‘Female politicians are targeted more on social media than men’

Female politicians agreed on the point that online trolling is usually gender-biased.

New Delhi: BJP’s Shazia Ilmi and Congress’ Supriya Shrinate on Monday, talked about women representation in the political arena at the ‘We Women Want Festival and Awards’ organised by iTV Network at Hotel Taj Ambassador here on Monday.
The female politicians agreed on the point that the online trolling is usually gender-biased.
Ilmi, who is a BJP’s spokesperson, said that “I am trolled many times because I am with BJP. Many a times, these trolls cross the line but I take it as a sign of victory because when these trollers and abusers get personal, it means that they know that your logic is something they can’t fight with.”
Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate, who looks after the Congress party’s social media operations, said that “I don’t care much about these trolls. But if they attack me personally or attack my daughter, in such cases I take legal action.”
On adequate women representation within the Congress, she said that her party has been addressing such issues and highlighted party’s recent constitutional amendment that mandates 50% of all office bearers to be from SC, ST, OBC, minority, and women groups under the age of 50.
Similarly, Shazia Ilmi talked about the women’s reservation bill and the initiaves taken by the BJP to give women an adequate representation in the political field. She also pointed out at the key ministerial roles held by women ministers.
Political commentator Neerja Chowdhury admitted that a lot has been done in the realm and a lot more still needs to be done. The present dispensation has come up with various women centred schemes such as Beti Bachao Beti Padhao and other welfare schemes.
Similarly in a different panel discussion on women representation in politics, Congress’s Shama Mohamed said “In Kerala, which has a population of 51% women, there isn’t a single woman MP” and called for more action to bridge the gap in political representation, emphasizing the need for systemic reforms.