Rape Culture In India: What Can Be Done?

Count to 9. Go on. Just do it. 

1..2..3..4..5..6..7..8..9!

Done?

Well, in the time it took you to count to 9, a woman was beaten somewhere in the world.

Let that sink in.

Source: EurActiv

Every 9 seconds, a woman is battered somewhere in the world.

That’s not all.

One in every 5 women is or will be raped during their lifetime, according to the National Sexual Violence Report Centre.

9 out of 10 women have faced some form of sexual harassment throughout their lives.

It could be catcalling, stalking, creepy messages on social media, or slut-shaming. It could be any combination of the above. What matters is that happens.

Source: India Biotics

And you know what the worst part is?

It’s considered to be normal. If you talk to women, most of them will say that catcalling and creepy messages are a very regular part of their lives.

This is now normal the harassment culture is in our day to day lives.

And you know what? It’s not just the rapists or those indulging in such activities who are at fault. It’s every single one of us.

Every single one of us is culpable, because we let it happen.

Source: The Independent

Out outrage is limited from case to case. When a big sensational case happens, that’s when all our anger and frustration are displayed. That’s when candle marches happen. That’s when Instagram stories come up condemning the actions of these men.

But that’s not enough, is it? Because within a few days, it all dies down.

Within a few days, something else comes up. Something more sensational, or juicy, like the KiKi challenge, or the No-Makeup Look Challenge, comes up. We forget all about what happened, and go back to our daily lives.

Chalta hai, right?

No, not right.

Recently, a revelation of a group known as “Bois Hostel Locker” has been trending on social media. It’s a group of 17-18-year-old boys on an Instagram group who frequently slut-shame and objectify women. They also share private pictures of these women without their consent. Some of these women are underage.'

Source: iDiva

After the widespread outrage against this, the government of Delhi has decided to take strict action against all the people in the group.

Instagram stories and posts about the whole incident have been trending everywhere, but till when?

When does this stop?

Or, more importantly, will it ever stop?

Source: Scroll.in

And if it will, then how?

Below is my take on how the rape culture in India can be prevented, and what are the steps that we can take for that:

Move from Beti Bachao to Beta Samhaalo. Victim shaming is a very common occurrence in India whenever such incidents happen. There is always a bunch of like-minded men who are willing to come to their defence and say stuff like: “It was her dress that caused the rape.” “Why was she out so late at night?” etc.

Regrettably, such statements have also been made by eminent politicians of the country.

Source: ScoopWhoop

Source: News 18

This has to stop. Victim shaming is never the solution, and the victim is never to blame in such incidents.

The length of the girl’s skirt or the time of the day does not cause rapes, the mentality of the rapist does.

Fully-clad women have been raped. In broad daylight, women have been kidnapped and raped. Damn it, 6-year-old kids have been raped.

Was it their fault?  

Source: The Express Tribune

The country needs to shift its focus from keeping women “safe” to educating their kids on the concept of consent.

Because let me break it to you: women are not safe. Anywhere. 94% of all rapes happen by someone known to the victim. Family, friends, co-workers etc.  are the most common occurrences.

Another thing that we desperately need to do, is legalise prostitution in the country. This will provide desperate individuals with an outlet to vent out their sexual frustration, thereby preventing rapes.

Source: Youth ki Awaz

Prostitution is prevalent in India, but it is not legal. Legalizing it will help protect the lives of prostitutes, and give them rights and privileges the same as any other job or occupation. This is an important step in the prevention of rapes in the society.

Several major countries such as Canada, New Zealand, Australia, and brazil have legalised prostitution, and it is high time India does so too.

There’s nothing much to be said to the students who were involved in the “Bois Locker Room” incident.

All we can do is make sure they get punished for what they did, and do our best to ensure something like it does not happen again.

But remember this: Rape Culture will not end with the end of rapes.

Source: Global Citizen

It will end when we, as a society, decide to change our mentality.

It will end when we realise that we are just as much to blame for being innocent bystanders.

It will end when we decide that no, rape is not ok.

It will end when we decide to teach our children, and their children after them, about the importance of CONSENT.

It will end when women are no longer scared to roam outside at night.

Source: The Guardian

I have a dream, that my children will one day live in a country where women will not be judged by the length of their skirt, but by the content of their character.

I have a dream. And I hope we as a nation can help stop rape culture in the society.

Jai Hind!

-NK