- World around, the lot of the women still tend to be as fragile as it was millennia back would be tantamount to an understatement. Despite boasting tremendous developments, innovations, inventions, and growth on the back of revolutionary advancements courtesy of information technology, women continue to be at the receiving end because of the deeply entrenched misogynistic, anachronistic, and patriarchal mindset so widely prevalent. Astonishingly, women are treated like second-class citizens even though their contributions to the development of the whole of humanity are second to none. Of course, we have heard, spoken, and made noises about gender parity, equality, and unbiased treatment but nothing much has changed on the ground.
PC: Public Seminar
- The level-playing field continues to be elusive but sexual harassment and exploitation of women appears to be omnipresent everywhere. The latest scandalous revelation about how the Malayalam film industry’s women workers including actors were exploited speaks volumes about the degeneration that bogs the entertainment industry. Disconcertingly, even when women get a hearing for the exploitation horror stories, their wait for real redressal continues. The whole country is shocked to know the extent to which the sexual abuse allegations in the Malayalam film industry have taken root. As you are aware, the Hema Committee report, submitted to the Kerala govt in 2019, finally became public last week whose gory details are coming out in the open now.
- Insofar as powerful vested interests are thought to have machinated the years of delay, this conspiracy theory has been reinforced by everything that is frothing up. Sexual abuse allegations have mounted even against AMMA office-bearers. Its president and executive committee have resigned after widespread criticism of their response to the crisis. All this churn is promising. Exposing the decay to sunlight is where the cleaning must begin. But it is key to remember that a rot that goes deep cannot be fixed easily or quickly. It will need razor-focused, sustained work. Who will do the heavy lifting to address the glaring anomaly? The government alone must follow up on the findings of the report.
PC: Physics Wallah
- This should include both a thorough investigation of each case and wider redressal measures, such as a tribunal to address women’s concerns as recommended by the report. Doubting accusers while protecting abusers is much less kosher even in India now. Nonetheless, what we have yet to see is women artists getting exemplary justice. Deterrence depends on proportionate punishment. Whether it is Women in Cinema Collective or others standing up against widespread abuse, their costs, including lost work opportunities, still total up as higher than their wins. Only a real reversal of this equation can ensure that the bravery of everyone who has brought the cause of justice so far is not slapped by the abuse continuing after a pause. The government must step in forthwith.
