'Housewife, ladylike': India Supreme Court gives alternatives to words that stereotype women

The Supreme Court of India on Wednesday (August 16) released a handbook laying out a detailed glossary of gender-unjust terms that it suggested must not be used in court language.

It mentioned a list of words that perpetuate gender stereotypes and must be avoided while drafting pleadings as well as in orders and judgments. Along with the unjust terms, it also released a list of alternative words which it deemed more accurate or appropriate.

“The Handbook on Combating Gender Stereotypes aims to assist judges and the legal community in identifying, understanding and combating stereotypes about women. It contains a glossary of gender-unjust terms and suggests alternative words or phrases which may be used while drafting pleadings as well as orders and judgments,”Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud said.

Add WION as a Preferred Source

Watch:Supreme Court: Financial penalties must be proportionate to profits | India

The handbook noted how several gender-unjust terms were unfairly utilised by courts in the past. It also tried to justify why their use was considered inappropriate and why it may distort the application of the law.

“Stereotypes are typically held against individuals by virtue of their membership of a group. They are assumptions or beliefs that individuals belonging to specific social groups have certain characteristics or traits”, the handbook read.

Here is the list of words identified as gender-unjust by the Supreme Court along with the alternate recommended phrase.

Survivor or victim? The handbook noted that an individual who has been affected by sexual violence may identify themselves as either a “survivor” or “victim”.

Both terms are applicable unless the individual has expressed a preference in which case the individual's preference should be respected.

WATCH WION LIVE HERE