Why was J.Jayalalitha's reign not the Golden Age of Women?

Sindujaa D N

In the patriarchal political arena, jayalalithaa overcame major obstacles to establish herself as a political leader. The political journey of a woman, especially a woman living alone, by setting up a circle for herself rather than within the family structure of this community is an impossible one.

Many women voted for jayalalithaa because she is a woman.


Jayalalithaa will introduce herself to the people during the campaign as "My dear sister". Beginning in 1989 and having been a part of tamil Nadu politics for about 30 years, various women how her regime had made a difference in terms of women's social advancement and women's empowerment in politics during her four terms as Chief Minister.


Rule without feminist vision

Her right is different. Establishing feminism is different. Although she had the most power, she did not raise a woman to elevate the political careers of other women in the party or to run the party after her. 

The funeral procession of tamil Nadu chief minister jayalalithaa, who passed away last monday night, drew the attention of the general public. Scenes of several women removing their hair and shaving at her memorial were widely reported in the media. 


'Sewing machine, marriage assistance scheme, maternity assistance scheme etc. were started during the DMK regime. jayalalithaa has allocated more funds for these projects. Her efforts were largely unhelpful to the political advancement of women, except for the tactics used by her predecessors to innovate and succeed politically.

She campaigned that she could understand the problem of women because she was a woman. She did not make any decision for the affected women. Claiming that the number of people convicted in criminal cases such as domestic violence, dowry abuse, eve-teasing was not large during his reign. The violence against women in a woman-ruled state was in silence.


When thousands of women took to the streets to protest, claiming that domestic violence had increased due to the increase in Tasmac stores, she said nothing. She saw women as a beneficiary and she did not want to pave the way for the political and economic advancement of a woman like her.

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