Everyday sexism hides in plain sight, say experts

HYDERABAD: For most women, self-censorship and withdrawal are not always personal choices; they are often the result of everyday sexism. Sexist jokes passed off as humour, unsolicited advice dressed as concern, and casual remarks that nobody calls out, everyday sexism rarely looks like a crime, but its impact pushes women into silence, said speakers at a panel discussion in the city on Saturday.

The third edition of the #StandWithHer campaign’s panel discussion series, held at WeHub, Dr BR Ambedkar University, brought together filmmakers, corporate leaders and police officials to discuss ‘Everyday Sexism and Emotional Safety’. The event, held in partnership with The Times of India, is a year-long initiative by the women’s safety wing of Telangana police.

“Everyday sexism does not look like a crime because it rarely gets called out. That is precisely what makes it dangerous. It hides in plain sight, disguised as a joke, a passing comment or a habit,” said women’s safety wing DG Charu Sinha. She added that humour is frequently weaponised to normalise misogyny, with offenders hiding behind claims such as, “I didn’t mean it”.

Reflecting on her early years in service and the challenges of navigating hierarchy, the DG highlighted that women often fall silent in response to the environment they are trying to navigate. Tollywood filmmaker Sailesh Kolanu turned the lens inward. “I am scared of writing female characters. I feel I am not sensitive enough.

I am a work in progress,” he said, adding that if everyone acknowledged being a work in progress, change becomes possible. He stressed that cinema significantly shapes social attitudes and that greater gender awareness among filmmakers could reshape how women are portrayed.

Sharath Chandra, co-founder of ‘Chai Bisket’, said most sexist behaviour is so deeply normalised that men fail to recognise it. “We have to not only learn new things but also unlearn years of behaviour we absorbed while growing up,” he said, adding that men supporting women are often questioned by society itself, a sign of how deeply rooted the problem is.

Sailaja Josyula, Global Head GCC Service Line at Cognizant, pointed to workplace dynamics where women are judged on their appearance and tone rather than competence, interrupted in meetings and subjected to decisions taken on their behalf. “Do not make decisions on behalf of women.

They have their own choices,” she said. Masood Hussainy, executive director at Tata Advanced Systems, stressed the importance of financial independence as the foundation of real choice. “One degree in education and employment can completely change the trajectory of a woman’s life,” he said. He also spoke about boosting women’s participation in the manufacturing and aerospace sectors.

The discussion also highlighted the need for gender sensitivity to begin at home, with boys being taught about emotional awareness and shared responsibility. Speakers explained how patriarchal attitudes continue to restrict women’s access to education and career choices.

The discussion also focused on how workplaces can be made more emotionally safe for women, allowing them to speak freely, without the constant fear of being ridiculed or dismissed. The panellists said that accountability and acknowledgement of a women’s opinions must come from the top leadership of every workplace.