Silence, scrutiny and the burden on women

In 2018, the Supreme Court of India struck down Section 497 of the Indian Penal Code, meaning that adultery, while misconduct and a relevant ground for divorce, is no longer a criminal offence. In India, while adultery is socially frowned upon for both genders, women frequently face higher levels of social stigma, ostracism, and even violence, as they are considered “torch bearers” of family honour. While decriminalisation indeed works in favour of women, societal trials against them continue, often revealing deep-rooted double standards where men are judged far less harshly. A recent incident in Chennai brings this into sharp focus.

In the present day, in Chennai, a popular actor-turned-politician’s personal life has become the subject of intense, acrid public discourse. His wife recently filed for divorce, one of the cited reasons being adultery.

With his then-impending electoral debut, the wife drew severe public ire over the timing of her petition. Some have alleged that she is interested in her husband’s political downfall, even suggesting that she is executing a Machiavellian plan on behalf of the party in power. The fellow actor he has been linked with has not been spared either, torn to smithereens in certain sections of public commentary. Their recent public appearance has further fuelled speculation, with her being labelled a “home wrecker” by many.

This sentiment extends to sections of his supporters (many women included) condoning the allegations levelled against him by saying: “If other senior party leaders can have multiple wives, why not our leader?” This kind of deflective and unquestioning support sounds just as regressive as the old saying “Caesar’s wife should be above reproach.”

In this case, is Caesar himself exempt from scrutiny?

In addition, the political leader has maintained silence in the midst of all the vitriol. Being in positions of influence, they can bring balance to the conversation with measured responses, especially in the face of continued vilification of women. Silence, even if dignified, may not always be the answer. At times, it can be read as complicity. 

More broadly, women have come a long way thanks to the efforts of social activists and suffragettes fighting for the most basic rights.

However, an equitable and just world is still a far reality for women. South Asia contributes to a large percentage of global honour killings. Rape, domestic violence — the list remains long. In this context, conscious silence further perpetuates the cycle of violence against women.

The sisterhood of mutual understanding and support is one of the ways this imbalance can be addressed. In situations where women are pitted against each other, solidarity can be expressed by stepping outside the frame until the dust settles.

Periyar E V Ramasamy’s “Self-Respect Movement” shaped relevant discourse on women’s rights in Tamil Nadu as early as the 1920s. Among other initiatives, it advocated women’s education, property rights and the right to exit oppressive marriages.

Subsequently, Dravidian parties in Tamil Nadu incorporated many of these ideas into policy, ensuring equal rights to ancestral property; reservation for women in government jobs; welfare measures supporting widows and remarriage; and, importantly, dignity for trans women through terms like “Thirunangai”, a respectful term for trans women.

Another important movement in India is the anti-rape movement of the 1970s, following the rape of a 16-year-old girl, Mathura, in a police station in Maharashtra. Upendra Baxi, a legal scholar and professor, along with other legal scholars, wrote an open letter to the Supreme Court demanding justice. This effort culminated in thousands of women taking to the streets, seeking justice for Mathura. It changed the legal and social context around rape, shifting power from the accused to the victim. Notably, in both instances, two men anchored two very important path-breaking initiatives around women. They spoke. They changed the narrative.

The real issue in public controversies is rarely the private failing; it is the silence that reflects a lack of accountability among powerful men, while women bear the disproportionate weight of judgment.

In this information-saturated age, people are constantly rooting for the right candidate. Despite a needle-in-a-haystack situation, the discerning voter is carefully assessing candidates on grounds of empathy, respect, and reliability. They see through grandstanding speeches and tokenism, the very themes many political leaders appear to engage their coterie of existing supporters with.

Given this, the question then is whether current and aspiring politicians (men especially) will continue to espouse true feminist values, be better allies and, importantly, speak up when necessary – as voices like Periyar and Baxi once did.

(The writer is the co-founder of an executive search concern with a focus on women and diversity)

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are the author's own. They do not necessarily reflect the views of DH.