Time And again women have been questioned about dressing “provocatively” to invite sexual assaults, thus nullifying the barbarous and ruthless nature of the perpetrators to a great extent. Several reasons have been put forth by influential personalities of the society as the cause of growing rape incidents in the country. Mamta Bannerjee, Chief Minister of West Bengal pointed to the issue of free mixing of men and women to be the cause of rapes while sex and drug rackets was considered the triggering factor by Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal.
Does it Happen only in India?
The problem is not sensitive to India only. In England rape trial mostly culminate into the question whether the complainant or the victim and the defendant or the perpetrator had their mutual consent in the sexual intercourse that took place instead of directly emphasizing on who committed the crime.
If it is only a matter of consent it is completely contrary to how rape was previously looked at previously as an act of violence by a man forcibly maltreating a woman to satisfy physical urge. Where sexual assault roosts on the question of consent the trials turn out to be excruciatingly harrowing for the women who are often compelled to give answers to what dress they were wearing or what had been her sexual history.
The event of “Slut Walks” in many countries of the world also raises questions as to whether a woman’s way of dressing is reason enough to provoke the animalistic desires in men. The truth is several women who are raped are not seductively dressed that involves those who are veiled in burqas not revealing even an inch of their skin.
There is no dearth of child assaults in our nation as well. And of course children do not flaunt their silhouette by donning tantalizing attires or possess the body structure to lure men. On the other hand strippers and lap dancers dress up in provocative ways on purpose to entice men and yet guardians of moral sense and ethics choose to restrain themselves.
The Fact
While carrying out extensive studies on rape may end in some mere speculations, the psychological aspect of it shows men indulging in rapes possibly to assert “chauvinistic dominance” and “masculinity” or to avenge instances of rejections. Many a time rapes are the result of lack of mental stability and frustration while also because of the fact that the policemen who are supposed to be protectors often indulge in such crimes themselves. Not to speak of the way the Judiciary acts without inflicting apt retribution to the criminals.
