The Scarlet Letter Effect: How Women are Shamed and Punished More Harshly than Men

Women are often seen as a symbol of purity, innocence and virtue, embodying our society and its values. They are expected to uphold those values, while men are not bounded by the same. This notion has been forced upon women so much that any act of wrongdoing is seen as deviation from the embodiment of perfectionism and purity. With theses biases present, a picture of innocence in mind, the very acts performed by women as compared to men, are met with greater degree of criticism and a more negative societal response.

The death of Kim Saeron

Kim Saeron, a Korean actress, died by suicide on the 16th of Feb. Kim was bullied by online trolls and faced intense media scrutiny after a drunk-driving conviction in 2022. While Korean media and public tend to criticize the celebrities, female celebrities often face disproportionately harsh treatment. The contrast is apparent when compared to cases like Lee Jin-wook, who faced rape allegations; Oh Young-soo, found guilty of indecent assault; Oh Dal-su, accused of sexual assault; Young-chang Song, convicted of underage prostitution; Lee Jung-jae, with a history of multiple DUIs and assault cases; Lee Byung-hun, who faced a lawsuit and extortion attempt; and T.O.P, charged with sexual misconduct for allegedly assaulting a woman in 2017. These individuals, despite facing serious accusations and convictions, starred in Netflix's one of the most successful series ever made, Squid Game.

While these men undoubtedly faced some level of scrutiny, the outrage is muted when compared with females celebrities, who are bullied, sometimes to the point that they commit suicide. While I believe in the possibility of personal change, as I've discussed in my other blog post, however allowing individuals who have committed crimes to participate without proper accountability glorifies the criminal behavior, harms the victims and undermines trust in justice system. This is particularly concerning when the perpetrators are hardly met with any punishments.

Social Media's Favorite Villain

There has been a steep rise of misogyny as more users joined the social media platforms. The platforms' emphasis on being in "trend" and "viral", coupled with content monetization, encourages actions that go beyond what is considered socially acceptable. When you're in a crowd of people, the notion of standing out of it fuels content and behaviors that are precisely—out of the socially acceptable norms. Women are seen as easy targets for the incels and others, as historically they've been subjected to systematic sexism, objectification, and silencing. This isn't to be confused with the fact that misogyny and hate towards women are just for the "likes" and "clicks" but the reflection of deeply integrated biases and sexism.

Witch Hunt of Amber Heard

Amber Heard v. Johnny Depp trial had been trending as if the verdict would be an important leap in justice or change—it in fact was one for a segment of society which faces gender based violence, the women. The support I had witnessed for Johnny Depp surrounding the social circles, be it over the internet or the real world, was immense. More than the support it was the mawkish attitude towards the whole trial—memes flowing, videos being circulated—appeared, as if it wasn't a serious matter. The trial started because of Depp suing Heard over an op-ed in which she didn't even name him. Suing the victim is a common tactic employed by powerful men, who abuse their power and exploit the loopholes in the justice system to silence their victims. Amber was vilified, abuses kept flowing through all the sides throughout the trial and beyond. It seemed as if it was Heard against the world, and while she did have supporters, their the numbers weren't comparable to those opposing her. We can only imagine the trauma she endured and the wounds she has to carry on with life. It is my hope that we will be looking at the trial in a couple of years in a very different light. It has nevertheless, set a dangerous precedent where powerful men can use their power to hit back with defamation lawsuits and targeted online campaigns further endangering the space where women can safely report abuse and misconduct.

Smear Campaign Against Blake Lively

Blake Lively filed a legal complaint in December 2024 accusing Justin Baldoni of sexual harassment and creating a toxic environment on the set of film It Ends With Us. There had been rumors prior to this, around August 2024, of a "feud" between both the co-stars, with reports indicating that Lively had missed or avoided promotional events. There were in fact multiple stories surfacing which were critical of Blake Lively; negative narratives had been surrounding in all forms of media surrounding her behavior with Justin Baldoni and her overall "character", thus undermining her credibility even before her allegations of harassment came to light. Blake Lively had become internet's "bitch". Guess what happened during August 2024? Justin Baldoni had hired Johnny Depp's crisis management PR firm, which set off the negative narratives exploiting social media to manipulate public opinion. Precisely what was happened in the Depp v. Heard case. Justin Baldoni and the PR firm he had hired to control the narrative mirrors the aggressive PR tactics seen in the Depp trial, which is another example of powerful men using their resources to influence public opinion and potential outcomes. Even the women with plenty of resources struggle to compete against. Although the trial is ongoing, the documents revealed and statements from Blake Lively suggest that Justin Baldoni is a sexual predator masquerading as a celebrated feminist.

Aggressive tactics, whether in the case of Amber Heard or Blake Lively, can have a chilling effect, discouraging other women from coming forward with their own experiences of harassment or misconduct due to fear of similar public and professional retaliation. Women, it seems, are treated differently than men, regardless of whether they are accused of a crime or are themselves a victim.

India's Own Battles with Shame

A famous Bollywood actor, Sushant Singh Rajput, killed himself in an apparent suicide in the summer of 2020. In an already hopeless time, his death was a shock to the country. There were many rumors and conspiracy theories being flaunted around the internet particularly surrounding his former girlfriend, Rhea Chakraborty, who would in the next few days become part of a witch-hunt which she'd endure for a long time and the scars of which will likely remain with her. Reportedly, Chakraborty had moved out of their shared residence, and possibly ended their relationship. Rajput's death deeply affected Chakraborty, as did the rest of India, and she, too, was likely grieving the loss. The scale of allegations against her, the intensity with which they had flown over the internet was unprecedented. Every corner of the social media was filled up with conspiracy theories blaming Chakraborty for his suicide, with some even alleging murder. The narrative often painted Rhea as an "outsider" who had a negative influence on a "pure" and "talented" young man. She was publicly vilified, labeled with derogatory terms like "gold digger," "manipulator," and even accused of practicing "black magic." Rhea and her family faced intense scrutiny, harassment, and invasion of privacy. Media outlets camped outside their home, and she was subjected to relentless online abuse, including threats and misogynistic attacks. The witch hunt against Rhea was a complex interplay of deeply rooted societal biases including purity culture and misogyny, amplified by media sensationalism and the human need to find a target for grief and anger. Her independence, her relationship choices, and her proximity to a tragic event unfortunately made her an "easy target" for these forces. India at that time was going through some tough phase particularly COVID-19 Pandemic management or mismanagement, and economic difficulties. While these are only allegations, some believe Rhea's witch-hunt was deliberately used as a cover-up benefitting multiple parties involved mainly political, this remains a contentious and unproven claim though.

In 2018, Bollywood actress Tanushree Dutta accused actor Nana Patekar of sexual harassment on a film set. This accusation proved to be a catalyst for the #MeToo movement in India, inspiring many women to voice their own experiences. However, Dutta's bravery was met with significant challenges and resistance, including victim-blaming and attempts to discredit her character—tactics frequently used to silence women who challenge the status quo. A common thread in these attacks is the implication that a woman is somehow responsible for the harassment or violence she experienced, often achieved by suggesting that her behavior, appearance, or choices provoked the perpetrator. In such cases, a woman's "purity," often measured by her perceived sexual history, becomes a key factor in determining the level of support she receives.

Purity Culture—The Root of the Problem

Purity culture is a set of beliefs and practices, which emphasize virginity and sexual abstinence as markers of a woman's worth and moral character. Historically, chastity has been the 'quality' sought out in women, with virginity often associated with the the character and worth of a woman—a virgin considered to be of more value. The view point on a woman's 'purity' continued to shift with time, however the constant has been the sexual history of a woman. The 'purity' is equated to the position of a woman in society and her worth as a person, and is perceived inversely proportional to how many partners she has had. Unfortunately, these notions persist even today. As I once read, "The concept of virginity was coined by men who thought their penises were so important it could change who a woman was," a sentiment I wholeheartedly agree with. It's illogical for a society to celebrate men for having many "scores" while criticizing women for the same behavior. Certain interpretations of religious doctrines have significantly contributed to purity culture and the beliefs of an ideal woman, to even an extent that, their idea of woman isn't even practical; which enforces women to embrace an identity that's not theirs and  lives filled with unnecessary sacrifices and compromises.

Where do we go from here?

With every problem, the best way to address it is to educate—ourselves and others. Women are often perceived as alien and incomprehensible while at the same time being pressured to conform to a restrictive "role." Comprehensive sex education, that questions the problematic beliefs laid in the "purity culture" is a crucial starting point. The world has moved far beyond the beliefs we had centuries ago, hence we cannot enforce women to play the roles that were set up by the same patriarchal society for its own convenience— roles that never truly served women. Misogyny is rooted in the desire to keep women playing the role of an ideal women, any deviations to which is perceived as threatening, leading to hostile reactions. Media sensationalism amplifies these cases, often focusing on the perceived "immorality" of the individual and perpetuating harmful stereotypes.  A lack of empathy and critical thinking further exacerbates the problem as individuals may accept these narratives as is and contribute to the problem. All forms of media must not view each "likes" and "shares" as mere numbers, but as real people, with real impact of the information they are consuming and sharing. With legal reforms focusing on combating online trolls and abuse, incorporating support groups for victims, bystander intervention training, and campaigns that challenge harmful stereotypes are a few more efforts we can put. The efforts are always collective that derive a change, however it always starts individually, and then echoes to the masses.