WHAT are some of the first words you learn when you move to a new city with a different language? Apart from the introductory phrases, it's mostly the gaalis that one picks up while warming up to a new culture. But a closer look reveals that most of these swear words are either rooted in gender and caste biases or have communal overtones. "Slangs embedded in misogyny have always bothered me. Even when two men argue, it's women and minority communities who are targeted," shares Tamanna Mishra, 36, a communications consultant from Bengaluru.

Mishra adds that during the lockdown, she and her friend Neha Thakur noted that online content was popularising politically incorrect slangs. "It seemed to us that a lot of these swear words making their way back into mainstream language are coming from OTT shows, stand-up comedy, etc. We felt this was a shortcut to increase viewership without thinking of the impact of such words," Mishra says.