A front page news report a few days ago about the video of the gang rape of two women going viral in North India sent the country into collective shock and disgust. As has become the shameful norm currently, the incident sparked widespread discussion on what constitutes appropriate behavior for a woman, a set of rules she must adhere to so as to 'avoid' being raped.
The image portrayed in popular culture is primarily to blame for the disgraceful, base attitude that men have towards women. In a recent movie, the male protagonist is seen making a defensive argument to explain his conduct. "It's biological instinct; a man has to hunt for a beautiful woman," the hero screams, hoping that the woman realizes the justification for his actions. Most romantic films show a hero persistently nagging his love interest and after constant harassment bordering on lewd stalking, 'gets' her. In a single demeaning sweep, a woman is reduced to an entity which can be acquired, an object whose primary purpose is to satisfy a man's sexual desires.
Responsum proportionalem (translated: proportional response) originated as a principle in law used as a criterion for fairness and justice. In simple terms, proportionality implies that the punishment of an offender should fit the crime. The perpetrator should be meted proportional retribution, correspondent to the mental and physical trauma a rape victim endures, and the permanent loss of her family's reputation in the society. The punishment should be harsh, merciless and immediate. Court cases which drag on for many years imply that men can get away with their immoral behavior. A special tribunal should handle rape cases and pronounce judgment instantly, and the law should be free from loopholes protecting the rich, famous, and the powerful. The retribution should serve as a reminder to any man who even contemplates behaving crudely or uncouthly towards a female colleague or friend.
Most people think women don't have a right to their bodies and needs. A woman's choice and decision is not seen as final or binding. Her consent or lack thereof is perceived as trivial. As a society, there is trouble understanding that 'no' means 'no.' The twisted mindset is that by use of force, a man can have his way and win the prize. The feminist movement does not advocate effectively for the equality and respect of all human beings. Despite claiming to make progress in all social and economic spheres, our patriarchal society cannot look past the fact that a man can be high-handed with a woman, that she belongs to the weaker sex and can be manipulated to satisfy his needs.
Our girls are raised differently than the boys. We teach girls to remain vigilant and wear modest clothes and advise them not to stay out late so that they are not raped. Why don't we start teaching boys that consent is important, that they cannot touch a girl against her wishes? We have to stop teaching them that they are superior to girls and that girls are weaker than them. Our country is in need of a change in ideology: girls should be given equal respect, and their opinions should count.
The next question is why we stigmatize the victims of rape and not the perpetrators. We associate a woman's honor with her virginity and write off a victim as 'impure.' The man who committed the ignoble, heinous crimes walks away unscathed. Should we not be more considerate towards the victim? We must give the victim a chance to undergo counseling, and we must help her regain her sense of self-confidence. If we shame her, she will be scared even to come forward and report the crime.
What our country requires most now is a dramatic alteration in how we view a woman. If we see her as equally educated, well-qualified, and suitably employed, an individual who works hard to keep the family financially secure and contribute to the progress of the nation, instead of a commodity that can be misappropriated, we can stand tall and claim our place as an egalitarian society.
