Keen to learn more about inclusive workplaces? Want to be inclusive of the LGBTQ+ community? Download our special report with Randstad India on making Inclusion without Exception happen
Rape threats haven't abated despite the Hyderabad encounter which was supposed to "put fear into hearts of rapists" - as this rape and death threat to Sucharita Tyagi shows.
Rape threats haven’t abated despite the Hyderabad encounter which was supposed to “put fear into hearts of rapists” – as this rape and death threat to Sucharita Tyagi shows.
“Women are being educated and empowered. What has not changed is men’s attitude towards these women.” -Sushma Swaraj
Rape, murder, vigilante justice – these seem to be the flavour of the season. The mob is out there demanding blood and violent deaths of rapists. At the same time, there is a large group of people who believes that women deserve to be raped, especially those with violent fantasies that women who dared to be different should be raped as a punishment.
That’s the impression I got after reading this comment left for film critic Sucharita Tyagi. The user here believes or rather he “prayed” that Tyagi faces the same fate as the Hyderabad vet. Why? Because she insulted Hindu gods.
Now, this simply reflects that apart from acknowledging that what happened to the vet was horrible, it is also supposedly wished upon Tyagi to “teach her a lesson” over her opinion.
What’s ironical is that the gentleman (should he be called that?) called Tyagi a “disgrace to humanity and womanhood” while simultaneously using words that did great “service to manhood” (assuming that the user is a man).
Due to the rape culture that reduces a woman’s honour to her private parts, where her mobility and dignity is measured on based on that, rape is regarded as the worst thing that could happen to a woman. So it is used in the context of violence.
This is an idea that is recorded in human DNA because we have read about war rapes where the invading men rape women and children of the place they defeated. We know sexual violence is used to scare women into submission and we have seen this between different conflicts.
Men face death threats but women face rape threats along with death. So, this man will probably want the death penalty for rapists in the vet’s case but if he sees women who think differently from him, then what happened to the vet is the perfect “punishment.”
Women who wear short skirts, women who got out after 9 pm, women who use mobile phones, women who are in a live-in relationship, women who are not “sanksaari”, women who have an opinion, women who smile at men etc. are blamed for the rapes.
Let me tell you this…
Five men gang-raped a 32-year-old woman in South India when she was out to buy groceries.
12 men who gang-raped a law student in Ranchi, and were recently arrested by the police.
A relative raped a nine-month-old baby while he took her out to buy a toy.
A young man half the age of a 55-year-old assaulted and raped her inside her home.
The rapists of a 22-year-old gang rape survivor threatened her while being out on bail in Unnao. After she refused to withdraw the case, five men, including her rapists set her ablaze. She died on 7th December in Delhi hospital.
All these incidents were reported within days, so one can only imagine how many cases are unreported over the years.
Now, I have mentioned a plethora of sexual violence cases that were reported in the last few weeks. What is to be noted here is that the victims and survivors range from different ages, circumstances and social status. Rape culture will be perpetuated as long as victim-blaming persist. Victim blaming is like pouring saltwater over the wounds. Victim blaming is a horrifying way in which sexual violence is normalised in a country whose constitution gives every woman the right to speech and mobility but punishes only some men for rape.
People like K Bhagyaraj will get on a public podium before an applauding audience and say that rapes won’t happen if women don’t let it happen and that they should be given restrictions instead of blaming only boys. I don’t know which fantasy world he is living in, to believe that boys are actually “blamed” for rape, but the privilege he gets thanks to his gender lets him fantasise.
But when powerful and influential men like him say that rapes are something that women should prevent, then there is a natural tendency for men to see their female counterparts as lesser beings.
When women are given stricter hostel rules, early marriage, chastity rules and social restrictions than the attitude won’t change no matter how empowered they are.
Journalist, movie geek blogger, fitness freak, and foodie. read more...
Women's Web is an open platform that publishes a diversity of views, indivisual posts do not necessarily represent the platofrom's views and opinions at all times.
Stay updated with our Weekly Newsletter or Daily Summary - or both!
Neelu might have outwardly forgiven Ramesh, but in her mind, which once was filled with unconditional love for Ramesh, there was now a seed of resentment.
Ramesh’s footsteps paused at the entrance of the hotel’s ballroom. Inside, his school’s reunion party was going in full swing. The air was heavy, as expensive perfumes and the aroma of food from the buffet table, mingled. There were low murmurs, tinkling laughs and clinks of cutlery.
Ramesh had not wanted to come, knowing that she would be there. She, Neelu, who once had been the love of his life. Taking a deep breath, Ramesh entered the room. His eyes found Neelu almost immediately. She still looked the same. Maybe there was now grey in her hair and a few wrinkles on her face. But her vivacity, her mannerisms were still the same. Things, that had first attracted him.
Stop glorifying biological parenthood - other methods of growing a family are just as valid, and completely a couple's choice, especially of the woman whose body goes through pregnancy and birth.
Stop glorifying biological parenthood – other methods of growing a family are just as valid, and completely a couple’s choice, especially of the woman whose body goes through pregnancy and birth.
Trigger Warning: Contains derogatory remarks about having a baby through surrogacy or any means other than giving birth through biological means, and may be triggering, especially to adoptive parents.
Recently Priyanka Chopra Jonas announced parenthood by surrogacy. This has once again sparked the debate about ethical surrogacy, which is a discussion for another day.
Rahul Gandhi’s comment about Rape in India sparked aggression in the parliament. When will our politicians stop politicising rape and start taking actions?
Prime Minister Narendra Modi in an event, last year, said ‘Rape is rape’ and it should not be politicised. But can we say rape is not politicised in the country? Sadly, the recent debate around Rahul Gandhi’s statement made this very clear.
At a poll event in Jharkhand, while addressing a crowd, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi said that “Narendra Modi said ‘Make in India’ but nowadays wherever you look, it is ‘Rape in India’.”
Perhaps you want to ask me why I have any expectations of a commercial Hindi film by Rohit Shetty. Perhaps you think I'm nitpicking about a mindless watch. Perhaps, I'm taking this 'feminism shmeminism' too far.
Perhaps you want to ask me why I have any expectations of a commercial Hindi film by Rohit Shetty. Perhaps you think I’m nitpicking about a mindless watch. Perhaps, I’m taking this ‘feminism shmeminism’ too far.
Regardless of what a film offers, if it is content open for consumption, its dissection and discussion is anyone’s right. That aside, Simmba, personally for me, deserves much dissection because it addresses a difficult issue: rape.
There are spoilers ahead, but at this point I’m willing to guess that if you’re this far into my article, you’re probably not worried about a plot line being thrown at you. In a nutshell, a corrupt cop mends his ways when his muh-boli-behen is brutally gang-raped and murdered, and takes on the very thugs who he condoned before by selling his soul for several pieces of silver. Since this is a Rohit Shetty film, the ingredients also involve generous dollops of flying humans, vehicles, glass pieces, and water. The Golmaal Alumni Club meets for a brief many seconds as well.