Sexist Bollywood talking about abuse against women is ironic, but still a step forward

Katrina Kaif is a recent addition to this celebrity bandwagon. Photo: Facebook/ KatrinaKaif

It seems that speaking up against gender inequality and women's rights is a cool thing now in Bollywood. Every couple of days, one celebrity or the other makes a statement unequal pay and opportunities, sexual abuse, slut shaming, and other issues in the ballpark.  

Katrina Kaif is a recent addition to this celebrity bandwagon. At the 'WeUnite' conference-an event which was organized by the UN Women to mark its partnership with the IMC Chamber of Commerce and Industry-she urged women to speak up about marital rape.

"I know of educated women, who remain silent in the face of violence, because they are afraid to confront societal norms and have fingers pointed in their direction. Especially when the majority of our society fails to recognize marital rape as a crime," the Times of India reports her as saying.

"India had a woman as the head of state, way before the United kingdom, a feat United States of America has not managed to achieve as of yet. Which is why it is surprising to hear about gender inequality in India. And sadly we do. On a daily basis there are shocking stories about the violent crimes made against women. Yet, I can only imagine how many other crimes against women in India go unreported," she added.

Also read: We totally agree with Anushka on growing divorce rates in India

When you think of Katrina as a brand ambassador of gender equality, you can't help but think of Chikni Chameli and many other such item songs, where she blatantly portrays herself as a sex object at a man's mercy.

So isn't it a little ironic, that she would be at a forum as big as this one, wage the war against marital rape? The answer is: of course! Just asking women to speak up against abuse is not enough-especially when influencers of Katrina's ilk need to set precedents on screen.

Sadly, in a country like ours, sex is a complimentary gift that comes along with marriage. So, men find it despicable when their wives refuse routine sex. Unable to process the NO, they often force themselves upon their wives. And all this contributes to the growing stats as far as marital rape is concerned.

The actress quoted a UN report saying, "In India according to the data provided by the national crime records bureau, in 2001 the reported crimes against women were 1,43,795. In 2005, it were 3,27,394. More than a 100% in numbers." That's just shocking.

Sadly, in a country like ours, sex is a complimentary gift that comes along with marriage. Photo: Shutterstock/ IndiaPictures

Bollywood celebrities are major influencers, worshipped by millions all over the country. If someone like Katrina finally addresses the issue, you never know, it might really inspire someone to speak up.

This of course doesn't take the onus away from these celebrities. They still need to be a lot more mindful of the kind of films they take up. The problem of marital rape and sexual abuse is not of a few individuals-it's a problem of the whole society. And while we may not consider the Katrinas and Kareenas of the world to be a part of this society, the truth is-they absolutely are.

Also read: Twinkle Khanna's comment on unrealistic expectations of Indian parents is bang on