The Mancriminate debate: This is what Indian men think

‘I don’t have to hold open doors’! Last year the Internet mocked the #DontMancriminate campaign which argued it’s men and not women who face discrimination. A rash of posters featured Hollywood male faces along with reasons why discrimination against men need to stop.

According to one poster, Maggcom claimed that men get a raw deal when it comes to sex: ‘Let’s talk sex. If I want sex, I am desperate. If you want sex it’s sexually liberated. If we want sex, then it has to be on your terms?’
Another one claimed that women should stop expecting chivalry from men if they want gender equality: ‘You want gender equality? Take it. I don’t have to hold the door. I don’t have to hold the bags. I don’t have to give my seat.’

This campaign took the online space by storm with celebrity faces, including the likes of Shiloh Fernandez, Elijah Wood and Jude Law fronting it. Let’s see what Indian men have to say,,,

Broaden your perspective 

Designer Hemant Lalwani says, “Gender inequality has been much more pronounced in the past compared to the scenario nowadays. We are moving towards the better status of gender equality with the advancing times and the implementation of right rules for that. It does not bug me that much, but I do feel that sometimes feminism gets so strong that it does feel that it is leading to mancrimation in some sections of the society. We talk more about Gender Equality and I do feel that liberation for women beyond a point may make the masses feel mancrimated.  Empowering women in the right direction and broadening our perspectives towards things we consider ‘womanly’ is the need of the hour.”

Men bear the brunt 

Model Sid Rawal says, “I do believe due to the recent wave of feminism and women’s activism in our country, men have had to bear some of the backlash, especially the good guys who are needlessly harassed and maligned sometimes. I do understand that violence against women, wage parity and women’s rights are serious issues so I’m happy that it’s being discussed publicly. However, at the end of the day, equality of genders is important and this applies to both men and women.”

Learn from Ki and Ka

Model and fitness expert Mithun Purandare says, “In India things like women only trains etc have just started and is in a very nascent stage. By large, it’s still a man’s world in India. Having said that, men here are discriminated in a way that it’s assumed that they can only do a few jobs but there are so many men who do a woman’s job so well. Ki and Ka showcased the house husband idea so well. Model Prabh Uppal says, “I’m all for gender equality and we are all equals regardless of whatever the society considers. I just don’t support the idea of discriminating on any basis.”

Designer Gyanesh Sarvaiya says, “Yes, women in India often face issues like forced arranged marriages, dowry abuse, rape, sexism, discrimination at the workplace, sexual harassment when taking public transport, victimisation post-rape and other mundane obstacles, but none of these problems are as great as men paying to enter nightclubs!  I mean who cares if marital rape has not been criminalised in India; does that compare with the privilege of free drinks every Wednesday night? Seriously!”

Designer Nitin Singh says, “No, I do not think gender inequality bugs men as much as it bugs women. Both genders have their fare share of struggles, and of course men do face some form of inequality too, however, that being said, we in no way shape or form can even compare to the inequality faced by the women in our society, and to even say so would be a little unfair and ignorant.”

Designer Anuj Madaan says, “Talking about gender equality I think not every guy has the same view regarding women. Since last few years, we have seen a lot of women upliftment in the society which is really good. But does that really mean “gender equality”, Also, sometimes women take the rites for granted.”