Recent incidents, such as the disruption of the “Miss Rishikesh” beauty pageant by men claiming to protect “Indian culture,” highlight the persistence of moral policing and patriarchal control in public spaces.

Constitutional Safeguards To Women against Moral Policing

• Article 19(1)(a): Ensures freedom of expression, which includes the right to choose attire.
• Article 21: Protects the right to personal liberty and autonomy, reaffirmed by the Supreme Court in various judgments.
  • Thus, moral policing directly violates constitutional guarantees of equality and freedom.

Ethical Issues Related To the Incident

• Patriarchy Disguised as Cultural Protection: The incident is not about safeguarding culture but about controlling women.
  • Patriarchy grants men the authority to dictate women’s behavior, dress, and public participation.
  • Sociologist Kamla Bhasin observed that patriarchy convinces women that restrictions are for cultural protection, making them accept subordination as normal.
• Double Standards: Society tolerates foreigners wearing short clothes but condemns Indian women for the same. 
  • The winning of Miss Universe is celebrated whereas local pageants are vilified.
• Cultural Contradictions: While corruption, public spitting, and civic indiscipline are ignored, women’s attire becomes the focus of moral concern.
• Control as Safety: Under the guise of protection, measures like surveillance or movement restrictions limit women’s agency rather than ensuring safety.
• Workplace Bias: Women are expected to be submissive; ambition leads to them being labeled as bossy.
• Past Precedents: Moral policing episodes like the Mangalore pub attacks or anti-Valentine’s Day raids reveal a recurring pattern of gendered control.

Way Forward

• Respect over Restriction: True culture is preserved through mutual respect and understanding, not through imposing restrictions on women’s freedom or choices.
• Empathy and Equality: Cultural preservation must prioritise values like empathy, dignity, and gender equality rather than control and moral policing.

Conclusion

True culture thrives on respect, equality, and mutual understanding. By embracing women’s freedom and choices, society can strengthen its values rather than fear them.

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