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LATEST NEWS UPDATES | Being called sexy is cool: NCW chief by Shoeb Khan

Being called sexy is cool: NCW chief by Shoeb Khan

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published Published on Feb 26, 2012   modified Modified on Feb 26, 2012

It's Okay to call a woman sexy. At least that's what the head of the National Commission of Women believes. At a seminar in Jaipur on Saturday, NCW chairperson Mamta Sharma said, "Don't be offended if someone says 'sexy', rather take it positively." The audience comprising students and sadhvis appeared stunned. 

The 'Gateway to Future' seminar was organized by Terapanth, a socio-religious organization, to discuss various women's issues, including crimes against women. 

While discussing attitudes towards women, Sharma said, "It's a collective responsibility of police, politicians and the society to eliminate crimes against women." But Sharma, a Rajasthan Congress leader who was appointed head of the NCW last August, also cautioned against being prickly about comments on women. That's when she made the remark about the word, now ubiquitous in its usage as attractive or appealing but one that still make some feminists see red. 

"It's really very disturbing to hear such immature statement from a lady of this stature. She has spoiled our programme as everybody is discussing her comments while ignoring statements of other speakers," said one of the event organizers, who spoke on condition of anonymity. 

But there were others who didn't think there was a major problem. "As a humanist, I, too, find it objectionable. The word sexy implies that a woman is an object of male gratification," said Prasanta Roy, a sociologist from Kolkata. But, certain words over long use lose their edge, he said. "After a point, they no longer hurt us. Sexy is a word, which through casual use, may have lost its edge. It no longer implies patriarchal demeaning of women." 

Perhaps, the NCW chairperson wanted to tell women to find a redeeming aspect of the word 'sexy' beyond its patriarchal nuances, he said. 

But in Jaipur, it wasn't being taken lightly and women's groups and the BJP were soon to cash in on it. "It seems that she considers women a commodity. I appeal to government of India to immediately remove her from the post of chairmanship as she doesn't deserve to be on the post," said Kavita Srivastava, general secretary, PUCL. 

President of the BJP's women wing Suman Sharma termed the comment as humiliating for women. She also demanded that Mamta be removed from the post as she had lost the right to gender advocacy. 

Rajasthan University students union president Prabha Chaudhary felt that such comments could provoke mischief. "I want to ask if any mischievous element says sexy to a close relative of the chairperson, will she still take it positively?" 

TOI was unable to reach Sharma over the phone for her comments. 

Profile 

Mamta Sharma took over as National Women's Commission chairperson in August, 2011. A senior Congress leader from Rajasthan, her appointment was mired in controversy. A complaint was filed with the Prime Minister's Office against Sharma. 

She was removed as chief of the Rajasthan Pradesh Mahila Congress over allegations of anti-party activities in 2010 after a six-year stint. The PMO found no substance in the complaint and named her as the NCW chief. 

Sharma represented the Bundi constituency in the Rajasthan Assembly in 2003 but lost the elections in 2008. 

The Times of India, 26 February, 2012, http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Being-called-sexy-is-cool-NCW-chief/articleshow/12037510.cms


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