Writer Dr. Banjagere Jayaprakash rues how women have to make uncomfortable choices in their careers

Mysuru: Writer and scholar Dr. Banjagere Jayaprakash has lamented the prevalence of the casting couch, stating that it has become a determining factor for women not only in the film industry but also in politics and several other fields.

He was speaking at the release of ‘Pitru Saththeya Bahu Roopaka – Mahileyara Kathanagala Samajo-Samskrithika Adhyayana’ (authored by Akkamahadevi Study Chair Director Prof. Kavitha Rai) recently at Kaveri Auditorium of KSOU.

Dr. Jayaprakash noted that women today are often compelled to compromise to succeed, especially in the worlds of glamour and politics. “Their wings are clipped. Their freedom to aspire and rise is restricted. Sexual harassment has plagued women for centuries, and it continues unabated even in the so-called modern era,” he rued.

He said women are still viewed primarily as ‘objects of desire’, a perception that has only intensified since globalisation. The influence of social media and electronic media, he added, has heightened the demand for physical attractiveness, pressuring women into uncomfortable choices. “If they refuse, they are denied opportunities and denied the ladder to success,” he noted.

Highlighting how these societal expectations affect women’s aspirations, he remarked that many women frequent beauty parlours with hopes of landing film roles, reflecting the mindset shaped by these pressures.

Drawing a comparison with the West, Dr. Jayaprakash observed that although the female population in the US is lower, the country spends exorbitantly on cosmetics, rivalling the budgets of some  African nations.

“Despite being a global superpower, US remains deeply patriarchal. Women have been largely excluded from policymaking and no woman has ever occupied the Office of President,” he said. He acknowledged that, comparatively, India has done better in some respects, with women having held high offices like Prime Minister and President. However, he emphasised that gender equality is still far from being achieved.

Calling for a change in societal norms, he questioned why school records continue to mention only the father’s name, sidelining the mother’s identity. “Even in developed countries, emotional trauma, mental and physical harassment of women persist. The situation is even more dire for less-educated women,” he concluded.

‘DC or PM, every woman would have faced a husband’s slap!’

“Whether she is a Deputy Commissioner or even the Prime Minister, every woman would have faced her husband’s slap at least once in her life,” remarked Dr. Banjagere Jayaprakash, citing findings from a study.

He stated that in a patriarchal society, women, regardless of their professional stature, are still viewed primarily as spouses at home.

“There are always moments of conflict in a household, and it is during such times that women experience physical abuse from their partners. This, unfortunately, is a common experience shared by women across society — from DCs to PMs,” he said.