Shalu Nigam

  Combating Everyday Gender Stereotypes in the Courtrooms The Supreme Court of India recently published a Handbook on  Combating Gender Stereotypes [2] , which highlights how gender-unjust terms are used in pleadings, orders, and judgements to reiterate common stereotypes about women and end up denying them justice. It suggests using alternate terms. This piece argues that to ensure gender justice, what is required is not only countering and challenging the stereotypes in the day-to-day language deployed in courtrooms but also changing the patriarchal mindset. The war against women started in the minds. Patriarchy manifested itself in the form of sexism, misogyny, toxic masculinity, ghettoizing, and labelling, women, and therefore, it is essential to consciously examine the ways subjectivities operate on a daily basis, dismantling the sexist biases, shattering prejudices, countering myths and misogyny, developing an empathetic approach to judging, and more importantly, rethinking the c

  The Curses of Patriarchy https://countercurrents.org/2022/11/the-curses-of-patriarchy/ 08/11/2022 Patriarchy cursed me, I laughed and move on They said you are a female, your birth is a burden I survived and thrived, flourished and bloomed Confronted their stereotypes and challenged their misleading notions I vowed that I will not accept their false binaries or phony divisions I will keep demanding equal rights and opportunities to be a human That is my firm declaration I laughed and move on   Patriarchy cursed me, I laughed and move on They said your education is a drain, It has made you in-vain You will empty your family’s purse and then You will move away when you get married to someone I questioned their negative stereotypes and adverse presumptions I opposed their entrenched superstitions and challenged their harmful assumptions I went to college to gain education, I got all degrees, medals, and accolades And walked out with distinction Aiming towards the path of progression I l