Slut-shaming, fat-shaming and victim-blaming are not unheard of or uncommon for women all over the world. But actresses, in particular, experience abuse on a regular basis, both online and offline. While Hollywood is now targeting the real-life abuse women experience by initiating a Time’s Up movement, India is still struggling with these problems.
The most recent victim of online abuse is Shikha Singh, a television actress widely known for her role in Zee TV’s KumKum Bhagya.
Although she is used to people dropping obscene comments and expressing lustful desires on her social media platforms, she was left aghast when a police officer joined the lecherous league.
On 17th January, when Shikha posted a picture on Instagram about her show’s celebration party on completing 1000 episodes, people were quick to comment how beautiful she is and how they love her in the show. Among these, was a comment that peaked her interest because it was obscene.
A person called Jagdish Gunge left a cheap comment expressing his desire to see her ‘hottest poses’ in ‘bikinis or microminis’ for his ‘new year gift’.
With the help of a friend, when she found out that he was a police officer, she took to Instagram, where he had commented on her picture, to express her disgust, surprise and anger.
In an interview with BollywoodLife, she said,
“We keep getting a lot of hate messages, there’s no denial in that. But I saw this and I just wanted to see who this person is. And when a friend decided to check his Facebook profile. That’s when we found out that he’s a police friggin’ officer. It was very disappointing and I thought it needs to be brought to notice because these are the people who are protecting us.”
She further added that it is not just people posting such comments that is the problem. It is the mentality that needs to change. It is the feeling of entitlement these men feel they have on a woman’s body, which needs to change.
“It’s not just them, I have an issue with the mentality. I have an issue with anybody who is doing it. Unfortunately, this guy who I’ve just highlighted is a police officer which is a shame. In general, you have no right to write such things on our page. As a celebrity, you think we’ll only be seen in skimpy clothes but it is our call. It is my call what I want to wear, you don’t dictate. Neither can you dictate this to any girl, she will wear what she wants to wear. She will do whatever she wants to do. Who the freak are you to tell them!”
Shikha has resolved to take an action against this officer. She found out he lives in Thane and has decided to visit Thane police station and get ahold of him, drag him to go court and make him face the consequences of his comments.
I need not repeat myself on how women are sexualised everywhere they go. The topic is spoken about at length already. What is really disappointing is the fact that those in authority to protect women from this sort of behaviour are the ones doing it. If this isn’t a misuse of power, what is? When the person supposed to be the saviour, becomes the offender, whom do we go to for justice?
Some food for thought.