A MAN’S PARLIAMENT STRIVING FOR AN INCLUSIVE INDIA
In 1952, when the Indian republic held its first parliamentary session, 39 women leaders sat in hallowed halls of power, challenging the centuries-old tide of men’s dominance.
Despite a woman Prime Minister, a President and a relatively higher percentage of women parliamentarians when compared to some other matured democracies in the past, our struggle with inclusivity has not eased.
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The Supreme Court judgment (National legal services authority vs union of India, 2014) on gender identity has given the movement greater impetus.
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GENDER (NOT)NEUTRAL-MASCULINE PRONOUNS
- A closer look at our parliamentary discourse and communication reveals a concerning and disconcerting absence of gender-neutral language, for instance after 75 years of independence parliament often refers to women in leadership positions as chairmen party men.
- In Rajya sabha, the rules of procedure continue to refer to the vice-president of India as the ex officio chairman.
- In its present state, the constitution reinforces historical stereotypes that women and transgender people cannot be in leadership positions, such as President and Vice-president, speaker of Lok sabha, Governor of states or a judge. It is not a criticism of the constitution but of the failure of the many union governments which did not take the initiative of amending it.
- Few steps are taken, 2014 under the leadership of the then speaker of the Lok Sabha, Meira Kumar, the rules of procedure of the Lok sabha were made entirely gender-neutral
IN OTHER COUNTRIESCanada's department of justice has guidelines for using gender-neutral language in all forms of legislation and legal documentation, the Australian government has incorporated gender neutrality in its drafting style manual, and the U.K’s House of Commons declared in 2007 that all laws would be drafted gender-neutrally.
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MOVING AHEAD
- In 2018, the U.K. Parliament conducted a gender audit to understand its culture, environment and policies as a workspace.
- If the report is any indication as to what might also be the scenario in the Indian Parliament, with an even lesser number of women employees, it opens questions about whether there is a single, transparent appointment and promotion process for women staff in Parliament, and whether their professional growth is being hindered by other issues such as harassment and domestic responsibilities.
- Recognition and correction of past errors through amendments to the rulebook, laws and the constitution are just starting points and must lead to sensitivity and equal treatment.
