No one can deny the fact that womenfolk face prejudice on a number of counts for India is conventionally a patriarchal society and therefore it is imperative to work on eliminating discrimination against women as far as possible because the constitution allows no distinction based on gender.
In this context, the top court of the country has come up with a strict vocabulary rule book to ensure certain words which describe fair sex society in ‘poor light' using gender stereotypes prejudicial to stop the entire legal fraternity to adopt a better lexicon while addressing the womenfolk in the country's legal framework. Reportedly, words like eve-teasing, housewife, affair and many more may soon be out of the legal lexicon as the Supreme Court has launched a handbook to go after gender stereotypes prejudicial to women.
It is pertinent to mention that Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud has launched the Handbook on Combating Gender Stereotypes comprising nearly 150 terms used in context with women showing concern towards the fair sex society across the country. The handbook released shall assist judges and the legal community to identify, and understand stereotypes about women in legal discourse to stop the use of the same and adapt to a new and better vocabulary while addressing the women segment of the society.
It is pertinent to mention that many words or phrases used in legal discourse by both lawyers and judges, reflect archaic ideas with patriarchal undertones. The handbook reportedly has red flagged words such as prostitute, whore, keep, mistress, slut, fallen woman, provocative clothing, woman of loose morals/easy virtue/promiscuous woman/wanton woman. This is good for the entire society that certain derogatory and unacceptable words shall not continue to remain in the legal dictionary as their use is traumatizing for many.
Looking at the significance of the proposed move, it is advisable that the entire society should shun the use of such vocabulary which could hurt the sentiments of the affected lot and adopt the new lexicon as given in the SC Guidebook. There is a whole lot of words and phrases which look at the women in a prejudicial manner thus taking the cue from the Apex Court's advice the entire country should ponder over the matter and stop using terms suggestive of stereotypes against the womenfolk as India is a mature democracy today and it understands very well, what is right and what not.
