Everyday sexism often hides behind humour, unsolicited advice and casual remarks, but its cumulative impact pushes women into silence, self-censorship and withdrawal from workplaces and public spaces, speakers at a panel discussion on gender sensitivity under Telangana’s “Stand With Her” initiative said on Saturday (May 9, 2026).

The discussion, featuring senior corporate leaders, filmmakers and police officials, focused on how seemingly harmless comments, stereotypes and “microaggressions” reinforce unequal power structures and create emotionally unsafe environments for women.

Additional Director General of Police, Telangana Women Safety Wing, Charu Sinha, said women frequently edit their behaviour and speech to fit into male-dominated environments. “When a woman becomes silent, it is often a response to the environment and not her personality,” she said, recalling her experiences navigating deeply hierarchical police spaces during her early career.

The panel stressed that sexism today is rarely overt, but embedded in everyday interactions - from body-shaming jokes and dismissive interruptions in meetings to assumptions about women’s abilities, choices and appearance. Speakers noted that humour is often weaponised to normalise misogyny while allowing offenders to hide behind claims of “I didn’t mean it”.

Film director Sailesh Kolanu said cinema and language significantly influence social attitudes, and conversations on gender sensitivity can encourage filmmakers to approach female characters and narratives with greater awareness and responsibility. Sharath Chandra, co-founder of Telugu digital content platform Chai Bisket, stressed that many sexist behaviours are deeply normalised and require men to “unlearn” conditioning absorbed through generations.

“We have to not only learn new things, but also unlearn years of behaviour we saw growing up,” he said, adding that films and storytelling can subtly reshape public attitudes towards women.

Corporate leaders on the panel said many workplaces still struggle with tokenism and unconscious bias despite diversity initiatives. Sailaja Josyula, Global Head of GCC Service Line at Cognizant, said women are frequently judged more on appearance and behaviour than professional competence. She noted that women are often interrupted, overlooked in meetings or subjected to commentary on their dressing, tone or marital status.

She highlighted how women are routinely subjected to comments disguised as concern or compliments, and pointed to common assumptions made in workplaces and social settings, including decisions being taken on behalf of women without asking them directly. “The biggest thing is — do not make decisions on behalf of women. They have their own choices,” she said.

Masoor Hussaini, executive director at Tata Advanced Systems, spoke about efforts to increase women’s participation in manufacturing and aerospace sectors. He said employing women from rural backgrounds had transformed not only workplaces but also their social standing and financial independence.

“One degree in education and employment can completely change the trajectory of a woman’s life,” he said.

Several speakers underlined that gender sensitivity must begin at home, with boys being taught emotional awareness, shared responsibilities and respect for women’s autonomy. The panel also discussed how patriarchal attitudes affect women’s access to education, financial independence and career choices from a young age.

A recurring theme throughout the discussion was the importance of creating emotionally safe workplaces where women can speak freely without fear of ridicule, dismissal or backlash. Panellists called on leaders to actively challenge sexist jokes, ensure women are heard in meetings, and consciously create inclusive environments.

The discussion concluded with speakers emphasising that change begins with small behavioural corrections and open conversations. Panellists said awareness, accountability and representation in media, workplaces and families remain essential to dismantling deeply rooted gender biases.