A venomous tide of trolls and critics has risen against Indian Actress Sonakshi Sinha in the vast ocean of social media, merely for choosing to marry a man of her own free will, a man who happens to be wealthy and Muslim. This toxic chorus echoes a broader societal malady - a mindset that seeks to suffocate individual freedom and femininity.

In a land where women scientists have soared to the moon, we still find ourselves mired in petty objections about a lady's bra lace seen at the airport. The hypocrisy is staggering. The orthodoxy slithers out of its dark recesses, admonishing women to conceal themselves, only to be met with a fierce riposte from the targeted lady who happened to be an audacious author. This ignited a fire within me, compelling me to question and challenge this suffocating status quo.
There are various such incidents happening around us, and what we are doing, we scroll down on Instagram or Facebook and enjoy reading and watching. One episode that recently happened, I would like to share here. One evening when the sun was about to cast its warm glow, and I was completely lost in the aromas and flavors of dinner preparation in kitchen, my son came running home. He burst into tears in front of my daughter, seeking solace from the playground's politics of children. My attention was swiftly drawn to the tender exchange between my son and daughter. She was comforting him, yet simultaneously articulating that boys should never cry, for it's a feminine and girlish trait. I stood there, aghast, realizing that I had never intentionally instilled such discriminatory beliefs in my children. And so, I pondered: where did they learn this language of exclusion? From home? School? Friends? Social setting? Don't boys possess the same humanity, the same emotional depth, as girls? Why must we conform to the rigid, outdated standards of language, instead of embracing an all-inclusive lexicon? After all, humans came into existence long after language was born. Do we still need to be bound by the arbitrary rules of a bygone era?
Language is somewhat fluid and beautiful thing that can make or break a human while experiencing it; that acknowledges and celebrates our shared emotions, our shared humanity. It inspires and makes us happy at one side; shatters and upsets us gloomy on the other side if not used rightly. And no doubt the shackles of gendered language create differences and discriminations.
Our language serves as a reflection of our society and culture, consciously or subconsciously impacting our speech. For instance, in our male-dominated society, young girls may adopt masculine forms of language to emulate boys' dominance when they engage in physical fights or competitions. Conversely, in families with only one female child, parents may raise her like a boy, leading her to use language associated with boys. Why are such attempts made to mold her into a carbon copy of masculinity? Can they not see that this forced imitation of boyish language and behavior is a form of intellectual and emotional violence?
There are several such examples that exemplify the deep-rooted male dominance in the society and how it affects language usage. As these girls grow older, they are socialized to adopt more polite and feminine behavior and language. Traditional societies partially accept the imitation of masculine language features by girls but not fully. Some girls find it easier to transition from feminine to masculine language features, while boys face challenges and social rejection when attempting such a shift, symbolizing male dominance and superiority.
Such occurrence of distinct linguistic usage and the switching, individually, in a family or in the whole community due to prevailing gendered power imbalances and standardized linguistic patterns further contribute to the marginalization of one gender. And language, we all know, possesses a remarkable ability for self-expression, and identity formation and should be used precisely.
The fictionalized representations as men are like Martians and women are like Venusians having different styles of communication and language use to express themselves by author and counselor John Gray in his book serves the purpose of directing towards a deeper understanding of gender, expression and linguistic differences at various levels.
In the shrine of language learning, the language classrooms, many times I witness souls of learners struggling to articulate the simplest of words- ‘his’ or ‘her’, ‘he’ or ‘she’. The anguish in their eyes belies the gravity of this linguistic labyrinth, as if their very existence hinges on routing this gendered mess. Oh, the cruel fate that decrees one's worth by the pronouns that precede them!
Meanwhile, the LGBT community wanders in a linguistic limbo, denied even the basic privilege of being addressed with a pronoun that acknowledges their identity. Must we perpetuate this discriminatory lexicon, this binary bind that suffocates the human spirit? Can we not opt for a language that liberates, that embraces the beauty of neutrality, and celebrates the diversity of our shared humanity?
Once a colleague of my friend, blinded by base desire, dared to pose a query that stripped her of dignity and reduced her to a mere sex object That conversation between them erupted a tempest of outrage within my friend's soul. His crass request for proof of her sexual health, a discourteous precursor to a fleeting encounter, ignited a firestorm of indignation. With righteous fury, she countered, her words a scorching rebuke that seared his conscience: "Who are you to demand such intimate knowledge? First, produce your own certificates of character, earned through a lifetime of respect and decency, to every woman you've ever shared a bed with!" Alas, how many minds are shrouded in a darkness that refuses to acknowledge the power of language to both heal and harm? When will we cultivate a society where words are wielded with care, where gender-neutral language is the norm, and respect is the guiding principle? The education sector, too, must evolve, in tandem with our collective consciousness, to nurture a world where discourse is a bridge, not a barrier, a way of positive reinforcement not of humiliation and harassment.
Many sociolinguists have been captivated by notable differences in communication styles between genders and have revealed about these. The different ways in which genders use various languages such as French, Arabic, and Hindi etc. Actually these linguistic features and variations are influenced by societal principles and social practices wherein men play a more dominant role controlling the conduct of a girl or a woman.
The distinctions between the statuses and roles of different genders, particularly femininity and masculinity as polar opposites in traditional societies like India, are highly evident in gendered language forms. Daily soap operas and all OTT platforms of India serve as a striking example of status-conscious gendered language use, reflecting the intricate dynamics of societal stratification and gender.
Recognizing and challenging gendered discourse that suppresses one gender in favor of the other or hurts sentiments is crucial for creating change. Raising awareness about the impact of gendered discourse on individuals and society through fruitful deliberations is a step towards eradicating dominance and differentiation. Strategies such as equal education and job opportunities, the right to expression, the eradication of stereotypes, open-mindedness, the use of gender-neutral terminology, adaptation of power dynamics depending on social context, and individual agency are fruitful in promoting equality.
The materialization of all-embracing language among coming generations may mark a significant shift towards a more inclusive and equitable language landscape. However the progressive Generation Z embraces a more fluid understanding of gender, societal norms and the need for gendered language to be diminished. This trend reflects the decline of gender-specific spaces in favor of unisex environments. As language evolves to become more gender-neutral, the power dynamics and dominance associated with gendered language will dissipate. In their place, equality and sustainability will take center stage, fostering a culture where every individual is treated with dignity and respect, regardless of their gender identity. This shift will contribute to a more harmonious and inclusive society, where language is not a barrier but a tool for connection and understanding.