- Often, rape and sexual abuse cases in India garner attention of the world. However, a comparison between two of the most outrageous cases reported recently throws some interesting light.
- While the Delhi rape case of Nirbhaya evoked responses on the brutal nature of the attack and the peaceful protests that ensued, it even triggered the comparison of gender equations in India and the rest of the world.
- The recent rape and murder of Dalit girls in Badaun has evoked response on the front of developmental deficit rather than the brutality of it and the safety of women
- Most of the discussions in the Western circles are centered around the toilet debate, as if the whole problem stems from the lack of toilets.
- The truth is, whether there are toilets or not, women are harassed all over the world. The problem lies in not less access to toilets for women, which is itself an issue, but about women’s access to public spaces without the fear of violence.
- Outrageous statements coming from the heads of the state over the rapes not being a serious issue, and that these are ‘mistakes’ add to the whole patriarchal outlook surrounding the incident.
- Public apathy is paramount, as is evident by the recent case where a woman bus conductor was beaten up in broad daylight as onlookers passed by.
- The solutions to the problems faces by women are not solved by developmental initiatives.
- The problems faces are not due to lack of toilets, or public transport alone, it happens regularly at workplace, home, educational institutions and public spaces to name a few. While the ‘exceptional’ cases receive attention, these everyday issues are oft forgotten.
- The whole shift of the argument towards lack of development also underscores the West to simplify the problems faced by Indian women in comparison to their western counterparts. Somehow, one type of violence is more civilized than the other.
- While toilets are an utmost necessity, not only for the health but also to the dignity of the woman, but toilets or no toilets, women are going to be harassed by everyone. Developmental initiatives may placate the West, but do little to eradicate this colossal problem in a deeply patriarchal society, which has very problematic understandings of women’s bodies and their roles.
- Right when India is on the verge of becoming a global power, it seems there is a certain urgency in the West to classify India’s problems within a certain framework of ‘underdevelopment’, ‘poverty’ and ‘anarchy’. Building toilets is easy; building meaningful and empathetic conversations about gendered violence is difficult.
- Read at: http://www.thehinducentre.com/the-arena/article6110846.ece
Exams Perspective:
- Women Empowerment
- Gender Inequality
- Development Deficit
- Sanitation
- Poverty