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Context:
- In the recent times, due to the lack of making an identity through career and academics, male identity crisis has been exacerbated.
Introduction:
- Identity can be divided into two broad categories:
- “Achieved” identity derived from individual endeavors (education, work and so on)
- “Ascribed” identity that is derived from intrinsic characteristics (religion, ethnicity, gender, etc)
- The achieved identity of the Indian male is under attack today.
- Because even though aspirations are sky-high, employment growth decreases and thus self-esteem and emotional security are more likely to be found in the ascribed identities of the Indian male.
- Faced with increased competition and impossible odds in the job market, their achieved identity based on work and material markers is severely threatened.
Consequences:
- The increase in violence against women and minorities, rampant moral policing, and attempts to criminalize alternate sexualities are all part of a consequences against the threats to male supremacy.
- A recent scenario of the cow protection narrative which is being pushed today is part of a larger attempt to restore the supposedly lost glory of a muscular Hindu India.
Conclusion:
- The intention of the ascribed identities of targeting the “other” will not diminish in our context, unless purposefully countered.
