Gender Bender: Whore, witch, psychopath edition

There is much being talked about women being described as whores and witches and psychopaths – at least on my news feed – these days. Bollywood has its own ways. You don’t know what happens and why it happens.

But in all the hoopla, the best part is what women are called as a result of their actions or intentions. Not friendly, not confused, not exaggerators, not believers in the other world, not of superior intelligence. But whores, witches and psychopaths, as has been highlighted in the media in the past days.

Note that men are almost never called these things. Primarily, I suspect, because successful women are few, successful men are many. So if a woman is able to do something extraordinary, she becomes prime suspect for belonging to at least one of the three categories.

But what it the scenario is reversed? What would be the circumstances that would label men? Here goes…

Whore (ok, gigolo): 

- Remember the time you shared a naughty joke with your female friends? That. Testing waters, were you? That’s what.

- The time you openly flirted with a girl? Forget flirt. Were great friends with them. Even better, a colleague? That. You were just figuring out. We know what. 

- Oh wait, when a female (or male) colleague hit on you. There must be something to that besides your natural charms. I mean who falls for an attractive person without reason? In the words of Kaa, from the jungle book: I know who you are.

- When your boss likes you very much. It has nothing to do with your talent. Sorry. There is no forgiveness here. We know what you are.

- Playing the field till you are at least 30? Now we know the secret to the BMW. Now we know.

Witch (Wizard?):

- Remember the time you peddled your knowledge of palmistry only because you could hold a few lady hands? That. Also, that makes you both a witch and a whore. Two sins with one stone.

- The time you wore a prayer beads necklace and a stone ring because mamma asked you to? That. No one believes you. We know who you are.

- The time you randomly spoke of having super powers after ODing on the Dark Knight series? Or Spiderman? Or the Batman v/s Superman. Or even reading too much about Hindu gods? Whatever. How is that possible? We still know who you are. We are not fooled.

Psychopath (Psychopath):

*Note that here it gets gender neutral. Our Prime Minister would agree. He has borne the brunt of accusation.*

- You spoke your mind about something, loudly and clearly. And to someone who had authority over you – family, office, friends, or individuals. You goddamn psycho. Don’t you know that the world belongs to the meek? Trying to manipulate the world with your words? You psychopath. 

- You are too successful for our expectation of you. It should be us in your place and not you in yours. We don’t care that you probably toiled endlessly. We deserve greatness better. And since we don’t have it and you do, you have to be a complete Psycho. Even being a whore or a witch would not have got you so far. Most definitely a psychopath.