Women and Freedom of Speech: Considering Gender Equality in Freedom of Speech

The ideals of freedom of speech and equality are both essential for a democratic, liberal society. The power relations that prevail greatly affect the dominant discourse and ideology in the society, and the extent of freedom of speech and expression given to different groups conversely affects the power relations in the society. Gender is one of the major areas where power relations have played a significant role. The patriarchal culture has perpetuated ways of thinking which assume male dominance as natural, and violence towards women as a legitimate expression of this dominance. The violence here does not have to be looked at in its narrow sense of physical violence, but in its broader sense of physical, emotional and psychological violence. It would translate as taking into account the ‘power’ women as a group have to make changes in their society. A prerequisite for making such changes that challenge the status quo, is being heard-and being heard as individuals who have a legitimate authority to speak. Even though the world has come a long way, and women have more rights and freedom than they did a few centuries ago, the freedom at best remains hypocritical-prescribed in theory, but not practiced in actuality. This paper takes the freedom of speech and expression as one of the significant areas where the freedom of women is at best limited and attempts to understand what it means for the gender power relations in society. It also seeks to recognize the reason why this pattern is so difficult to break. The paper is accordingly divided into two subsections: ‘Gender and Speech’ which traces the relation between women and speech in the context of a gender unequal society; and ‘Speech and Law’ which examines the role political legitimation plays in carrying forward the status quo.