The tragic rape and murder of a 31-year-old female trainee doctor at R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital (RGKMCH) has sparked widespread protests from doctors and various sections of society over the past 40 days. Despite the protests being centered around women’s safety, some female doctors feel that the movement has been predominantly led by men.
On September 16, a delegation of 42 doctors met with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee at her residence to present their demands. Notably, the number of female doctors in this delegation was minimal, highlighting their underrepresentation in a movement that stems from the rape and murder of one of their own.
“Men are dominating the spotlight, and the movement seems to be more about the broader issues within the medical system than about women’s safety,” expressed Gauri Seth, a resident doctor from Medical College, Kolkata.
Ms. Seth further lamented that the protest sites themselves are not sufficiently inclusive. She criticized the male-led narrative, stating, “One of the stories circulating is that Abhaya [a symbolic name for the victim] died because she opposed injustice. Yet now, men are taking over our voices and leading the movement. They have been playing the role of protectors from the start, but we don’t need them to shield us from other men.”
A female MBBS graduate from a city medical college echoed Ms. Seth’s frustration, pointing out that male doctors with “saviour complexes” have assumed leadership roles in Resident Doctors’ Associations across Kolkata. “We need men to listen and allow us to express our concerns about feeling unsafe in our workplaces and discuss the solutions we need,” she said.
Moreover, Radhikaa Sharma, a postgraduate trainee doctor, highlighted that nurses and female hospital workers often face even greater violence but are scarcely mentioned in the current discourse.
Kavita Krishnan, a female rights activist, emphasized that the initial feminist intent of the protests is struggling to stay relevant amidst other narratives. “The violence against the victim was a result of her being a woman, not just a doctor. This must remain a focal point,” she said.
Satabdi Das, a gender rights activist and convener of the ‘Reclaim the Night, Reclaim the Rights’ movement, noted that the rape and murder of the doctor is increasingly viewed as a crime driven by a larger political nexus rather than a gender-based crime. “Rape is used as a tool of domination over women, not over men. There is a lack of understanding that rape is not just a crime of lust but a means to exert power,” she said.
Ms. Das also remarked on the lack of female, queer, and transgender representation in the protests. “While the doctors’ five-point agenda focuses on health infrastructure and the safety of health workers, a more compelling narrative could have been formed with greater female representation in the protests,” she added.