Sexism and electoral politics

In fact, it is ironic that while sex as a straightforward topic is being suppressed, these kinds of sexual shaming are circulated without self-censorship of any kind.
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(October 12, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) There has always been an unprecedented abuse of women in politics particularly at election time. The recent threats and obscene cartoons on Anarkali is, therefore, nothing new. It has been a longstanding practice for men in parliament to use obscene language and plenty of ‘double entendre’ as well as sexist comments on female MPs. Moreover the media has for decades been full of cartoons, verses, editorials and misogynist articles which reduce women in general – and especially women in politics - to sexist attacks.

No one is spared. When Sirima Bandaranaike became Prime Minister, there were tasteless jokes, obscenities and cartoons – a famous one depicting her in bed with Dr. N. M. Perera, which caused an uproar. Similarly Chandrika Kumaratunga had her share of boorish, obscene comments, as did others earlier such as Vivienne Goonewardena. In the notorious Wayamba elections a woman was stripped and paraded; others have been assaulted, and recently Rosy Senanayake has been subject to abuse by police officers. Politics is obviously a masculinized space where all is fair in attacks on women. It is no wonder that – as surveys reveal – many families discourage their womenfolk from entering politics. This is yet another hurdle women have to overcome if they want to enter politics.

Sexual Shaming

The basic emotions of human beings such as fear, guilt, desire, pride and shame can be seen as key factors in constructing and determining one’s identity and its expression. Public shaming or humiliation is one way in which society controls its constituent members when they are felt to have transgressed various social norms and regulations. Yet, sexual shaming is practiced irrespective of whether the women concerned have actually breached so-called sexual mores or not. In fact, women are objectified, ‘sexualized’ and degraded in this way as punishments and deterrents when they express independent opinions, or venture into new fields of activity or act contrary to established codes: in other words, when they refuse to conform.

In a context where sex education in schools and universities have yet to become a serious subject of study, and where sexuality is publicly censored to the extent that it is allowed to flourish only as a surreptitious and subversive activity, any allusion to sexuality becomes taboo. Thus sexual insults maximize on the capacity to cause social and psychological damage by making references to these women’s ‘excessive sexual activities’, ‘lack of sexuality to attract men or capacity to bear children’, ‘commercialization of their sexuality’ or homosexual or transsexual orientations. Through the sexualization and objectification of women by these means, the women concerned are reduced to their sexuality.

In many instances, the media, various internet sites (as well as individuals using email / texting) are quite happy to publish or forward these scurrilous materials demeaning women. In fact, it is ironic that while sex as a straightforward topic is being suppressed, these kinds of sexual shaming are circulated without self-censorship of any kind.

Varied Responses

Women politicians have responded to this kind of abuse in different ways. Some, like Vivienne Goonawardena and Chandrika Kumaratunge responded in kind, with choice language. These women often did so from a position of class privilege and vantage of power. Others have been unwilling to stoop to the same level as their opponents and chosen to ignore the taunts and get on with the work at hand. Still others have taken their detractors to court.

Political Responses

Some women’s groups and civil society organizations have come out in solidarity issuing statements of condemnation and calling for appropriate action to be taken against offenders. Women’s groups have also through statements, comments and interviews, sought to raise public consciousness about the sexualized nature of these attacks and the need to create a free and fair environment for women to enter politics.

This form of character assassination is a deliberate attempt to damage the reputation, status, or achievements of women engaged in politics. Character assassination is rooted in the attackers’ desire to harm the opponent psychologically and destroy his/her chances to succeed. The most recent manifestation of sexualized character assassination is of course the concerted campaign against Anarkali Akarsha’s candidacy at the southern provincial elections. While this column is not at this time debating the manner in which candidates, either male or female are chosen to contest, we do defend the right of nominated candidates to a free and fair election. This includes the space to campaign without threat and harm to person or character. Anarkali has responded to the physical threat against her by taking the alleged accuser to courts. She has been less able to deal with the plethora of sexist and sexualized images and clichés circulating among the public often via the internet.

Clean Up Your Act

Cat’s Eye believes that all forms of character defamation needs to be challenged head on as violations of a person’s fundamental rights. Women need to take on the perpetrators, as well as those who re-publish the defaming images or comments. Material vilifying Anarkali on the web is circulated with impunity and vicarious pleasure. There is a maxim that the only place for scurrilous letters is a dust bin. It follows that the only place for such garbage on the internet is the trash folder in your computer. In the meantime, we need to support a woman’s right to contest elections and enter politics with dignity and within the bounds of decency and fair play. The only possible way to achieve this is maybe through the pursuit of active and concerted legal interventions that will ensure the protection of these rights.

The Women’s Manifesto in 2007 observed that ‘Patriarchal structures and attitudes demeaning women persist in Sri Lanka. This is clearly seen in the media, especially at election time when obscenities about women politicians are not uncommon. Yet one of the most potent vehicles to promote positive images of women could be newspapers, journals, radio, and TV and video visuals. But unfortunately, sexism in advertisements, cartoons, articles and editorials still prevail.’ It is time to clean up election campaigns and politics in general.

-Sri Lanka Guardian