Posted:
AB has always been extremely patriarchal. He likes to exude class and intellect, but deep down he is steeped in some very regressive values. The day he made Ash marry a tree, sealed this deal for me. I am not surprised.
That being said, many feminists do so for the fad and cool factor, not genuine beliefs. This is not unique to AB. Many Indian feminists, both men, and women flip flop or dance around the issue if feminism conflicts with so-called Hindu values. It is all about not poking the saffron bear these days. Similarly, in the West, many liberal feminists turn apologists when it comes to feminist issues in Islam or minority communities.
That being said, it is not easy to understand and support all feminist issues. There will always be divides, disagreements, and questions. We are all raised in a patriarchal society and some opinions are so hardwired it takes time for hardcore feminists to also get rid off. There are also cultural nuances that are not always understood. What an urban rich Indian woman needs versus what the rural poor Indian woman needs are different. White women issues are different from black, Hispanic, or Asian women issues. Straight women issues are different from lesbian, bi, or transgender women. All we can do is open our minds and keep learning.
On another note, some people feel that AB should not be criticized so much for what he did not say. But I think by penning that letter, he made himself a spokesperson for these issues. If he had not tried to place himself on a pedestal, people would not check the pedestal to see if he still stands there or has stepped off.
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