Journalism of Courage
This is an archive article published on November 29, 2021
Women much more than their looks: Activists hit out at Shashi Tharoor’s tweet
He later apologised for offending "some people" and said the "whole selfie thing" was done at the women MPs' initiative in "great good humour and it was they who asked me to tweet it in the same spirit"
Tharoor on Monday posted a selfie with the women MPs on Twitter with a caption that triggered a controversy. (File Photo)
Activists hit out at Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Monday for allegedly “objectifying” women after he posted a picture with six women MPs and a caption that the Lok Sabha is an “attractive place” to work, saying it is high-time politicians realise that women are much more their looks.
Akancha Srivastava, the founder of Akancha Srivastava Foundation, a non-profit organisation that works towards imparting cyber safety knowledge, said there is a need to stop treating women as “objects” and it is high-time that this mentality goes away.
“We never look at men parliamentarians and say what a handsome gathering, then why do any woman achievers have to be called women and then objectified in this manner. We need to reach gender neutrality, not equality, but neutrality,” she told PTI.
Who says the Lok Sabha isn’t an attractive place to work? With six of my fellow MPs this morning: @supriya_sule @preneet_kaur @ThamizhachiTh @mimichakraborty @nusratchirps @JothimaniMP pic.twitter.com/JNFRC2QIq1
— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) November 29, 2021
“His comments could have been better worded. He has such good vocabulary, he should have put it to better use,” Srivastava added.
Chhavi Methi, an activist with the the Bharatiya Samajik Jagritik Sanghatan, said the mentality that women can be just attractive or beautiful needs to change.
“There is so much more to them and people need to acknowledge that and give them the respect that they deserve,” she told PTI.
Reacting sharply, National Commission for Women Chairperson Rekha Sharma tweeted, “You are demeaning their contribution in parliament and politics by making them an object of attraction. Stop objectifying women in Parliament.”
You are demeaning their contribution in parliament and politics by make them an object of attraction. Stop objectifying women in parliament. https://t.co/RGdie3rPpJ
— Rekha Sharma (@sharmarekha) November 29, 2021
Karuna Nundy, a Supreme Court lawyer, said, “Incredible that someone as exposed to equality discourse as @ShashiTharoor would attempt to reduce elected political leaders to their looks, and centre himself in the comment to boot. This is 2021, folks.”
Tharoor on Monday posted a selfie with the women MPs on Twitter with a caption that triggered a controversy and many netizens accused him of sexism and objectification.
The whole selfie thing was done (at the women MPs’ initiative) in great good humour & it was they who asked me to tweet it in the same spirit. I am sorry some people are offended but i was happy to be roped in to this show of workplace camaraderie. That’s all this is. https://t.co/MfpcilPmSB
— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) November 29, 2021
He later apologised for offending “some people” and said the “whole selfie thing” was done at the women MPs’ initiative in “great good humour and it was they who asked me to tweet it in the same spirit”.
Story continues below this ad
“Who says the Lok Sabha isn’t an attractive place to work? With six of my fellow MPs this morning,” he said and posted a picture of himself with Supriya Sule, Preneet Kaur, Thamizhachi Thangapandian, Mimi Chakraborty, Nusrat Jahan Ruhi and Jyothimani.
📣 For more lifestyle news, follow us on Instagram | Twitter | Facebook and don’t miss out on the latest updates!
Advertisement
Loading Recommendations...
Advertisement
Live Blog
Advertisement