Sexist Comments: 4 Times Indian Politicians Shamed Women For Their Personal Choices

Often when politicians are asked to comment on the plight or rights of women, they are always ready with a sexist or misogynist remark. When they are targeted or trolled for it, they issue a clarification, which worsens the situation even further.

Irrespective of whether they are inclined towards the far right or left, their derogatory remarks on the personal choices of women show that their idea of an ideal society is where women are confined to the four walls of home, look after their kids, wear Indian traditional clothes that cover them from head to toe, and ditch anything that can remotely be associated with Western culture.

Here are a few times Indian politicians showed their regressive thinking by commenting on the personal choices of women.

RJD Leader: Women With Lipsticks And Bob-Cut…

Ahead of the Women’s Reservation Bill becoming law, a senior leader of Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Abdul Bari Siddiqui, was quoted saying, “Those with lipsticks and bob-cut hairstyles would come forward in the name of women’s reservation. The government should instead provide reservations for women belonging to backward communities.”

Clarifying his statement, he said that since he was addressing the audience in rural areas where most people were educated, he used this kind of language to make them understand his point. He added, “My intention was not to hurt anyone.”

BJP Leader: Children Should Be Fully Clothed

"ಬಿಕಿನಿ" ಎಂದು ಹೇಳಿರುವುದು ಅತ್ಯಂತ ಕೀಳುಮಟ್ಟದ ಶಬ್ದ.

ವಿದ್ಯಾರ್ಥಿನಿಯರು ಸಮವಸ್ತ್ರ / ಮೈತುಂಬ ಬಟ್ಟೆ ಹಾಕಿಕೊಂಡರೆ ಶೋಭೆ.

ಕೇಂದ್ರ ಹಾಗು ರಾಜ್ಯದಲ್ಲಿ ಕಾಂಗ್ರೆಸ್ ಸರ್ಕಾರವಿಲ್ಲದೆ ಹತಾಶರಾಗಿ ಪ್ರಿಯಾಂಕ ಗಾಂಧಿ ಈ ಹೇಳಿಕೆ ನೀಡಿ ಮುಗ್ದ ಹೆಣು ಮಕ್ಕಳನ್ನು ಪ್ರಚೋದಿಸುತ್ತಿದ್ದಾರೆ. pic.twitter.com/wKLIv7PoxA

— M P Renukacharya (@MPRBJP) February 9, 2022

In February 2022, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra tweeted that a woman has the right to wear a bikini, a pair of jeans, and a ghoonghat if she wishes to. “The right is guaranteed by the Indian Constitution. Stop Harassing Women,” she added.

Replying to it, BJP MP Renukacharya said that when studying in college, children should be completely clothed. “Rapes today are increasing because of women’s clothes,” adding he said that the choices of women provoke men.

Congress Leader: Latke Jhatke Dekar Chali Jati Hain

Many politicians do not pass misogynist comments encompassing every woman. They target female politicians specifically for their way of walking, talking, and whatnot.

In December 2022, Congress leader Ajay Rai said that Minister of Women and Child Development Smriti Irani hardly visited the Amethi constituency. He added, “Latke jhatke dekar chali jaati hain.”

To demean the work of the BJP leader, the Congress leader stooped low to comment on the way she talks and walks.

A few years back, Raj Thackeray, chairperson of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), commented on Jaya Bachchan speaking in Hindi. Referring to her film 'Guddi', he said that Guddi has grown old but has not attained wisdom with age.

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BJP Leader: Badly Dressed Women Look Like Shurpanakha

BJP’s National General Secretary, Kailash Vijayvargiya, was attending a Jain community function in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, in April 2023, when he said that he wanted to slap drunk and intoxicated youth.

He also added, “When women wear bad clothes and come out, we can’t see their likeness to Goddesses, instead, they resemble Shurpanakha (demoness and Ravana’s sister). God has blessed you with a good body and to wear good clothes.”

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We have seen many politicians passing misogynist remarks during parliamentary sessions as a resort to shut up women leaders. Working women are often not good enough partners and parents, women who put on makeup and short dresses are not sanskari. We are in 2023, and the best comeback or reasoning to any unfavourable situation and outcome is to blame women and their choices.

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Image Courtesy: Freepik