WUNRN
WOMEN'S FEATURE SERVICE
India - New Delhi
India - Violence Against Women &
Girls
Controlled
Freedom
By Anuradha Rajan
New Delhi (Women's Feature Service) - That violence
against women is assuming epidemic proportions has
been yet again been re-affirmed by the lead story
(Shame: Rape is India's fastest growing crime) in a
leading newspaper ('Hindustan Times', January 14,
2008). According to this report, rape of women heads
the list of fastest growing crimes in the country.
Increased reporting of rape in and by itself is not a
negative phenomenon - it could well be signaling the
fact that women are no longer keeping quiet about
sexual assaults on them. On the other hand, increased
reporting could also mean an increase in the incidence
of the crime. In either case, the central point is
that crimes against women are coming to light in
increasing numbers and that in and by itself is a
serious issue.
Why are women facing such brutality at a time when
they are better informed, enjoy relatively greater
mobility than before, and have access to better
educational and economic opportunities (though this is
true for only some sections of women). It would seem
that they are, in a sense, paying a price for enjoying
these very benefits of a developing society.
We are going through a phase in the process of social
re-ordering, where society is very open and
encouraging of women breaking economic stereotypes,
but, at the same time, very resistant and even
punitive when they choose to break social stereotypes.
So, while they can and should bring in a decent
monthly income, how dare they choose to stay out late
or stay and travel alone? Women who break socially
prescribed norms of who is a 'good girl' have to
obviously pay the price of their 'misbehaviour' and
this often takes the form of sexual harassment,
assault or rape. In large parts of India, where caste
wars are being fought through women's bodies, rape and
sexual assault are ways of dealing with not only
economic, but also social aspirations of dalits
(lowest in the caste order) and tribals.
The sooner we start accepting and understanding that
sexual assault and rape are power crimes rather than
crimes of passion and lust, the better equipped we
will be to deal with them. We, as a society, have
chosen to accept women in new economic avatars but not
new social ones. Rape is one of the ways in which men
- and society - are ensuring that women comply with
the "acceptable norm of change". This norm expects
women to behave according to socially prescribed roles
of womanhood, read unassertive, silent and suffering,
but to be on the move economically - read articulate,
confident and well-informed. Though one often marvels
at the many contradictions in Indian society, this one
is a cause of great concern because it is affecting a
very large section of our population.
This same "acceptable norm of change" also tacitly
expects women to 'accommodate' their work life into
their housework routine or vice-versa, without missing
too many steps. The focus here is on "accommodating",
and thus the consumer goods and advertising industry
is busy at work, churning and showcasing time- and
effort-saving devices meant for women. Nothing wrong
with that at all - but unfortunately, at a more
fundamental level, this approach reinforces women's
traditional roles without ever questioning how men and
societies can alter their roles to help women cope
better with their own and their families' economic
aspirations. Of course, we do have advertisements
which show men operating washing machines or preparing
ready-to-make soups, but have you ever wondered why we
have yet to see a man at the helm of a campaign for
detergent? The reason is simple - that men can help
out in 'mechanised' housework is socially palatable
but laborious housework still comes under women's
domain.
Another important dimension of sexual crimes against
women is the context in which boys and men are
socialised to relate with the opposite sex. Somehow,
the sexual identity of girls and women is the
predominant angle of their personalities that boys and
men are taught to understand and engage with. This
stems from a broader social inability to see females
as individuals - human beings with aspirations and
capabilities. This - coupled with the notion that the
sexual urges of men are uncontrollable, demanding and
wild - legitimises the use of sexual violence as a way
of relating to girls and women.
The question now is - what can we do to cease the
barrage of sexual assaults on women and girls? It
would seem that this requires reflection and action at
the level of individuals, families, communities,
society and governments. And the yardstick at each of
these levels should be: is this plan, policy or action
what I would undertake for myself? For it is by
recognising and treating women and girls as
rights-bearing individuals with aspirations and
capacities that we can evolve into a more civilised
society, where everyone finds a place under the sun.
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