“We need to redefine masculinity in India”
As India continues to grapple with the problem of rape and violence against women, superstar Aamir Khan said the balance of power needs to change in India and the definition of masculinity should be redefined. Khan, 49, was speaking at the prestigious sixth annual Women in the World summit presented by renowned journalist and author Tina Brown in association with the New York Times. “Rape is a big issue in India,” Khan said in a session titled “Tackling India's Taboos”. He was in conversation with Iraqi-American humanitarian Zainab Salbi, who founded Women for Women International.
“The balance of power in India needs to change. Unless conviction becomes swift and certain, things are not going to change in India. And very, very importantly, as a society we have to shun the rapist and hold the survivor close,” Khan said to a huge round of applause from the audience, that included Oscar-winning actress Meryl Streep and talk show host Jon Stewart.
Aamir also stressed on the need to begin gender-sensitisation of children, especially boys, at an early age, saying that society should let young boys know that it is alright for them to cry, feel scared and express their emotions. “Is a real man someone who goes and beats up people, is a real man a person who is the protector...? Unless we re-look at and hopefully re-define what a man is, things are not going to change,” Khan said. He said it is not correct for parents and society to tell young boys not to cry since such an attitude will make the boys insensitive. He added that from his conversations with people in India, a real man is defined as one who doesn't cry, doesn't hold his wife's hand and doesn't hug his children. “Based on all of these definitions of what a real man is, I'm completely not a real man because I hold my wife's hand all the time, hug my children and I cry all the time,” Khan said.
Source: PTI
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