In India, a woman speaking her mind is still seen as an act of defiance. Whether she is a politician questioning the hierarchical power structures, an activist speaking up against the unjust treatment, or a celebrity being vocal about her ways of living. The backlash they face is swift; online harassment, doxxing, and moral policing are just some of the ways to silence them.

This mindset isn’t just history - it quietly seeps into how we treat people today, often without realizing it. One of the most striking cases, because it's been in the limelight for a few years now, is that of Rhea Chakraborty. She became the face of a media trial after Sushant Singh Rajput died by suicide. Branded a ‘witch’ and a ‘gold digger,’ her character was dissected on national television. Her actual crime seemed to be that she was independent, famous, and open about her relationship with another celebrity.

It does make one think - if you live life on your terms, should you always be prepared for people to come after you? As writer and activist Alice Walker once said,

The most common way people give up their power is by thinking they don’t have any.

And if you think a little deeper, perhaps that’s exactly what these quiet punishments really aim to do, don't they? To make women question their own power, or to even feel like they need to justify it in the first place.

Even Mahua Moitra, an MP who is known for her sharp critiques towards the government. However, when the corruption allegations surfaced towards her in 2023, the focus quickly shifted from her professional life to her personal life, and it was all over the internet and televised news. Though, It would be too naive to think that this pattern does not repeat across party lines - Sushma Swaraj and Smriti Irani have also faced similar misogynistic attacks.

While social media empowers some, it is also an easy gateway for being targeted and harassed, unfortunately. Journalists like Rana Ayyub face relentless abuse for reporting uncomfortable truths, lest we forget Muslim women have been auctioned online in sickening displays of digital violence; even Dalit activist Nodeep Kaur was arrested and assaulted in custody for speaking up and supporting the 2020-21 Indian Farmers Protest. While I could list many such disturbing episodes over the years - each one challenging our understanding of free speech and democracy - it's crucial to acknowledge that women from marginalized communities face even greater risks, simply in trying to live their daily lives.

And of course, it doesn’t stop at public figures. Every day, women face this “quiet punishment.” Everything becomes a game for public judgment. And very often, that judgment turns violent. These aren’t just isolated events - they’re reminders. A way of keeping women in check, reminding them of the invisible lines they’re not supposed to cross.

In many ways, society seems to be holding its breath and waiting for women, more so those who are either in the public eye or have any sort of “power” - to slip up. There is an unspoken but at the same time, a very loud expectation of perfection, the usual “prove-you-deserve-to-be-here” pressure. One perceived flaw and it doesn't take too long to change the narrative to - She is too emotional. She is performative. Too difficult (and the saga continues.)

This constant scrutiny creates immense psychological pressure. It forces women leaders to walk a tightrope - assertive but not aggressive, successful but not intimidating, warm but not “too soft.” The result? Not only does it take a personal toll, but it also shapes how we as a society view and value female leadership. Leadership that is bold, different, and intuitive more than often gets dismissed or remains unacknowledged. And when women do make it through, they’re often seen as outliers, not signs that the system is opening up.

About the Author

Saamiksha Tangri is a psychotherapist with a background in Clinical Psychology. Alongside her mental health work, she has contributed to education initiatives in government schools, promoting emotional well-being in classrooms. She has also collaborated with research groups and civil society organizations, integrating psychology with education and social change. Deeply interested in the intersections of mental health, politics, gender, and society, Saamiksha brings a lifelong curiosity about social structures into her professional work.

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