RAPE: The Most Inhuman Crime

RAPE: The Most Inhuman Crime

What comes to our minds when we hear the word “Rape”? Do we connect denotatively to this word or do it really emotes some kind of emotional upheaval in our minds?

Rape is a heinous crime which affects a woman both emotionally and physically. Emotional trauma turns out to be more devastating than any physical injury as it leaves non- healing scars on their minds. Women who are raped have nightmares, panic attacks, an engulfing sense of distrust and self doubt.

My questions are- What causes rapes? Is the size of woman’s dress an invitation to rape her? Is it women’s self independent attitude which bothers men’s ego?

If you ask a rapist this question, they have all sorts of irrational justification for their actions with no sense of regrets in their eyes. In this patriarchal world, rape is a stigmatized crime wherein people try to point fingers at victim instead of accused. This belief of finding fault in victim becomes the main reason of her emotional segregation wherein she is expected to remain silent to preserve her honour.

Majority of men believe that woman who wear short revealing clothes are more likely to be sexually assaulted. If revealing dresses provoke men, then why women clad in sarees and burqas raped? Rapists allege that women use heavy makeup and dark lipsticks to draw men’s attention. But my concern is if heavy makeup intensifies and exacerbates the crime then why in India, where on an average 106 rapes are reported everyday and out of which 40 per cent of the victims are minors and infants. How will they justify rape on old and aged women who are hospitalised with severe ailments, women who are in comma or suffer from some mental illness? What have these people done to attract or allure a rapist?

Another reason which leads to this crime is “desire of power” to control women. Conventional societal masculine norms are considered to function in such ways that it endorses men’s supremacy and women’s subordination and the best ploy that helps them in sustaining that authority is by demonstrating sexual aggression. Many cultures expound women been a malevolent beings sent by the devil to lead men astray. Surprisingly, the Jewish Testament of Reuben States:

Women are evil, my children…they use wiles and try to ensnare [man] by their charms … They lay plots in their hearts against men: by the way they adorn themselves they first lead their minds astray, and by a look they instill the poison, and then in the act itself they take them captive … So shun fornication, my children and command your wives and daughters not to adorn their heads and faces.”

 Many rape cases have been reported even when one is in relationships like husband-wife; girlfriend-boyfriend; live-in- relationship; friends and acquaintances. The basic reason behind this is their incompetence to take the word “NO” and further presuming that as rejection. Men with inane minds objectify women as their personal property to provide them with sexual pleasure regardless of their personal sentiments.   

Men have many preconceptualised myths like – No means yes; women feel shy to overtly say yes; women who drink and go to pub is an easy prey; advanced progressive women are more open to sex; women’s smiles is a sign of ‘yes’; etc. conceiving and spreading such kinds of myths deprives women from becoming an active agent to voice her choice. Possessing this kind of opinionated outlook robs men from being sensitive and responsive towards women.

Priyanka Banerjee in her short film ‘Devi’ sensitively talks about the victims of ‘rape’ through nine tales which portray different shades of brutality, leaving the audience in goosebumps in the end. This film beautifully acknowledges the fact that rape can happen to anyone irrespective of clothes you wear, age, social standing and above all that a husband can even rape his wife. There is a constant bell sound which reminds them that a new member is waiting to enter and women argue about the inability to accommodate more women in that room. The viewers are compelled to ask themselves that- the only shared emotion or experience these women have is that of sexual violence these women have faced. The title of the film ironically reminds us that we live in a country where we worship goddesses but we fail to extend the same kind of respect and admiration to the one who live with us and epitomises purity.

Girls are taught since their childhoods the precautionary measures with which they can save them. When she is alone she impulsively bolts the doors and windows even on a baking summer night. Instead of teaching boys to respect women, we teach our girls how to protect herself from boys. Ask a girl what she does to protect herself and she'll mark off a list of essentials: never leaving a building without her keys in hand, looking over her shoulder in the parking lot, scrutinizing faces on an elevator, avoiding parking places. Yet, despite all the precautions, women can still be at risk.

There is dire need for change and the change has to be globally. Men need to change their mindsets that woman is not an object of desire or a commodity meant to be consumed and ravished. Sex education, gender sensitization and awareness is vital as youngsters have the urge to explore being entirely unaware of the disastrous repercussions. For the safety of women there should be proper CCTV cameras in desolate areas. It is high time that instead of teaching our girls methods to avoid getting rapes, we should teach our boys not to rape. The parents of boys should take the responsibility of making their boys responsible citizens. They must be taught that ‘no means no’ and nothings else and must inculcate the sense of respect for women in them. We need to question the accused and not the victim and society needs to be more sensitive towards women who face the worst crime against womanhood.

Dr. Ranbir Kaur

02^nd April, 2020