Movements are essential for social transformation. Most movements are against social inequality, injustice, oppression, and for the attainment of rights. Although all of them are for positive change, sometimes the slogans and activities used in the movements become misogynistic.

Sexist and misogynistic words are often used widely in movements. A similar scene was seen in the recent Gen-G movement in the country. 

In the latest youth uprising, words were uttered on the streets against the leaders of the previous government. However, the slogans raised there were misogynistic, which even the youth did not seem to be aware of. The slogans that he raised in connection with his mother and all mothers, which Nepali society considers ‘obscene’, had nothing to do with KP Sharma Oli or other leaders. Many years have passed since the mothers of the leaders whose mothers he raised slogans against on the streets, using vocabulary that society considers indigestible. 

Why are the abusive words used by society to express anger targeted at women? Why can’t a seemingly mature man accept that dragging a man’s mother into a man’s mouth while abusing him is a serious insult not to one’s mother, but to all women? 

The Gen-G generation of Bhadra 23 had peacefully protested against corruption. Until the movement was peaceful, the slogans were also civilized and progressive. However, as the movement progressed, when 19 people were killed by the state, the slogans also started changing along with the movement that became violent. Due to the violent incident instigated by the state, the anger and resentment in the people exceeded the limit, which was natural. Voices and slogans of rebellion against the extreme oppression, injustice, and disenchantment of the state began to emerge. That anger and rebellion of the people was against the then Prime Minister and the government. With many slogans targeting the government and KP Sharma Oli, Gen-G and other groups also took to the streets. Many slogans were heard. Such as ‘KP government resign’, ‘No Nepali babies, our future is not for sale’, ‘Independent voice is our right’ etc. These were revolutionary and progressive slogans for social transformation. However, the sad thing is that gradually those slogans were not limited to that, misogynistic and sexist words started to be widely used in them. Like other past movements, slogans that belittled women were also heard in the Gen-G generation movement. Those mother-centered slogans that civilized society did not digest, did not like to hear, and considered obscene became the favorite words of Gen-G, especially men, with each generation. From children to Gen-G and other generations, the same words were shouted in the streets and alleys. The anger was directed at KP Oli or Ramesh Lekhak, but their mothers were paying the price for it. However, the slogans were not limited to this. The abusive language was heard even more indigestible. Those slogans were also seen in the placards used in the movement. The placards and slogans hanging from the mouths of the protesters also began to appear on the walls.

The use of abusive language against women in the slogans of the movement is not a new issue and this is not the first time it has happened. In many past movements, abusive language has been used against women. However, we have been generalizing those slogans and abusive language in the languages ​​we speak. Women themselves started taking it in a comfortable way. As a result, today, the Gen-G generation has also started attacking women. And, sadly, the Gen-G generation has also started reveling in such vulgar slogans. Men dominated the movement. Most men were seen taking the lead in burning down Singha Durbar, Supreme Court, ward office, health post and other public and private offices. This is also clear from the videos of the movements that are currently going viral on social media. The oppression of women, whether it is a movement against corruption or a fight or anger directed at someone – there are abusive words associated with women. 

Some ‘gentlemen’ say, ‘I don’t like using such words to belittle women’. However, they think that perhaps these are the abusive words of the abusers, so why should I abuse them? When angry, most people use indigestible words that sound like ‘filth’ and ‘obscene’, but shouldn’t they be concerned about the social roots of using those words? What do such words mean? Who cares? Who created those words? And who is affected by them? 

In patriarchal society, many indigestible words and vocabulary were created to humiliate and defame women. Words were made a weapon to kill women's character. However, those words created to humiliate women are not only used on women. Men also resort to those words to humiliate and abuse men. How easily they utter those words aimed at mothers, sisters and wives, which are used in conflicts and anger between men. They do not even realize that they are defaming their own mothers, sisters and wives. Their quarrels are not resolved without defaming 'their' ones and they do not feel that they have won. 

Now the use of such words is increasing on social media as well. Humans try to move in a progressive direction, as a result of which there is continuous progress in the level of human civilization and development. However, such misogynistic words that society considers ‘obscene’ or indecent in speech have always had a special place in human civilization. Perhaps the patriarchal society wants to normalize this and establish it. Since previous generations could not ban slogans that used the word ‘obscene’, such words were passed down to the Gen-G generation. In this regard, Gen-G also lacked sensitivity. And, this generation also used the same indecent words in the slogans of the movement. Those words were ‘gamified’ in the slogans of the movement as well as in the colloquial language. 

Misogynistic and sexist slogans seem to have been widely used not only in Nepal, but also in international movements. In the protest held in Melbourne last May against the ‘new emergency services and volunteer fund tax’, a very vulgar and misogynistic slogan was raised targeting the Premier of the state of Victoria, Jacinta Allen. Feminist activist, civil society and opposition party leader Brad Battin claimed that the slogan was misogynistic and that they also concluded that sexism is rampant in politics. Similarly, a few years ago in Brisbane, a group called ‘Wicked Pickets’ protested against the words used in the slogans painted on the vans of ‘Wicked Campers’ because they were anti-women and offensive. Some said that the words were used to make the slogan ‘funny’.