Art of twisting the truth

"HAT'S patriarchy ya?" You might expect that question, complete with the sucked-on-a-lemon-slice expression upon hearing the word and the dismissive tone used when responding to it (both evident on video footage of the relevant incident) from your average dudebro, WhatsApp group uncle, YouTube commentator, or a very sheltered woman with an internalised misogyny issue.

- SHARANYA MANIVANNAN

Coming from one of the most powerful women in this country, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, such disdain lands in a very disappointing way.

Speaking to students at Bengaluru's Jain University recently, Ms. Sitharaman was replying to a question on whether she had also faced the systemic inequality and lack of familial support that many if not most Indian women experience in their lives and work. The question was based on the well-substantiated premise that the paradigm we exist in is patriarchal, and was fair in its inquiry about how a woman of such importance rose despite it.