Women in power still make people uneasy: Rasika Dugal
What's the story
The third season of Netflix's Delhi Crime, which explores heinous crimes against women and children, has returned. The show also subtly critiques internalized patriarchy and workplace gender dynamics. In a recent interview with Zoom, Rasika Dugal, who plays young inspector Neeti Singh, spoke about the ongoing discrimination women face in professional environments. She said no one takes a woman in authority with ease, and society at large continues to struggle with it.
Gender bias
How women in authority are viewed
Dugal said, "No man or woman takes a woman in authority with grace, it's terrible." She added, "If a man says something in a professional environment, people say, 'Sir has held it together.' If a woman says the same, it's like 'She's PMSing, she's menopausal,' all that nonsense." "You internalize it to a level where you start thinking, should I just stop speaking up? Because you don't want to be seen as difficult."
Shared experiences
It's so prevalent, says Shefali Shah
Shefali Shah, who plays the lead role in Delhi Crime 3, also shared her thoughts on gender discrimination. She said, "I don't know why it's like that. So many times I've had to wonder do I really need to bring my husband into the picture or use a man's position or even name to get things done?" "It's so prevalent."
Professional insights
Has Shah ever faced such discrimination?
When asked if she had ever faced gender discrimination on a film set, Shah said she had been "lucky" with the directors she had worked with. However, she did mention "one or two exceptions." Meanwhile, Dugal said that people tend to follow such behavior unconsciously in their daily lives without questioning or understanding it. Both actors play police officers in the hit web series.