IPS trainee from Kerala goes viral on Facebook because of her 'good looks'

Among all the things trending over social media, this is the most misogynist. A report in the Deccan Chronicle noted that a Kerala-based IPS officer, Merin Joseph, had gone viral on Facebook for her (wait for it) good looks! So, after Joseph ’took charge as the new ACP in Kochi’, she posted a photo of herself on Facebook on August 15 2014. The reaction that she received was what you and I wish for every single day — although not from random strangers! Not only her photo was shared by 117 strangers from all across the world, 6,699 people have liked her photo and 121 of them have commented on the woman’s profile. [caption id=“attachment_1708029” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] The photo of Merin Joseph that went viral on Facebook.[/caption] Joseph later issued a statement clarifying that she wasn’t appointed as the ACP of Kochi. “An urgent clarification- i am NOT the new ACP of Kochi. Still under training in NPA Hyderabad. Will update when I get my first charge in January next year. Kindly refrain from believing baseless rumours floating in social media. Thanks.” But this message did not deter the dumb and deaf on social media on congratulating the woman on her “great uniform” and her “spirit of patriotism.” While a few messages were just congratulating her on the ’new job,’ others ranged from being extremely sexist to absolutely ridiculous. One Rohit V Singh said: “Kitni sundar hain yeh…vishwas hi nhi ho rha hai ki policewali hai…hahaha… (She is so beautiful, can’t believe she is a police officer.) While someone else said: “10000 likes…so cutieee!!” Many complimented  her for her good looks and even said they didn’t mind getting arrested by her! Some even went on to suggest they could start stealing just to get arrested by her. One Harish Pandey wrote: “hmmm….. hmmm…. (clearing throat..)……..” Another user, Yashas Ravi rather spent a little longer on Joseph’s Facebook wall: “madam, please keep uploading more pics.. u truly r an inspiration for all of us.. The no. of ’likes’ for ur pics r very closely followed by all o us..great morale booster mam.. It seems the sensex took a dip last time when ur pic garnered a meagre 2500 likes..!” If you are thinking only men are capable of stooping to this level, think again, because there were comments by women and they were equally bizarre. One Ankita Mittal commenting on Joseph’s photo said: “lol. never seen a cop so happy! u seem like a cat who has swallowed a canary!” Deccan Chronicle report said: “Merin Joseph, an IPS trainee, underwent training in Kochi for two weeks. “She completed the training in Kochi and went back,”  said Deputy Commissioner of Police Muhammed Rafique.  Recently, she  was selected to lead an Indian delegation to the ‘Y20’ Australia summit.” The report addedthat Joseph passed her civil services examination in 2012 and completed her BA Hons from St Stephen’s College, New Delhi. There were a few, lets say ‘harmless’, comments too. But while there is no harm in encouraging an IPS officer on her appointment, focusing on a woman’s ‘good’ looks and randomly ’liking’ a stranger’s photo on Facebook is a scary trend. Nevermind that it also reveals people’s superficial mindset. Not only did the comments reek of sexism, they also took away the fact that to crack the civil service exams one needs to put in a lot of hard work and being pretty is not one of the criteria.