Comedian, actress, and content creator Merenla Imsong addresses the 16 Days of Activism 2025 event held at Town Hall, Zone Niathu by The Park Chümoukedima on November 29. (Morung Photo)
Morung Express News
Chümoukedima | November 30
Societal structures continue to prioritise men, placing disproportionate emotional, social, and physical burdens on women, asserted Merenyangla Imsong at the 16 Days of Activism 2025 on Gender-Based Violence (GBV) event held at Town Hall, Zone Niathu by The Park Chümoukedima on November 29.
The actor, writer, and content creator, popularly known as Merenla Imsong, also stressed how value judgements about women’s worth, marriage expectations, and social behaviour often ignore women’s agency, rights, and safety. “Everything is from the male perspective,” she added, delivering a candid critique of entrenched patriarchal norms and taking the gathering through a gamut of emotions.
Debunking stereotypes
At the outset, Imsong challenged the notion that women are inherently jealous or competitive, calling it a convenient construct that “pits women against each other.” She said that at her lowest moments, it was always her female friends who supported her, highlighting how female friendship has become essential for emotional well-being.
Dwelling on her comedy and content creations, Imsong said she deliberately crafts her work for women and queer audiences. She noted that even in spaces where physical harm is unlikely, women still factor in their safety when engaging with content, influencing the audiences creators cater to. This, she argued, reflects a broader reality: women must always consider safety in their daily decisions, from how they dress to when they return home, while men rarely think twice.
Sharing her experience of living alone in Mumbai, Imsong revealed a safety strategy she uses when electricians or plumbers visit her home: she fabricates stories about a husband.
‘A man will only respect another man’s property-his wife will not respect a woman,” she said, adding that though it sounds “stupid,” she would rather be “stupid than unsafe.”
She also noted that women often check in with each other to confirm safe arrival home, a practice men rarely need.
Reflecting on lived experiences, she wondered rhetorically whether a man walking down the street at night ever thinks, ‘What if a woman attacks me?’ and contrasted this with the constant vigilance women must maintain.
Imsong observed that women react strongly to sexual violence because they live with the risk daily.
Referring to a case of a pastor accused of sexual assault on young boys, she noted that women were outraged while many men focused on the pastor’s sexuality, making homophobic jokes.
‘If men cannot defend their own gender at a time of assault, how do you expect us to depend on you to defend us?’ she asked.
Sexual harassment, she added, is often trivialised because women are not taken seriously
Deflecting accountability
Reflecting on the recent murder of a young woman, Imsong said the public immediately assumed the perpetrator was male “because violence is such a male-dominated activity.” Yet even amid grief, some men recast themselves as victims, with one social media post claiming men were unfairly blamed because of “one man’s” actions.
“A woman is dead, and somehow the man is the victim,” she said, highlighting the persistent deflection of accountability.
Imsong recounted personal experiences as a survivor, noting that an acquaintance seemed more concerned about the perpetrators being Naga men than the assault itself. “Once again, a man made it all about himself,” she quipped. Sharing her experiences of being catcalled online, she received messages from other women with similar stories, some involving church elders. Highlighting these patterns, she said the low standard for men explains why women are filled with rage. However, she clarified that this anger is not misogynistic but a response to “years of inequality, injustice, and constant punishment.”
Everyday patriarchy &‘entitled gentlemen’
Imsong also criticised societal expectations that women must “fix” men. Families often seek a “gentle, quiet wife” for a difficult or alcoholic son, without regard for the woman’s future, while widowers are quickly paired with new wives and widows are left to fend for themselves. She asked pointedly, “Would anyone sacrifice their son to fix a party-animal daughter?” drawing laughter that underscored the gendered absurdity.
She described such instances as “subtle forms of patriarchy” that have become culturally ingrained, with society “adjusting and compromising to accommodate men, but never the other way round.”
Reflecting on the trend, Imsong asked, “Are we raising entitled Naga gentlemen?” highlighting how families and culture normalise male entitlement to comfort, protection, and indulgence from childhood, while women bear the consequences.
Structural change imperative
Nevertheless, Imsong clarified that “the enemy is not men,” but the issue lies with a patriarchal system that glorifies men and creates a deep imbalance.
Quoting Melinda Gates, “If you want to lift up humanity, empower women,” she urged investment in women, listening to their voices, and raising boys the same way girls are raised.
Calling for structural change, she cautioned, ‘If men do not change, one day they will wake up to find women have moved far ahead, with no intention of turning back.’
