Today’s news:
Girl gang-raped by 8 men, dumped near Agra highway
Rebuked, watchman kills young law graduate in Mumbai
My thought process stays the same:
1. What kind of a society are we living in?
2. There is something fundamentally wrong with the way we think about women. It’s not like other issues where the older generation will eventually die with their outdated views. I wonder how long it is going to take us to become a civilized–and not necessarily crime-free–society.
3. How do girls I know and girls living in India react to such news?
4. Aren’t they scared to live in such a society? Well they don’t appear scared, so either they live without fear but knowing such a thing can occur anytime to them, or they have stopped caring.
5. This must surely make them angry. But anger in this case doesn’t translate to solutions because I can’t imagine a solution exists: only a decades-long cultural shift.
6. I hope they’ll be fine. And I hope I don’t have to read about such heinous crimes every day.
Tomorrow comes along with news of fresh crimes.
***
I’d wager that more of you clicked on the second link to read details. And there’s nothing wrong with that. It is the People Like Us syndrome. The second incident could happen around us. It could happen to us. It is closer to us. The first, less likely so. That’s our assumption.
***
I have been following Indian news sources closely for about 5 years now. Over time, I started glossing over stories of molestation, rape, sexual assault, murder, honour killings (with the exception of People Like Us stories). When I realized this was happening, I almost felt guilty and complicit with those criminals with medieval mindsets. We cannot let them fool us into thinking that such things happen.
Now I read every story I come across of crime against women. Even if I have to read the same old story a hundred times over. Even if it ruins my day. Even if I end up having to talk to someone, play music or pen a post for catharsis.
***
One side-effect of reading all these stories is that I invariably come across articles written by militant feminists. I don’t know what else to call them. They’re feminists, but they take things to the other extreme. I have to clarify: The other extreme as I see it. I can see where they’re coming from. I almost can’t blame them for it. But I’m also well within my right to be repelled by what they write or think.
My take is that just like we can’t let medieval men make us accept the widespread reality of crimes against women, we can’t let militant feminists keep us from fighting for equality–in our own small ways.
6 comments
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August 11, 2012 at 1:03 am
Mukta Matta
If news sources told you all’s well with the world, you’d die of diabetes.
Maybe, you should stop reading / watching news completely, at least for a month. Won’t make rapes go away. Or society’s perception of a woman improve. Only, you won’t die everyday.
And, the situation isn’t as bad as some of our news channels and papers would’ve you believe.
August 11, 2012 at 1:34 am
Aquatic Static
Respectfully, Mukta, the situation is probably worse.
August 11, 2012 at 1:39 pm
Deepak
I suppose whether the situation is bad or not depends on whom you ask. A few women are going to disagree with you. As P pointed out.
As you said, I can (and do) get away from all kinds of news while I’m travelling or hiking.
Here’s a question for you: Do you think the situation for women is improving or deteriorating if you track say, the last 5-6 years?
My answer is I don’t know. There is a better effort to mobilize and educate now, but the crimes are getting quite blatant. In part, you’d be right if you said it looks worse than it is due to technology. The Guwahati or New Years’ eve-teasing case in Bombay wouldn’t have been all over the internet in the past.
August 11, 2012 at 11:36 am
desi
Personally I think – There are no good examples in India where such crime got punished. criminal have either money or connection to get rid of punishment, there are plenty of examples both normal and high profile cases where criminals are free now. Unless there is implementation of laws, I do not think it will stop soon. The only thing that can bring change is political will.
Even in hypothetical ideal society, if we stop punishing crime, it will obviously see rise in criminals..and currently in India same thing is happening. For almost every crime you have many ways to get away with it.
August 11, 2012 at 11:18 pm
swamid
Visiting your blog after a long time and had to jump in on this one. I personally feel boys are just not raised right (neither r girls) but still…And as a friend points out if u grow up in households where women do not stand up for themselves , children of either gender are going to learn just that. If women don’t stand up for themselves, in their own homes, in day to day life, this is the end result.
I started traveling alone within Delhi when quite young. The worst eve teasing phase, for me were the early teens. By the time I went off to college I was no longer eve teased and looking back I know y. My body language, the way I conducted my self.. my senses were so sharply tuned. I just knew how to stay out of trouble. It helped routes I was on were not the most notorious either.
This is a very complex issue….but hopefully i our lifetimes things will improve. We will see.
August 11, 2012 at 11:21 pm
swamid
On the topic of reaction…. it is always painful and emotional to read this stuff.
The Assam case really …..I don’t how human beings can behave that way. Can’t understand.