‘Why is it always me?’: Chennai Mayor Priya speaks out against personal scrutiny

Chennai: At the helm of Chennai’s civic administration, Mayor R Priya has been in the public eye, representing progress and governance, while breaking barriers as the state capital’s youngest female mayor. Yet, beyond her official engagements and policy decisions, Priya has repeatedly faced public scrutiny that extends to aspects of her personal life.

In a recent candid message shared on social media, the Mayor laid bare the intense personal scrutiny and double standards that women in public life continuously encounter. “Why is it always me? Whatever I do seems to become a controversy. From day one until today, even the simplest things become an issue. If I eat a burger, it’s an issue. If I cut my hair, it’s an issue. Every personal choice I make seems to be questioned and judged. Sometimes I wonder is it because I am a woman, or because I belong to a particular community?” she said in her social media post.

“When it comes to me, I have no idea where the feminists and those who claim to stand up for women disappear. Women in politics are not characterless or any less deserving of respect. Being a woman in public life does not give anyone the right to judge her based on her appearance, lifestyle, or personal choices.

Every woman has her own dignity, self-respect, and right to live her life on her own terms. Beyond the position of Mayor, please remember to respect the woman”, she added.

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The Hans India