In a troubling but sadly familiar trend, senior women leaders in India are using their platforms not to empower, but to tear other women down. Some of the usual narrative surrounds around what the minister is saying in the above video – that patriarchy doesn’t exist and women are being left behind because they are not trying hard enough.
This ableist and dismissive mindset not only ignores the systemic barriers women face but also reinforces harmful stereotypes. And these aren’t just words. This rhetoric actively holds women back by making them doubt their abilities and worth.
Here’s the real tragedy: These women have a stage, a voice, and a platform. They could use it to advocate for change, to open doors for others, and to pave the way for a more equitable future. But instead, they perpetuate the very biases they’ve had to fight to overcome.
That’s Patriarchy, ya!
