Comments on: How Political Correctness can make you Deaf and Dumb. But Mostly Dumb.

By: farah khan

farah khan — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 07:08:55 +0000

its a new fact that women are bad drivers!!i m not agree.

By: Rashmee Karnad

Rashmee Karnad — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 14:23:21 +0000

Ah discourse. That’s what is interesting. Rather discursive webs as the entanglements are many. And privilege is so deeply ingrained that we forget we have it. Unpacking that baggage is essential at every stage so we observe without judgement. Hard not impossible.
I have stopped driving on the highway after an accident caused by a teenager who ran a stop sign three years ago. Now it’s interesting when I share that information, just the first half: the assumptions are many. If I tag on the second half there are some more. And if I were to state that I had never driven in India due to being in a different socio economic bracket, there will be others. Well, if I were to speak of environmental consciousness therefore no driving on the highway when the bus gets me to Montreal in less time, there is a whole new lens that I’m seen through. Identity is performative. The gaze matters.

By: Noni Chawla

Noni Chawla — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 14:21:55 +0000

Excellent piece!

By: sanjay austa

sanjay austa — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 16:02:22 +0000

In reply to Anubha Yadav. Anubha no- i think political correctness or the lack of it come into play only for the suppressed people or minorities. Men have dominated and bullied so obviously there is no question of any political correctness in depicting aspects of them. For example R K Laxman's cartoons with the wife throwing the belan at her husband or thrashing him with the broom are funny. But they certainly wouldn't be should it be the other way around.

By: Anubha Yadav

Anubha Yadav — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 15:53:05 +0000

I do agree with you on socialization’s role to breed a framework of acceptance. Although I am talking about Mead’s work on urban -anthropological observations not ethnographic- but yes perspective is of value and so is the framework in all works.
In that respect I do find it revealing that Sanjay chose to give these examples- and no example of a from a man’s world came naturally to him- I think we are also more used to giving a kind of privilege to certain kind of discourses on women. For example what would an example of a similar type be around men in the society? Would that be equally politically incorrect to say? Why? or Why not? Why is that discourse so politically absent?

By: sanjay austa

sanjay austa — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 15:42:49 +0000

In reply to Rashmee-Karnad. Rashmee thats an interesting observation. Thank you :-)

By: Rashmee-Karnad

Rashmee-Karnad — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 15:39:13 +0000

What part does caution bred through socialization play in ‘slow’ decision making on roads? What part does ‘you don’t know how’ deep rooted in patriarchy affect this judgement? Why are there higher insurance rates for young men drivers than women drivers in many parts of the world? Also ethnographical work such as Mead or Goodall even are single point perspectives are they not? Who asked the Samoans or the chimps what they thought and why they did what they did? Observing women or any other group from a perspective of superiority, even within subgroups: these women observing those women, is based on a hegemony that is ingrained into the lens. Great opinion piece by the amount of conversation it is generating.

By: sanjay austa

sanjay austa — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 07:30:48 +0000

In reply to Anubha Yadav. Anubha I take your point. But I am still not really convinced. Driving is just one example. I think its ok to be different with each of us gifted with different skill sets.

By: sanjay austa

sanjay austa — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 07:26:27 +0000

In reply to Natasha Badhwar. Natasha yes I agree. Ive written about it. Dangerous driving is an act of will while bad driving necessarily isn't.

By: Natasha Badhwar

Natasha Badhwar — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 07:22:28 +0000

Also lets define good driving. Women drivers are irritating and slow decision makers…male drivers are overwhelmingly responsible for accidents and fatalities caused by speeding and loss of control.

Which category is the better driver?