From Rani Mukerji to Kangana Ranaut: Have Indian women started swearing more of late?

Using cuss words has long been frowned upon, especially if one belongs to the fairer sex. While males who use expletives are perceived as powerful, females who do so have often been considered aggressive or uneducated and crass. A survey carried out by Lancaster University and Cambridge University Press found that British women today swear more than men and are more likely to use the word f*ck. The concept that men and women should or should not use certain kind of language is slowly fading. At the Glastonbury festival in June this year, Adele received flak for cursing nearly 30 times during her act, making the singer promise to control her language in the future. Closer home, movies like Udta Punjab, Revolver Rani and Gangs Of Wasseypur have shown women using swear words on screen, but are Indian women today able to abuse freely?

SYMPTOM OF ANGER

Comedian and author Radhika Vaz, who’s known for using profane language during her stand-up comedy routines feels swearing is just a symptom of anger. “Women have always been told to keep their mouth shut and their legs crossed, so we are angry and tired of listening to sh*t. I don’t think swearing is a bad thing. It has been okay for men to do so, so why should it be any different for us? As long as one is not being rude to a particular person, and just using swear words as part of their language to get rid of one’s frustrations, it’s fine. Men have been abusing since ages, but when women do it they are labelled bossy or bitchy or aggressive. Till now we women couldn’t show anger as it was considered unladylike and I’m happy that is changing,” says Radhika.

AUDIENCE LESS PRUDISH

Female characters using cuss words on screen is not unusual anymore. There was Alia Bhatt who played a Bihari in Udta Punjab, Kangana Ranaut as a dacoit in Revolver Rani, and Richa Chadha in Fukrey and Gangs Of Wasseypur. Even Rani Mukerji in No One Killed Jessica, each of them used colourful language as the role demanded it.

Film writer Rajat Arora says, “I think in general the audience is less prudish as compared to let’s say the 90s. There is a certain acceptance and display of maturity about certain topics or scenes. When it comes to language, it is an expression of a character’s feelings, but also of his power, his ecosystem. What has changed is our acceptance of women in positions of power, which is completely in keeping with how the society has evolved. But I’m of the position that you don’t need to use abuse to express power, irrespective of gender. I have always believed that a character should speak that which rings true. If that includes abuses then so be it. But if it is done for effect, or to sensationalise, it will stick out like a sore thumb.”

Kangana Ranaut, Alia Bhatt & Richa Chadha

IT’S ONE WAY OF SHOWING EQUALITY

Theatre personality and advertising professional Rahul da Cunha feels Indian women are still not comfortable swearing. “Maybe compared to 10 years ago they find it easier to swear today. But I still find lots of women wincing during stand-up comedy shows that have a lot of swear words. I think it’s not really in our culture and swearing is still such a male thing. I have never heard a woman use terms like MC and BC and ‘f*ck’ has ceased being a bad word. Women just don’t have the same ease and openness when abusing like men do. Having said that, society has changed a little and women have become bolder and braver. I guess swearing is one way of showing equality,” he adds.

IT CAN BE A STRESS-BUSTER

Seema Hingorrany, clinical psychologist says there is an increase in women using swear words, which was clearly not the case earlier. “If used in moderation and if a person is in good control of her emotions only, then it is a good stress buster. Many times women have told me in therapy that after swearing they have felt like it was a catharsis (emotional release). Many have also gotten into trouble, as they have gone overboard in one of their anger spells towards friends or colleagues which of course was not taken well by others. Women who can swear are strong emotionally, as they really don’t care about judged by others. They are very open and articulate their feelings as it is. It’s deeply ingrained in us, that people who swear a lot, especially women, are not cultured and refined. The mental makeup of the society is such that they look down upon women who swear too much, as they perceive her to be harsh and disrespectful. Thankfully these perceptions are now changing and swearing is taken more as a form of humour. One needs to know boundaries and not go overboard in these habits,” adds Seema.