Kerala Women Attack YouTuber For Making Derogatory Video; But Can Feminism Justify Physical Assault?

Three women in Kerala – Malayalam dubbing artist Bhagyalakshmi, Bigg Boss contestants Sreelakshmi Arackal and trans activist Diya Sana – took on a male YouTuber who allegedly put out a derogatory video on feminists in the state. The events which were caught on live video have since gone viral and shows the women getting into a physical altercation with Vijay P Nair, the man in question, and throwing black ink at him. He had reportedly put out a video titled "Why do feminists in India, especially Kerala, not wear underwear?"

The contents of Nair's video were evidently shaped in a derogatory manner meant to offend the dignity of women. It was the action which led to a reaction from these women who barged into his house to demand some answers from him. Nevertheless, this event cannot be explained away with a surface argument. It begs some questions - Does virtual offence warrant physical assault? Is there space for physical violence in feminism? And finally, was the women's brash reaction to the man's video justified?

Also Read: Kerala : Bhagyalakshmi, Diya Sana take on Youtuber for making video against them

The Breed Of Hate on YouTube

The women were justifiably angry at Nair for his insulting content on YouTube. And it must be noted that he's not the only one on that platform putting out similar trash of this genre. Several others from the Hindi-speaking metropolitan areas, who are far younger than Nair, too are making money and fame thriving on a misogynist mindset. CarryMinati has been criticised for his queerphobic content. There was Shubham Mishra and there is still Hindustani Bhau, who in all their hypermasculine glory had put out abusive/graphic videos inciting hate and violence against comedian Agrima Joshua after she supposedly insulted Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. These are hatemongers, full and in flesh, who have amassed popularity selling prejudices. What is the solution to curb their spread? How does one stop them? Is physical assault the answer?

Diamond cuts diamond is a useful proverb but one that is almost always ethically justifiable as far as a game of wits is concerned. Once it turns physical, the matter becomes wholly subjective. If Nair was one end of the extreme, spewing hate against women, didn't the women's physical misbehaviour categorise them as the other end?

Also Read: How ‘Funny’ Memes Make Demigods Out Of Abusive Men

Consider the situation. Nair's hatred remained restricted to the virtual world in the case of these women, something that he, and others rallying for him now, can use to add weight to his arguments. Alternatively, these women who responded to him did so by crossing that line between virtual and real, that too by encroaching upon the privacy of his own home. It immediately put them at a disadvantage.

Ideologies cannot be beaten into an ideal shape. Nair has reportedly apologised for his hateful videos. But who's to say his mindset has changed for the better?

Women Are Looking For Someone Answerable To Them

Journalist MK Nidheesh reported that these women had "lodged a complaint to at least four state organs (gender-based)" against Nair, but "yielding to no actions," which is why they thought of taking matters into their own hands to give Nair a piece of their minds upfront. Bhagyalakshmi was even reported saying, "I will go to jail proudly if arrested for assaulting Vijay Nair." Perhaps Bhagyashree is a one-off example of someone ready to go to jail for the big picture of feminism. But can this be the ultimate solution as goes women's oppression in the country? Is filling jails in the fight for women's dignity and equality the answer? How far will that take us? Will it be effective in bringing about a change in the sick mindsets of men like Nair?

To bring change, confrontation is necessary. We're told to raise a voice against men who harass us, hit back at men who grope us, fearlessly question men who are anti-women. But these are offences of a nature and degree that require to be nipped in the bud instantly. Slapping away the hand of a man who tries to touch you on the bus is but natural. One does not hound him out later at his house, does she?

Also Read: Shubham Mishra Has Been Arrested, But The Problem Of Offence-Taking Still Persists

Now, what of the men like Nair who routinely clutter the internet with their garbage, therefore making social media spaces dangerous to women? Perhaps even fuelling hate in the minds of their viewers outside the virtual world? How does one deal with them? Such online content cannot be pinpointed to one point in time - it is uploaded one day and remains there until removed. Perhaps a mass report of YouTube videos like these, flagging them for offensive content, then presents a possible option to resist men like Nair. These videos must be called out, alerted on social media - where a wide network of lawyers and politicians exists. Once it comes to their notice, they'll be better equipped to take or suggest swift action against Nair and others like him.

The responsibility of change, however, does not solely rest upon the shoulders of women. Why did Bhagyalakshmi and others resort to violence against Nair in the first place? Because their legal options did not give them answers. State-runs organisations did not help them. Doesn't this indicate a strengthening of ground laws? Doesn't it also indicate a severe revision of social media guidelines of giants such as YouTube and Facebook who are letting hateful content thrive?

Finding one single culprit in events such as the one that happened in Kerala is not easy. But this sure has brought out some important questions that need addressing. Women of India are done being insulted. And they are looking for someone who is answerable to them.

Views expressed are the author's own.