Normalisation of Rape Culture and Shattered Divinity
Waking up to the news of the gang rape of a Brazilian tourist in Jharkhand by seven men, the first thought that surged through my mind, along with rage and horror, was: ‘Why am I even surprised? What can be expected of a country, that garlands rapists instead of hanging them?’ I slowly realised how casually I was dismissing it, considering such incidents to be expected in India.
And that’s when it hit me: this is one of the underlying issues, the normalisation of rape culture.
reducing the price of cooking gas cylinders by Rs 100, after previously hiking it from Rs 400 to Rs 1200, is not indicative of women empowerment. Instead, it is a hidden patriarchal move, driven by considerations of vote collection.
As we celebrated International Women’s Day, the statistics of crimes against women are staggeringly increasing. India witnesses brutal rapes almost every day, with reports of horrifying sexual assaults on the rise in recent years. However, reducing the price of cooking gas cylinders by Rs 100, after previously hiking it from Rs 400 to Rs 1200, is not indicative of women empowerment. Instead, it is a hidden patriarchal move, driven by considerations of vote collection.
Further exemplifying the grim reality of sexual violence in India is a recent incident where eight men were accused of brutally gang-raping a Spanish tourist in Jharkhand’s Dumka district, where the couple was camping in a tent. The 28-year-old woman and her 64-year-old husband, who have been travelling the world on their motorcycles, fell victim to the attack on March 1, around 300 km from the state capital Ranchi. Recounting the ordeal, the woman, who holds joint Brazilian-Spanish nationality, stated, “They raped me, they took turns while some watched, and they stayed like that for about two hours.”
The worst thing about this is it is not even an isolated case. They are symptomatic of a larger problem, which requires urgent attention. It’s time for Indian men to step up and take responsibility for addressing the culture of sexual violence that they perpetuate and uphold. This means challenging toxic masculinity, dismantling patriarchal structures, and supporting survivors in their quest for justice.
Shortly after this incident, in another harrowing event, a 21-year-old stage performer from Chhattisgarh was allegedly gang-raped by her co-artists in Jharkhand’s Palamu district. These incidents follow closely on the heels of yet another appalling attack, where a 17-year-old girl was reportedly gang-raped by two men in Hathras district, Uttar Pradesh while returning home from a wedding function.
The narrative surrounding sexual violence in India has shifted from outrage to resignation. We’ve witnessed the same cycle of condemnation, arrests, trials, and forgetfulness time and time again.
The crude and terrifyingly brutal nature of these assaults has sent shockwaves through Indian society, reigniting the urgent conversation about women’s safety.
In 2022, India recorded an average of almost 90 reported rapes per day, based on data from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB). However, the actual number is presumed to be considerably higher due to numerous factors such as underreporting stemming from fear of retaliation, enduring social stigmas against victims, and a lack of confidence in police inquiries.
No one is defaming India more than Indian men. The burden of India’s culture of sexual violence lies squarely with Indian men. It’s not just about condemning individual acts of violence; it’s about recognising the systemic issues that perpetuate this culture of impunity.
The narrative surrounding sexual violence in India has shifted from outrage to resignation. We’ve witnessed the same cycle of condemnation, arrests, trials, and forgetfulness time and time again. Legal amendments and fast-track courts were supposed to signal progress, but they’ve fallen short of addressing the underlying issues. The reality is that Indian women are living in a constant state of PTSD, with their anger and outrage going unnoticed and unaddressed.
From the agonising accounts emerging from Manipur, where ethnic clashes have given rise to appalling acts of sexual violence against women, to the intersecting forms of oppression faced by marginalised communities, or the distressing situation in Kashmir, a region long besieged by violence, where rape has been wielded as a tool of power it’s crucial to recognise that rape is not driven by sexual desire but rather by violence, power dynamics, and the desire for control.
India has travelled from advocating ‘hang the rapists’ to tolerating ‘garland the rapists’ in a disturbingly short period. The recent incidents involving the release and honouring of convicted rapists send a chilling message about the acceptability of sexual violence in our society. This normalisation of rape culture is a collective failure of the state, and society to hold perpetrators accountable and provide justice to survivors.
India has travelled from advocating ‘hang the rapists’ to tolerating ‘garland the rapists’ in a disturbingly short period. The recent incidents involving the release and honouring of convicted rapists send a chilling message about the acceptability of sexual violence in our society. This normalisation of rape culture is a collective failure of the state, and society to hold perpetrators accountable and provide justice to survivors.
Just as Indian women empathise with every victim or survivor of sexual violence, Indian men must acknowledge that every perpetrator of such crimes reflects on them collectively and view it as a personal shortcoming. It falls upon Indian men to shoulder the responsibility of initiating positive change.
Let us not wait for more headlines or another trending hashtag to shock us into action. The time for change is now, and it starts with each one of us taking a stand against the curse of sexual violence.
The women in India and around the world are beyond tired by the ongoing struggle as the possibility of change remains frustratingly out of reach.
