Why India will continue to be the world’s most dangerous country for women


In a misogynist world that includes the likes of Somalia, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Mexico, Pakistan and Afghanistan, getting the dubious distinction of being top ranked has understandably caused a great deal of indignation and outrage in India

While India’s record has been dismal, it is also fair to note that issues pertaining to women’s rights, sexual violence and gender disparity are endemic across the world and that there are different aspects to this problem seen in different countries

Women in countries such as Mexico, Bolivia and Brazil are equal participants in economic life and are not compelled to cover themselves up or stay away from public spaces, unlike in conservative, segregated Islamic countries

However, these machismo laden Latin American countries still suffer from horrific sexual violence and trafficking

For example, statistics show that 44% of Mexican women will experience some form of sexual violence during their lifetime and an estimated 91% of these crimes go unreported

Statistics from other countries in the region are equally disturbing

Similarly, sexual slavery and trafficking are rampant in Mexico

The nature of the problem in countries like Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan and other orthodox Islamic nations is very different

In these countries, women do not have many rights and most often aren’t even allowed outside their homes without a male relative accompanying them

Till very recently, women in Saudi Arabia were not even allowed to drive

Given this socioeconomic dynamic, the nature of the debate therefore becomes very different

Women’s exclusion from public spaces vastly reduces the scale and scope for random sexual violence like the kind seen in other parts of the world where women are out there on the streets, making a living, going to school, and generally making a presence

The absence of alarming statistics and harrowing public narratives from these countries does not mean that women are happy, safe and secure

It just means that a lot is kept under wraps and they do not even have a voice

It’s noteworthy that rape victims in the UAE have been punished for adultery

In some countries, for rape to be proven, four witnesses are required

Women also often do not have the same inheritance or other legal rights as men

Polygamy and triple talaq (divorce) are just some practices that show just how vulnerable women are in the Islamic world

The issues highlighted in the rest of the world are in no way meant to deflect the attention from the problem in India

While India being labelled “the most dangerous country for women” might be debatable, there is no doubt that India has a lot of ground to cover when it comes to ensuring a fair deal for its women

Over the decades, the state has done its bit to improve women’s rights

There are no legal restrictions on women and they are increasingly stepping out of their homes and participating in economic activities across sectors and seniority levels

In large cities, it is not unusual to see young women working late night shifts at Information Technology (IT) and Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) companies, often stepping out of the office premises for a late night snack or cup of tea

They are joining the armed forces, flying as pilots, and working in high technology industries

India’s women athletes are competing on the world stage and winning medals and glory for the nation

There are laws that protect married women from domestic abuse and prohibit social evils like dowry and female infanticide

Campaigns like “beti bachao, beti padhao” (educate your daughter, save your daughter) are intended to change patriarchal mindsets

These factors demonstrate that the status of Indian women is gradually improving, and in large measures, they have the opportunity and the platform to move out of their traditional restrictions and fulfil their ambitions

However, despite these initiatives and improvements, sociocultural attitudes are still highly prejudiced towards women, and mindsets are still locked in patriarchy across vast swaths of the country

So while on paper, many laws exist in favour of women, getting them enforced equitably by state machinery that comprises of individuals with a deeply patriarchal mindset, is a daunting task

A corrupt and stretched law enforcement system also makes it easier for sexual criminals to escape the consequences for their actions, thereby reducing the power of deterrence

In recent times, the government has disappointed by not pushing through legislation on marital rape under the pretext of “Indian family values” and has also made some attempts to weaken anti-dowry harassment provisions

The orthodox segments of society have successfully projected their counter-narrative, thereby causing a setback to some of the progress of the last few decades

The pace of social change is also painfully slow

Women are considered inferior and the girl child is still seen as a burden in large parts of the country

Dowry, though illegal, is widely prevalent

Domestic violence and exploitation are endemic and women have little recourse, either due to economic compulsions or social stigmas

India is at a point where different segments of society are at different stages of social evolution

Males with regressive mindsets see girls out and view them as “fair game”

The increased presence of women in public spaces increases the “opportunities” for violent encounters, especially given the country’s primitive law enforcement systems

This brings us to an important area that needs to be tackled, and that is the sense of male entitlement

Most government campaigns have thus far focused on parents or would-be parents of girl children, encouraging them to allow their daughters to grow and flourish

However, it is equally important for the parents of male children to instil the right values and gender sensitivity in their sons

For Indian women to be truly empowered and free, Indian men need to be taught to be less of predators and more of enablers

And in this endeavour, a judicious mix of positive reinforcement and deterrence is required

Zero tolerance from sexual misbehaviour is a starting point

Stricter action must be taken by the police and courts in cases of sexual misconduct

Much deviant behaviour gets legitimised through media, like films and songs

Indian movies and songs can still be seen reinforcing and condoning regressive behaviour such as stalking and “not taking no for an answer”

Indian media needs to be more circumspect about the values they showcase

The ideas of machismo, female subservience and male entitlement need to be completely dismantled in Indian society

The pace of change and improvement in the lives of Indian women needs to be hastened

There is no escaping the fact that India has failed millions of its daughters and continues its ambivalence to their wellbeing

This is unconscionable and unpardonable

Till the nation tackles this issue head-on and applies its collective will to driving mass change, India will continue to feature on lists that highlight the worst countries for women



Date:05-Jul-2018 Reference:View Original Link