#wrongpriorities

Disclaimer: One persons opinion piece! If you agree or you don’t and have a constructive comment to add, then please do!

I have been wondering since registering this account, what to write my first entry on. Indian media decided me today.

Two top level Cricket Players on the Indian National team are facing the wrath of BCCI (cricket board) after going on a prominent Indian talk show, “Coffee with Karan”. They made sexist and derogatory remarks in front of the country and will be punished accordingly.

Everyone’s reaction to this was predictable...Rightous comments along the lines of, “Great! They should be taking this behaviour seriously!”

I had a similar first reaction. Then I sat down and watched the interview. The comments (I don’t promise exact quotes but am paraphrasing what I remember!) included admissions of sleeping around, and having casual sex in other players hotel rooms, on tour. The comments that stuck with me include, Hardik Pandyas methods of pulling at clubs by watching how the girl moves from afar but also “spanking” the occasional derrière within range. Not to mention he then boasts about sleeping with many of the cheerleaders that perform at IPL matches.

So frankly after hearing all this what really gets to me is this. For him to have mentioned all of this in an interview, clearly this is not unacceptable behaviour amongst the cricketing fraternity. The sense of entitlement with which everything was said, showed that this behaviour is acceptable, if you are a successful sportsman with enough celeb caché in India.

I find myself annoyed now that everyone is outraged that these two players “dared to say these things on national television”. That’s not why you should be angry.

Be angry that the cricketing fraternity is still chauvinistic enough to normalise the behaviour. Be angry that these players think that they are bestowing favours on the women who’s ass they choose to grab at clubs. Be angry that they seem to assume that all women are easy and should be grateful for their attention if given.

The interview is just saying things. Yes, it has an impact. But the punishments given should be for the disgustions actions and behaviours enacted by the men, not for talking about those actions publicly.