Definition of feminism has no meaning in India: Shobhaa De

Image
Press Trust of India New Delhi
Last Updated : Dec 22 2013 | 1:05 PM IST
For Shobhaa De, who has been a strong supporter of feminism and has penned best selling books with women central characters, the definition of feminism holds no meaning in India.
"We need to understand the loopholes in our system which prompt the 'feminists' to come forward and contribute to this men versus women battle to make the country a better place for women," De told PTI in an interview.
"How can you define feminism in a country where the constitution guarantees equal opportunities, equal freedom and equal security to women as it does to men?, says the writer.
"Our constitution is so progressive and ahead of our times and respectful of gender that we shouldn't be in this position as we are. It's the failed implementation which has lead to this situation today and not the law, the legislation is very well in place, " she says.
According to the author, the apparent movement for the women which is automatically assumed to be against men is not aimed at "making men bow down to everything women have to say or do."
"Any strong woman would like to see a strong confident man but it's not about making men feel demeaned. Demanding and getting respect is not much to ask and I don't think that corrodes any body's identity. It is how it should be. Since men and women have to stay together in the society, let's do it with mutual respect," she says.
De, who has recently come up with her 18th book titled 'Never a Dull De' believes that Bollywood is very significant part of society's transformation.
The book published by Penguin books is a compilation of various columns written by De over the years, a larger segment of which has been written with a reference to Bollywood.
*Subscribe to Business Standard digital and get complimentary access to The New York Times

Smart Quarterly

₹900

3 Months

₹300/Month

SAVE 25%

Smart Essential

₹2,700

1 Year

₹225/Month

SAVE 46%
*Complimentary New York Times access for the 2nd year will be given after 12 months

Super Saver

₹3,900

2 Years

₹162/Month

Subscribe

Renews automatically, cancel anytime

Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans

Exclusive premium stories online

  • Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors

Complimentary Access to The New York Times

  • News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic

Business Standard Epaper

  • Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share

Curated Newsletters

  • Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox

Market Analysis & Investment Insights

  • In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor

Archives

  • Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997

Ad-free Reading

  • Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements

Seamless Access Across All Devices

  • Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app

More From This Section

First Published: Dec 22 2013 | 1:05 PM IST

Next Story