Exploring the complex factors fuelling brutality against women in our society
With brimming eyes and a wretched heart, my fingers drip with blood as I write these lines about the rape and murder of a girl child and two women from the medical field. From the 3-year-old girl to the 31-year-old woman doctor, these individuals became the soft targets of lustful and depraved men. These men did not shy away from inflicting unthinkable monstrosities on the fragile bodies of the girl child and the women. In their quest to satisfy their sexual desires and avoid exposure after committing such heinous crimes, they went on a murderous rampage.
In our society, the situation has reached an impasse where all we can do is weep for the victims and show solidarity through weightless words. But what about their parents? How unbearable it must be for them to see their bud-like daughters devoured in broad daylight by the vultures of a patriarchal system. Imagine a doctor being gang-raped and then murdered for a crime she didn’t commit.
I want to make one thing clear: the present rape culture, which is intensifying by the day, is the byproduct of many factors. No single cause is responsible for this brutality. It takes time and years of brainwashing to degrade the grand image of women, perpetuate crimes, and preach misogyny in every aspect of life. Let us explore some of the causes responsible for the rise in rape cases in our society. I regret the inconvenience caused by the content of this article, but it is necessary.
The first cause is orthodox thinking. In our society, this kind of thinking prevails. Women are often viewed as sub-human, objects of lust, rather than as individuals with rights and dignity. Although not all men follow this line of thought, the overall setup of our society objectifies women and seeks to derive sensual pleasures from them, without regard for their sentiments and humanity.
The second cause is a negative approach to the word “sex”. In our society, sex—the very basis of life—is either openly discussed in a way that brings doom or kept hidden behind curtains, where even mentioning it brings shame and insult. Both approaches fail to strike a balance, leading to curiosity about the opposite gender. Such a mentality slowly and steadily prepares the ground for horrific rapes and crimes. If a balanced approach had been implemented, curiosity would have been unravelled early, and the groundwork for serious crimes would not have been laid.
The third cause is nudity and the erosion of privacy. With the proliferation of the Internet, nudity and the erosion of privacy have become common sights. Both stimulate sexual intensity and pave the way for unimaginable rapes and crimes. The children of today have been exposed to such an extent of nudity that their minds are preoccupied with thoughts of sexual stimulation and intimacy. The intimacy displayed online has brought gloom into the lives of unmarried people. For the sake of pleasure, people immerse themselves in online nudity. When this is the case, expecting moral values to take stronghold is like chasing a mirage in the desert.
The fourth cause is the bypassing of laws. Our country has well-deserving laws, but they often remain confined to law books. Proper implementation is missing on the ground. When rapists go unpunished due to various loopholes, the surge in rapes is inevitable. Punishing rapists with an iron hand can deter them from devouring the fragile bodies of their victims.
The fifth and last cause is a soulless society. It is clear that we have become so soulless that we can justify playing with someone else’s daughter or sister while insisting that our own blood-related daughter or sister be respected and never looked at with bad intentions. Such a paradox is the talk of every town. If a girl doesn’t feel safe venturing out of her home late at night, thinking that molesters are lurking with bad intentions, then our society is doomed. Unless girls feel safe to travel or venture out fearlessly at night, no kind of pseudo-window dressing will do any good.
The need of the hour is to prepare a safe environment for women. They belong to us, and we belong to them. Looking beyond sexual considerations, let us embrace women with clear intentions. Every individual has a role to play in sweeping away the cobwebs of misconceptions and misogyny. Our educational and religious institutions must prepare children to respect each other. Respecting each other’s privacy should be taught at an early age. Laws must also be strictly implemented, with no leniency for culprits. Women must also shed any negative attitudes toward men. Slowly and steadily, we can create a harmonious environment to discuss these issues openly.
Last but not least, the institution of marriage must be strengthened to bring positivity to society. I’m talking about marriages based on trust, not compulsion. Entering marriage without understanding its intricacies is fraught with dangers. The institution of marriage is sacred when its sanctity is maintained through a balanced approach from both sides. So, the need of the hour is to bring decency to every aspect of our lives. To do this, in addition to addressing the issues mentioned above, the easy availability of intoxicants must be stopped.
The menace of drugs is intimately associated with rape culture and murders. Before concluding, let me put it straight that every man is not a rapist. The dangerous trend of maligning every man must stop. In the state of unconsciousness, passing the buck to the men is not a sign of maturity. Let good sense prevail!