Chiranjeevi’s nephew reflects a disturbing mentality

Girls and women usually fight for equality in society and their own family. But when prejudice extends to speakers, especially celebrities who have fan legions, it is a problem of concern.

The recent comments of Telugu Megastar Chiranjevi, expressing his desire for a grandson to carry his legacy, have aroused controversy. Speaking at a film event in Hyderabad, Chiranjevi Shared, “When I’m at Home, ITE Feel Like i’m surroduned by My Granddaughters; It Feels Like a Ladies’ Hostel Warden, Surrounded by Ladies. I keep wishing Charan, at Least This Time, Have a Boy so that Our Legacy Continues, But His Daughter is the Apple of His Eye … i’m scared that He Might Again Have a Girl. “

Chiranjevi’s observations were perceived as sexist by many and caused criticism of social networks. His male fans could eventually play it. But when the celebrities with such a vast influence on the masses make such statements, does not the defective psyche of the bias against the female sex?

The obsessive son

Throughout the cultures, prejudice against daughters has been closely linked to the lower perceived status of women in the order of social pinching.

The idea that sons are the main suppliers of financial support for their parents, as well as the bearers of the family inheritance, is deeply rooted in societies around the world. More in India or China, with their ancient and stored civilizations.

Pew Research Center cites a 2020 UN report, which says globally, about 142.6 million (14.3 crores) remained “missing” between 1970 and 2020 due to selective sex or neglect. China (51%) and India (32%) represented most of these “missing” women. (In this context, “missing” females refer to an estimate of several women, including girls and women of all ages, would exist if there were no selective abortions of sex, mistreatment or neglect of females.)

A superstar who expresses his wish for a nephew sends a wrong message to society.

“When a celebrity makes a controversial statement, it has an impact on the public, especially when trying to develop the gender gap and bring gender equality,” says Lakshmi Krishnan, president, the Society for the Promotion of Women and Welfare, Delhi.

Chiranjeevi has a huge fan following the Telugu movie bats. Cinema Telugu addresses a cumulative 100 million people from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. They also have a wider basis in India, with the versions called. Most films glorify flagrant sexism, the female leads to a largely ornamental or aged ornamental roles.

The superhit “Bahabali” had a female protagonist in Sivagami, who rules Mahishmati’s mythical kingdom – in the absence of an adult male heir. She refuses to sit on the king’s throne, but presides over all administrative business. The film puts a strong emphasis on the importance of the male line. Unfortunately, this reflects real life.

Chiranjeevi, the father, articulated only what is baked in our collective psyche.

A long road

The obsession for the male child in India is well known. The 2022 data from NFHS-5 (National Family Health Survey) show that Indian families largely prefer sons to daughters. Almost 80% of those questioned said they wanted at least one son in their lives.

Most India practice patile, the system in which family names and property are transmitted generations through sons. Also, the culture of Patrilocality of India (a social system in which a married couple lives with or near the husband’s family) leads to preference for sons. The daughters are seen to belong to their husband’s families and a burden for finance, because the family has dowries to think. Previously, our laws on succession and inheritance also favored the sons. In recent years, the Government has made major changes to the law to give equal rights to the daughters.

The laws of succession and property have been significantly modified to grant the daughters an equal share in the ancestral property, with a key modification in the Law of Hindu succession, which gives the daughters the same Coparcene rights as sons, allowing to inherit the property directly as heirs together with their brothers. Buddhists, Jains and Sikhs are also governed by these laws.

But the bias persist.

These are perpetuated by socio-religious factors such as the sons who perform the last rites, especially in Hindus, apparently to “ensure salvation after death”.

Women still have a smaller participation in the formal workforce. Although the percentage of women working is increasing, men have a higher income value than women representing 76.8% of the workforce in 2023.

The friendly children’s schemes of the center, such as “Bachao, Padhao Bachao” or various governmental government schemes and “Ladli Behnas” have created awareness of female rights.

But then there comes an observation like Chiranjeevi’s, threatening to cancel years of progress.

Chiranjeevi makes a disarficity for women in his family. His daughter UPASANA Kamineni is a successful entrepreneur, who transmits her family’s legacy in healthcare and has a positive impact.

To believe that southern India, with a better education for women, is considered more progressive than the north.

Interestingly, in the matrilineal society in Meghalaya, women control the properties and inheritance and dominate public spaces. Here, the children receive their mother’s surname, the spouses move to their wife’s house, and the youngest daughters inherit the ancestral property.

Why not a society in which patrilineal and matrilineal systems coexist?

“Yes, certainly a combination of matrilineal and patrilineal society will help to get respect for daughters, although it can take a long time, because the mentality needs a drastic change,” says Mrs. Krishnan.

Celebrities must facilitate this change instead of preventing it.