Mangalore: Patriarchal mindset should change: Kalpana Sharma

Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (DV)

Mangalore, Sep 12: “After the rape of physiotherapy student in Delhi and of a photojournalist in Mumbai, the issue of violence against women is being seriously discussed throughout the country. Today, the phrase ‘women empowerment’ remains just a cliché. There is a need to discuss and change the mindset of men. Men’s perspective of viewing a woman as a commodity has to change,” said Kalpana Sharma, columnist and independent journalist.

She was addressing a UGC-sponsored national conference on ‘Education and Women Empowerment’ jointly organized by St Ann’s College of Education and state department of women and child development, held at St Ann’s College here on Thursday September 12.

She further said, “Those who have involved in sexual assaults against women are mostly teenagers. It is time we contemplated how boys are brought up in society. Studies have also found that most of the men commit violence against women as they feel they have sexual entitlement or as a form of punishment. Therefore patriarchal mindset should change. Society is trapped with stereotyped notion of ‘Masculinity’ which should be cleared. Today, women have started to think as well as dream big. Women have contributed to various fields. Even in sports they have achieved a lot."

In her key note address, Ammu Joseph, an independent journalist and writer said, “The situation is probably not very different here in Dakshina Kannada, which as far as I know has traditionally boasted higher women’s literacy rates and educational levels than elsewhere in Karnataka. News reports about moral policing in and around Mangalore over the past few years suggest that patriarchal mindsets are very much prevalent here, with various groups presuming to enforce their outdated notions concerning appropriate behaviour for the young and especially young women.

"Dowry deaths is one of the first issues of gender-based violence I had dealt with early in my career in 1970’s and early 80’s. It may not convince me that education leads to women empowerment. Many of the victims of what was known as ‘bride-burning’ were educated young women married to men from supposedly educated, middle class families. Unfortunately, education did not stand in the way of avaricious husbands and in-laws who either tortured or actually murdered these women who had entered their families in good faith. The census of India 2011 revealed that the child sex ratio had dropped from 927 females to 1000 males in 2001 to 914 females," she said.

Commenting on media’s focus on women she said, “Essentially the latest GMMP reveals that both globally and in this country many aspects of news coverage need to change, if society is to be realistically and accurately portrayed, and if women are to be proportionally and fairly represented in the media. At present, women comprise half or more of the global human population, but they constitute less than a quarter of news sources.”

Dr SR Leonilla Clair Menezes, principal of St Ann’s College of Education spoke on this occasion.

Dr Sr M Shalini AC, superior of St Ann’s Convent, Dr Shashikala A, co-coordinator were present.

Dr Padmavathi M, associate professor of the college welcomed the gathering.