Samajwadi Party MP Iqra Hasan has spoken about the challenges women face in public life, saying that women are often judged by their character, clothes and personal lives instead of their work.
Speaking during a women’s interaction programme, the Kairana MP also spoke about her own experiences as a Muslim woman and an OBC member. She said these identities brought “multiple layers of harassment” for her.
“I am Muslim, I am a woman, I am OBC, so I have to face several layers of harassment,” Hasan said.
She said women continue to struggle against a male dominated mindset in society. According to Hasan, men are rarely judged by what they wear or by their personal lives, while women who try to move ahead in any field often face questions about their character and appearance.
‘Women Are Targeted Over Character and Clothes’
Hasan said such experiences are part of the everyday lives of many women. She said a woman’s identity, marital status and clothing are often brought into discussions even when they have nothing to do with her professional work.
“When you are a woman and try to move forward in any field, the first thing that is targeted is your character and then your clothes,” she said.
She added that when people cannot challenge someone on the basis of their work, they may resort to personal comments.
“I feel that when people cannot defeat you through your work, they try to bring you down to their level by talking about these small things,” Hasan said.
She also said she was learning to deal with such criticism and was trying to develop “thicker skin”.
‘Men Find It Difficult to Take Orders From Women’
The SP MP also spoke about her experience while dealing with government officials. She said that most officials she works with are men and claimed that some of them are uncomfortable taking instructions from a woman.
“Many of them do not know how to take an order from a woman,” Hasan said.
She claimed that when she has something to say, some officials avoid making direct eye contact with her. Instead, she said, they sometimes look towards a male subordinate sitting with her while speaking.
“These may seem like small things, but they have very big meanings,” Hasan said, adding that such attitudes need to change.
Iqra Hasan Calls for More Women in Leadership
Hasan said there was a need to create systems where women could take leadership roles in families as well as in wider social and public spaces.
She said women also need to develop the confidence to ask for the roles and rights they deserve.
“Until we claim what we deserve and develop the confidence to demand it, we will not be able to create a better path for the generations that come after us,” she said.
