective towards your Political Representatives.
Soon after Article 370 was revoked, jokes and memes started circulating on different social media sites about Kashmiri women. The fair complexion Kashmiri girls were being portrayed as objects of desire. This is a naked exertion of masculinity. Even some politicians made some sexist jokes like they would fix sex ratio in some states by bringing women from Kashmiri. An MLA from Muzaffarnagar echoed the same thoughts. He wanted his party workers to marry ‘Gori Kashmiri’ girls. Haryana Chief Minister ‘joked’ about bringing girls from Kashmir but one has to understand the sinister meaning that the seemingly harmless statement may imply, especially when it is stated by a tall leader like him.
They might have joked. But a responsible leader should know what he is joking about. Women’s lives are not jokes because their lives matter too.
Conclusion
There are other various instances where women were openly subjected to harassment but the society turned a blind eye towards them just because they didn't share the same identity axis. Like during the Anti Citizenship Amendment Act Protests, women lead the protests in various places. Vulgar comments and other derogatory remarks were passed openly on social media for those women but not everyone outraged. Even some Politicians passed sexist remarks about the participation of women in those protests. But did you outraged? No, just because the politician was from a party you support. To which I would like to quote B.R.Ambedkar, who once said "Hero-worship is a path to degradation," so while you support some leader make sure you question them when they are wrong because even The Prime Minister said Democracy is Strengthened by Constructive Criticism.
So, your outrage is appreciated but partly. Because you see this selectiveness destroys the whole meaning of criticism and eventually fails everyone in achieving the said goal, like for instance, in this case, the goal to achieve a society which promotes equality and discourages culture of sexism is destroyed. And not only this particular issue but every other disturbing issue needs your collective criticism. So question your leaders or the people in your peer groups promoting such sexist culture, raise your voice for the poor women who are harassed raped and murdered. Set aside your political and religious differences when it comes to raising voice for women rights. No ideology or belief is greater than women's dignity.
