Glorifying Rape Culture in India

We live in a world where nearly half of the population is occupied by women. Women played a great role always to shape society. In Indus valley civilization evidence shows that women were worshipped as mother goddesses. Then during the early Vedic period or Rig Vedic age, the society became patriarchal and niyoga marriages started taking place where the widow could marry the young brother of her deceased husband. As time flew status of women started declining daughter became the source of misery.

Mostly women were not allowed to attend political assemblies. Polygamy came into existence. Then the medieval era started which was known as the darkest age for women. Evils like sati system, Jauhar, child marriages, purdah system, restriction of widow remarriage took place. Girls were only limited to get the education related to household chores. Few reformers stood against these evils but struggle in her life is still present yet in another form. In the 21^st century, women have not owned their fate until now. Living in the same society, the same culture she’s been deprived of her rights and freedom by the patriarchal society.

In this present techno age where we humans live in a world of technology and share all our personal to professional life on social media, and Instagram group named BOY’S LOCKER ROOM came into the limelight where boys between 15 to 18 yrs of age were alleged for sharing photos of the under-aged girl, objectifying them, and promoting rape culture. This was not the first case, last year in December 2019 another incident where some boys of the same age from top-ranked schools in Mumbai were suspended for making violent and sexually explicit remarks about their female classmates on WhatsApp.

As the world is developing day by day technologically such occurrence started taking place on social media which earlier used to happen only in public places. This shows how the moral values of modern society is declining. According to the 2019 report, 167 countries were ranked based on inclusion, justice, and security of women, and India is in the 133^rd position. How horrible is that! India record worst in gender equality and also had a poor ranking in intimate partner violence.

These incidents led to a lot of social media reactions, as it is rightly said that the measure of any society is how it treats its women and girls.

This year on March 20, the convicts of terrifying Nirbhaya case were hanged but there is no fear in the minds of people. This only shows that our rape culture is glorifying day by day. Our parliament the legislative structure is well off in making laws for instance,

• Section 354C of IPC, voyeurism
• Section 354D of IPC, stalking
• Section 67B of IT Act, transmitting sexually explicit material depicting a child
• Section 14 and 15 of the POCSO Act, child pornography
• Section 66E of IT Act, violation of privacy

Related to such evil acts. These acts indicate a small fragment of a bigger problem.

The punishment in ancient times was a deterrent in nature which indeed creates fear in the minds of people. And such punishments are in need to be practiced in the present time also. If these teenagers are mature to talk about such heinous crimes like rape or conduct these crimes then they are mature enough to bear tough punishments.

The judicial system should also be tightened up and convicts should be punished as early as possible because justice delayed is justice denied and it will create fear in the minds also. Male privilege is real and male entitlement, a real threat. Before any government or any such authority, parents, guardians of children has to come up and punish them to make them understand women values.

Additionally, all bad parenting should not be blamed because this is not the first or only time such boys locker room existed. It’s the time and collective duty of society in general to change the style of living. It’s the time to understand that modernity doesn’t lie in using expensive gadgets, uploading whole life’s stuff on social media but in respecting and valuing the women’s dignity.

Even as a member of society it is very much necessary to stop laughing on jokes stereotyping on basis of gender, stop asking any rape victim what was wearing and why she was out at a particular time, in short, its time to realize that our actions are potentially rewarding or punishing a young mind for their words and actions. These incidents will continue unless the root cause of patriarchy, entitlement, and toxic masculinity is addressed. These hashtags like #stopthemyoung, #endrapeculture should be practiced in the real-world by each of us.