The recent protest at Delhi's Jantar Mantar over the alleged NEET paper leak was expected to be remembered for its demand for accountability. Thousands of students gathered to express their anger over repeated examination irregularities and sought the resignation of the Union Education Minister. Young women participated in large numbers, reflecting the changing face of student activism.

Yet another aspect of the demonstration generated an equally intense debate. Videos circulating on social media showed several protesters, including young women, using explicit abusive language during speeches and interviews. Some of them later posted apology videos, saying they had spoken in the heat of the moment or had not anticipated the public backlash. The episode raises a larger question: Why is abusive language becoming increasingly common among young women? Is it a sign of changing gender norms, the influence of social media, or evidence that public discourse itself is becoming more aggressive?

Patriarchal Roots Of Abuse

For decades, scholars studying language and gender have argued that most abusive expressions in Indian languages are deeply rooted in patriarchy. The harshest insults target women's bodies, sexuality or family relationships. Traditionally, men used such language against other men to establish dominance or display masculinity. The abuse was rarely about women alone. It was about power.

This is why many feminist scholars described abusive language as a tool of patriarchal control. Women's bodies became symbols of male honour, and insulting them became a way of humiliating another man. The........

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