Network of Women in Media condemns cyber abuse against writer Meena Kandasamy

Chennai: Network of Women in Media, a forum for women in media profession condemn the online abuse that is going on against writer cum activist Meena Kandasamy. The forum calls the attack as a type of 'targeting and harrassment' towards writer.

The attacks began after her tweet about Periyar Ramasamy on his birth anniversary regarding the relevance of Periyarism, and emphasizes the sharp contrast between the ideals of feminism that Periyar stood for at his time with the current political reality met with criticisms from right wing commentators.

NWM statement says "The most egregious of accusations against Meena are that as a feminist she could not have been in an abusive marriage, and if she was in such a marriage, she could not be a feminist. Around the world, survivors of intimate partner violence know this to not only be untrue but to be an actively harmful insinuation that holds women in abusive circumstances back from speaking out and seeking help".

Meena faces cyber bullying about her caste identity and appropriating the struggles of Dalits in the process. She has defended the piece and her right to be featured in it, enumerating her literary accomplishments. After questioning her literary accomplishments some sections have sought to sully her reputation by assassinating writer's character.

"In her own writings she has made it clear that she is the product of an inter-caste union between a man from the Andi Pandaram community, classified as MBC in Tamil Nadu, and a woman from an OBC community.Meena's ideas and arguments should be countered with ideas and arguments. To harass, troll and character assassinate a woman for speaking her mind is to seek to silence her and the inconvenient truths she may speak".NWM's solidarity statement reads.

The Network of Women in Media, India, is a forum for women in media professions aims to share information and resources, exchange ideas, promote media awareness and ethics, and work for gender equality and justice within the media and society.

The women forum urged to safeguard women users and other vulnerable sections from unchecked abuse via online space. However, Twitterati demands immediate action against cyber attackers. Many came in support of the writer as Twitter had employed hashtag #StandwithMeena by extending solidarity to her.