This is dedicated to Damini, Nirbhaya,
Amanat. Not just the unfortunate but brave Daughter who passed away this morning, but all
the Daughters who have passed away because they fell victim to heinous crimes.
13 days ago a 23
year old girl was raped by six men on a moving bus, beaten with a rusty rod and
thrown out. She passed away this morning, after being shifted to Singapore for
medical treatment (the political reasons for that, I am not interested in).
For once, I am
stepping away from taunting politicians and policemen and the establishment in
general. Today, I want to talk about the phenomenon I like to call “social
(networking) activism”. Succinctly put- sorry activists, no revolutionary work
to be done here. Changing our cover photos and display pictures to
inspirational quotes about women equality and the injustice of rape doesn’t
“spread awareness” about anything, it just makes distinguishing profiles from
thumbnails alone impossible. I recognize that there is nothing we enjoy more
than rallying around a common cause from behind our laptops but honestly,
there’s nothing to do here other than develop a sort of sensitivity regarding
degrading comments that isn’t going to come with updating your profile picture
and raking in the likes.
Men reading
this- I dare you; the next time you see a girl in a dress or a skirt, think of
her as a person with a family and a brother and a mother and father and dreams
and a life of her own, and not as ‘maal’ (an object). Every single male out
there who has changed his Facebook status or tweeted about India being in the
dumps- I ask you- when was the last time you made a joke about women in
kitchen? Munni and Sheila are relatively safe because they dance on screen-
what about those who don’t? I dare you to ask yourself whether they ask to be
raped. This is the first time in a long time we’ve come across such a
horrifying case of rape, but honestly this isn’t the only time. In no way do I
intend to belittle what just happened- this article is dedicated to Braveheart-
I just want to know where everyone’s conscience is when so many girls in our
country are being raped as I type this and as you read this. I confess, I am
referring to the Guwahati molestation case when I say that just because some of
the more sensational cases catch the media’s attention doesn’t mean the others
are less important. Just as quickly, however, they are forgotten. Quick FYI-
the lead rapist in that case got 2 years in prison and an overwhelming fine of
Rs. 2000!! Justice system at work, ladies and gentlemen!
Another piece of
advice men- next time you go out on the streets, don’t go out alone lest you
lose control! Take a woman with you to keep you safe. Hey, that isn’t very fair
of me- terming all men as rapists who need watching over. Well, maybe it’s time
to stop terming all women as rape victims who need the same.
Social network
activism means very little and achieves even less if everyone gets caught up in
a frenzy over everything. Remember Kony? Remember that one time everyone
changed their display pictures to cartoons to spread awareness of child abuse?
Let’s face it- everyone wants to do something because everyone else is doing
it. If I sound cynical because I’m slamming down attempts to take a stand, make
a change, it’s probably because I am. I know there’s little scope for
organizing rallies and protests in the country I reside in, but your time might be better
spent developing respect for women when it really counts rather than making
statuses and logging in every 10 minutes to see who ‘liked’ it. India has risen
up in solidarity in a way we rarely see and change is arguably around the
corner. Personally I believe that laws will be passed but on the grassroots
change, if any, will be slow to take place, but this article is not about that. I am not denying that social networking activism gets nowhere- nobody can deny
Occupy Wall Street or the Arab Spring. I am simply pointing out that updating
your status pleading to fellow men about something that you yourself need to be
reminded about is pathetic, at best. There are men and women out on the streets
of India, silent in solidarity. I am not saying you shouldn’t do nothing- I am
saying do something that wont result in nothing. And if you’re going to do
something that you wont remember to do in a month or two, don’t bother doing
it.
This is a plea.
-Lassie
Chap and I are collaborating, for the first time, to present to you something we both feel very strongly about. His article will come very soon.
Source:
http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/Guwahati/Guwahati-molestation-case-Amarjyoti-Kalita-convicted-journalist-walks-free/Article1-969757.aspx
Agree with you to an extent. For example, on Amartyo's current event there is the idea to change cover photos and what not. By itself this would be a pretty fruitless action. However, accompanied by planned activities to raise funds and awareness for current organizations and with letter writing campaigns to put pressure onto the government, changing ones cover photo would be a symbol for that action.
ReplyDeleteAgree with you. One fact that you're probably missing out is that the solution to the problem will take some time. But that's alright. My point is that, till such a time women should also be cautious and not roam around late at night. (Am not referring to any particular incident).
ReplyDeleteLet me start of by saying that I'm not accusing women of bringing it upon themselves. But can anyone tell me why they expose so much? Is there any logic to it? Boobs hanging out, skirts as short as panties...
ReplyDeleteHeck, I've never seen a man with his restocked hanging out of his zipper..
Shouldn't written also look at stopping such behaviour ? We are quick to point out that women have been sexualized as an object, nothing more. But isn't such behaviour contributing to it?
I agree, women in salwar kameez have been trapped as well.
But is there any such thing add modesty?
Damn you auto correct
ReplyDeleteLet me start of by saying that I'm not accusing women of bringing it upon themselves. But can anyone tell me why they expose so much? Is there any logic to it? Boobs hanging out, skirts as short as panties...
Heck, I've never seen a man with his testicles hanging out of his zipper..
Shouldn't women look at stopping such behaviour ? We are quick to point out that women have been sexualized as an object, nothing more. But isn't such behaviour contributing to it?
I agree, women in salwar kameez have been trapped as well.
But is there any such thing as modesty?
Modesty doesn't play a part here bro. What you wear doesn't actually matter when it comes to rape. Even women who were fully covered have been raped. A dress code doesn't give a man the right to rape a women.
Deleteno woman 'brings it upon themselves'. women will be leered at regardless of what they wear. sarees are just as provocative as skirts, and im sure your mother/sister wears those? i think they should stop such behaviour as well. your comment just put every semi-intelligent male out there to shame. cheers!
ReplyDeleteThat was very much expected.
ReplyDeleteShoot the messenger...
You can abuse me how much you like..
But then it's also people like you who go and watch movies with 'item songs'.
What's that? Is that sexualization of women acceptable?
And all that is carried on in real life.
Don't get me wrong.
Chill