Of perpetuating tokenism and International Women's Day

Raju Korti

Let me begin with an honest admission. I have never been good with words. On the path from my heart to my brain to my mouth, phrases have become twisted and hopelessly convoluted. The intent -- what I meant to say -- has rarely quite made it out. Anyway, never as evocatively as I would have wanted it to be. Today, March 8 being universally acknowledged as the International Women's Day, I am essaying another go at finding out just how much of that intent has recuperated since.

Most women known to me, this way or that, will pan me for this but let me assure them it is not about the gender but about tokenism. My skepticism about tokenism is because it doesn't change stereotypes of social systems but works to uphold and perpetuate them. It has perceptibly dulled the revolutionary impulse and reason in most, me not excluded. It struck me as I wished some women first thing this morning on the International Women's Day. It was a regulation mechanism that put itself forth outwitting my rational senses.

The United Nation which swears by Peace, Dignity, Equality and therefore a healthy planet, has listed such days to be observed or celebrated almost 300 days of the year. That's a staggering figure when you realize just how much stranglehold tokenism has on people's lives. Tokenism comes with a very short shelf life, much less, binding force. All the lofty intent is thrown by the wayside immediately after. The International Women's Day is a telling example how women are made to sit on Cloud Nine for one day only to be shown their place for the next 364 days. Exceptions only prove the rule.

In human default settings, women's emancipation and dignity is inexorably linked to the oppressive patriarchal mindset that obtains in most parts of the world but it is also true that we have moved much farther from that psyche. Stories about women breaking glass ceilings and dominating (hitherto) male bastions reflect that but tokenism has clouded them. Is it only about the gender war or gender inequality? It isn't!

Years ago, I had commented -- the effect of idly watching too many soaps -- that behind every successful woman there is another woman who is jealous of her success and wants to overtake her by hook or crook. I stood vindicated because most women who countered me officially were condescending in private. Women are bigger enemies of women than men are. But men bashing -- although at times justified given our social milieu -- has become synonymous with women's freedom. The term has lost any substantive impact and import it otherwise should seek to imply. Tokenism teaches people to be conscious of patriotism on the national independence day and discount it the next day.

The policy and practice of making a perfunctory gesture towards the minority (not as in religion) is a load of bunkum and is just a cushion to prevent criticism and give the appearance that people are being treated fairly. Tokenism is a false diversity that allows its audience to believe that it is diverse when in actuality it is not.

There are three components to preventing tokenism: Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. Ethnicity, race, gender, socio-economic class, sexual orientation and nationality will cease to exist when it boils down to "Live and Let Live". That will make this world a better place to live. Born a human doesn't make a human. With humans comes humanity but with humans, it is lost too. Tokenism looks good only on greeting cards. 

As long as it doesn't sink in that "Saas bhi kabhi bahu thi", tokenism will continue.