An Essential Flaw

Guest Post: Please help me welcome Glad2bawoman, a community that believes in celebrating women. All decent men and women are sure to enjoy and appreciate what they have to say. Here's a very valid point they make.

The increasing frequency with which rapes are occurring in our country today, has raised more than a few eyebrows. It has managed to enrage a whole nation and it has lead to widespread speculation about ways in which this problem can be dealt with. A lot of people have been debating upon the nature of punishment which the rapists need to be dealt with, in order to incite fear in the hearts of anyone who would think of attempting such a heinous crime in the future. Quite a few people have been talking about arming women with pepper-sprays, and the more radical opinion which states that arms possession should become legalized for women in our country so as to protect them from rapists. 

While these are the opinions being expressed, by large, every family is warning the women of the household to not step out after nightfall, to not wear sleeveless tops or short skirts, to not walk alone in deserted lanes, and to not do anything to induce the ardour of a strange man on the streets. This is a basic problem which needs to be addressed, which is also a deciding factor for what the nature of the punishment of rapists should be. The whole outlook about women remaining protected during these trying times is, the fact that a man’s libido is volatile, and that he is no better than a predator who should not be tempted. This is the predominant viewpoint which has been circulated all over the country for years now. A woman wearing short clothes was asking to get raped, or a woman walking down the street late at night knew that she would get raped. 

The fact is, the idea of men being powerless in front of their libido is what should be changed. This is a very important aspect which also justifies rape, and let rapists get away with just about anything. This very flawed construct residing in our society is not just parroted by men, but also by women. This form of judgemental justification of rape is something which has been bred into our cultural consciousness so deeply, that even if we would like to change things, deep in our minds, the idea is still very firmly rooted. Very few of us would really dare to step out very late in the night, wearing clothes which might attract “unwanted attention”. This is what reserved seats for women on public vehicles point to, as well. And this form of chauvinism needs to be eliminated in order for anybody to come up with long-term solutions on how to solve the issue of sex crimes in India. 

Men and their ardour should not be made unaccountable. Ultimately, a biological evolution of our species has ensured the growth of both genders, and there is no reason for men to not be able to control their physical urges, if women can do so. The mindset needs to change before the rules do.