Kriti Sanon weighs in on patriarchy debate amid Jamui case outrage

Kriti Sanon breaks silence on patriarchy debate amid Bihar Jamui harassment case outrage: 'It's women vs misogynist men and brainwashed women'

Kriti Sanon has joined the ongoing social-media conversation around patriarchy, women’s safety and the policing of women’s choices. The actress shared posts questioning the framing of gender-related debates as “men vs women” and highlighting the different reactions to crimes against women and criticism of women’s clothing.

Her posts surfaced amid widespread outrage over the reported harassment of two Class 10 students in Bihar’s Jamui, although Kriti did not directly refer to the incident.

Kriti Sanon shares post saying ‘it’s women vs. patriarchal misogynist men’

Kriti Sanon took to her Instagram Stories to share a post that rejected the idea of framing discussions around gender as a conflict between men and women. The post read, “Guys, it's not Men vs Women.” It went on to say, “It's women vs. Patriarchal misogynist men & brainwashed women who think patriarchy is a sanskar.”

Kriti also appeared to support another post questioning the different levels of public reaction to violence against women and criticism of actresses over their clothing.The post she liked stated, “The fact that rape, domestic violence, and dowry deaths do not invoke much outrage in this country as an actress showing cleavage in a festive ad says a lot about our priorities.”

Her Instagram activity came amid renewed public discussion about the reported Jamui incident in Bihar.

However, Kriti did not explicitly mention the case in the posts she shared. Reports about the timing have linked the discussion to the wider conversation around women’s safety and social attitudes towards women.

What happened in the Jamui case?

According to reports, a Class 10 girl and her male classmate were allegedly stopped and harassed by a group of youths in Jamui, Bihar, on September 19. Videos purportedly showing the incident subsequently circulated on social media, prompting police action.

The New Indian Express reported that an FIR was registered under the POCSO Act and relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, while a Special Investigation Team was formed to identify and arrest those involved.The Indian Express reported that three people had initially been arrested after the videos surfaced, while police continued efforts to identify and apprehend other alleged participants.The circulation of the videos has also prompted appeals against sharing them further, particularly because the case involves minors.

Reports subsequently said more arrests had been made and that the main accused was injured in a police encounter while allegedly attempting to flee.Kriti’s posts did not identify any accused or make a specific statement about the police investigation. Her comments instead focused on broader questions around patriarchy, accountability and the way women are judged.

Abigail Pande draws comparison with Kriti’s earlier ad controversy

Television actor Abigail Pande also joined the online conversation, drawing a comparison between the outrage over the Jamui incident and the criticism Kriti faced over her GIVA advertisement.She wrote, “So many rapes happening in our country, yet not even half of the outrage as there was for Kriti Sanon’s outfit for an advertisement. Or is telling a woman what to wear easier than telling men to control themselves?”Her post brought Kriti’s earlier advertisement controversy back into the discussion, particularly the debate around whether a woman’s clothing should be linked to perceptions of culture and tradition.

What was the controversy around Kriti Sanon’s GIVA advertisement?

In August, Kriti faced criticism over a Raksha Bandhan-themed advertisement for jewellery brand GIVA. The campaign showed the actress in a bralette-style blouse with a cape and draped skirt while celebrating the festival.A section of social media users criticised the styling, questioning whether the outfit was appropriate for a Raksha Bandhan campaign. The controversy intensified after Kangana Ranaut also criticised the advertisement.Kriti subsequently responded to the criticism, arguing that cultural identity should not be judged through a woman’s clothing.She wrote, “Culture & Traditions are in her heart, not in her neckline!”She also questioned the continued tendency to tell women what to wear, while pointing out that ethnic fashion has evolved over time. The advertisement was eventually withdrawn from GIVA’s media platforms.On the work front, Kriti was last seen in Cocktail 2, alongside Shahid Kapoor and Rashmika Mandanna.