The terror of masculinity: Abuse of power to show manliness
Deccan ChronicleThe Indian perspective of ‘ideological masculinity’ is shaped and influenced by descriptions written as “what a man should be” or “what is perceived as manliness” in the scripts of Manu centuries ago. Perpetrators of violence against women in India, whether happening within the four walls of homes or at public places, at workplaces or in social media circles, are strong believers of ideological masculinity since they adhere to the cynicism that women should live within the four boundaries of home, that too in a subordinate position to that of men. The very fact that in India girls are outscoring boys in secondary and senior secondary school examinations, entering higher and professional education, securing high-ranking positions within workplaces and now being in decision-making positions threatens men who subscribe to this ideology and they are letting out a huge cry of being victimised and discriminated against. Similarly, at the workplaces, despite the Supreme Court mandate under the SH Act 2013, that every private and public organisation/institution/establishment must have an Internal Complaints Committee with a civil society member as an external member to address sexual harassment at workplaces, many organisations headed by persons belonging to this ideology still blatantly defy it or if they feel compelled to establish the ICC under the government norms, make sure that “their selected persons” are there in such committees to “influence” the findings and recommendations of enquiries conducted. It is time that ideological masculinity may be addressed through institutionalised process of involving men and boys in discussions and deliberations pertaining to issues of women rights, human rights and gender transformation.