Wage a battle against India’s rape culture

The heads of all political parties must act against party members who make misogynistic statements. Legislators accused of serious crimes against women, including rape, must be suspended or expelled. And, yes, parties must field more women candidates to fix the gender gap in our legislatures.

Appoint an expert committee to vet school textbooks to excise stereotypes of a woman’s role. Women are not just mothers and daughters but equal citizens. Go beyond lessons of “good touch” and “bad touch” to teach concepts of consent and respect. Boys need to be taught about behaviour that is unacceptable; girls made aware of their rights.

But change begins at home. Media campaigns can help change parenting norms so that daughters are brought up with the sort of rights that sons enjoy, and sons are taught that their gender does not entitle them to be waited on and served by women.

When you tell women to stay home, to dress in a certain way, you are a part of rape culture. When you scoff at a witness testifying to sexual assault at the hands of a predatory boss, you are a part of rape culture. When you make a toxic film like Kabir Singh a “super hit”, you are a part of rape culture. When you make sexist “jokes”, you are a part of rape culture. You have a choice. Stop.

Finally, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) dedicated to educating girls and aiding victims of violence are partners in stamping out patriarchy. Education, where the gender gap in primary and secondary education has been bridged, is an example of how well this alliance works. Yet, a recent report finds that 14,500 NGOs were banned from receiving foreign funding. They are allies. They are not the enemy.

India can solve its rape problem. The question is: Do we want to?

Published in Hindustan Times on December 13, 2019

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