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Transcript/Script INDIA SEXIST SWEAR WORDS
HEADLINE: Campaign to Stop Women-Centric Swearing in India Targets Patriarchy
TEASER: Misogynistic and sexist swear words reinforce patriarchal attitudes to women say activists
PUBLISHED AT: Monday, 10/10/2022 at 9:45am
BYLINE: Anjana Pasricha
DATELINE: New Delhi
VIDEOGRAPHER: Darshan Singh
PRODUCER:
SCRIPT EDITORS: pcd, Salem Solomon
VIDEO SOURCE: Original
PLATFORMS: WEB __TV __ RADIO __
TRT: 3:29
VID APPROVED BY: MAS
TYPE: TVPKG
EDITOR NOTES:))
((INTRO))
[[In India, it has long been difficult to change deep seated patriarchal attitudes. Now a campaign in North India is tackling the issue through an unusual route — persuading people to stop using swear words that are sexist and target women saying that language is an important reflection of attitudes. From North India’s Haryana state, Anjana Pasricha has a report.]]
((NARRATOR))
More than forty times a day — that’s how often this resident of Gurugram in North India realized he used swear words targeting women since he started maintaining a count of the profanities he uttered not just when angry, but also in casual conversation.
((Robin Sharma, Gurugram Resident (in Hindi)))
“I never gave a second thought to their meaning or on their harmful impact on others. I just followed others in doing what is so common in our environment — using women-centric swear words.”
((NARRATOR))
In July, he and his father joined a campaign that is persuading students, families and adults across towns and villages in Haryana state to change the deep-seated habit of using sexist abuses.
((Robin Sharma, Gurugram Resident (in Hindi))
“I understood that what we say is wrong. Because what we say also affects our mothers, sisters and wives.”
((NARRATOR))
Some of the most frequently used swear words in India are misogynistic. They reinforce patriarchal attitudes toward women, according to this social activist spearheading the campaign.
((Sunil Jaglan, Social Activist (in Hindi))
“We become biased men who always view women as being inferior.”
((NARRATOR))
Schools are signing up for the campaign by calling on students to maintain a count of the sexist cuss words they use on this chart, then to try and gradually cut them.
Unlearning the vocabulary many picked up from fathers, uncles and in their neighborhoods is an uphill task. In this school, where the campaign was launched recently, students say they are spreading the word to stop the practice.
((Mosin Javed, High School Student (in Hindi))
“In school when my friends used these words so did I. But now I realize that younger children will learn to do the same.”
((Robin, (did not want to give second name) High School Student (in Hindi))
“Nobody will stop swearing overnight. This needs time because breaking old habits happens gradually.”
((NARRATOR))
In some places, the campaign is showing results. In the Sharma household, men say they have cut women-centric swearing by more than half replacing them with words like “oh my god. Women are noticing a difference.
((Komal Sharma, Gurugram Resident (in Hindi))
“Now the men are more polite. Earlier we heard them using these abuses in their conversation all the time. Stopping that has helped us feel equal to the men.”
((NARRATOR))
Changing language that reflects a deep-seated culture of gender discrimination can even help address issues such as violence.
((Sunil Jaglan, Social Activist, in Hindi))
“If we start teaching from childhood that this is wrong, it will reduce domestic violence that is rampant. Because when we can correct our language, then automatically our attitudes and thoughts also undergo a change.”
((NARRATOR))
The campaign is yet another chapter in India's battle against a patriarchal system.
((Anjana Pasricha for VOA News, New Delhi)
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
NetworkVOA
Location (dateline)
New Delhi
Embargo DateOctober 10, 2022 16:38 EDT
Byline
Anjana Pasricha for VOA News, New Delhi
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
