Rape, Molestation Are On Rise Around Us... But Hey! Let's Carry On With the "Whataboutery"!

Every time someone expresses one's concern over how women in our country are ceaselessly facing the evils of rape, molestation and discrimination, they are unabashedly ridiculed by a large host of people who come with the absurd whataboutery to counter legit arguments against misogyny and harassment.

Anyway, certain numbers have come forward through the minister of state for home affairs revealing the horrible truth which the enemies of womankind are bent on denying.

As many as 140 cases of rape and 238 cases of molestation were registered by Delhi Police in January this year alone, of which 43 and 133 cases respectively remain unsolved. 

The number of rape cases registered in 2016 was 2,155, of which 291 were unsolved, while there were 4,165 molestation cases of which 1,132 are unsolved. 

There were 36 rape cases registered against Delhi Police personnel in the years 2014, 2015 and 2016. Of these, 28 were registered in Delhi and 8 in other states. While two of these cases were cancelled or quashed, in six cases there were aquittals while 28 cases are pending trial or investigation. 

Ninety cases of molestation and 9 cases of eve-teasing were also registered against Delhi Police personnel in these three years. 

The details were tabled in the Rajya Sabha by minister of state for home affairs Hans Raj Ahir during Question Hour. 

According to the details provided by the minister, 51 cases of eve-teasing were registered, of which 25 remain unsolved. 

“The reasons for unsolved cases vary from case to case. However, some of the main reasons include non- identification of the accused person, stay on the arrest of the accused by courts, insufficient evidence or the accused person is absconding and not traceable,” the minister said.

-Report by PTI 

 

ELLE India Launches New Video Challenging Gender Stereotypes

Image: YouTube screenshot

PART 1: The Outrage:
For long the women of our country have been subjected to rigorous "cultural conditioning" under which it is expected of them to never fall out of line of the numberless behavioural rules that have been pressed upon them for centuries now. One of these laws, which, to say the least, are downright patriarchal and oppressive, is a set of norms that decide how a woman should dress up. And, thanks to the minds who consider themselves as protectors of the Indian culture, this absurd law still prevails, disallowing our women even the slightest inch of a casual room to breathe.

Consequently, the women of India ceaselessly indulge in all that tugging and pulling, hoping to cover up all that they can from the ever searching eyes of a large host of men of this nation- the unbelievably perverted bastards that this group is. But oh, how often do these lustful minds realise that what our women wear are, after all, just garments; yes, they slip and slide sometimes, because- yes!- women can move very much like us men!; and yes, the slipping and slightly sliding off of garments reveals things that most of us men mistakenly- mind you, mistakenly- consider immodest, blasphemous towards our culture, and (the most absurd of all) provocative! 

The very idea is nonsensical! What are we even expecting? That women cover themselves in the thickest possible garments with hooks that dig deep into their skin just so that the outfit doesn't commit the unforgivable sin of bringing out in the open that scandalous strap of a brassiere? 

From what it appears to us, it is not the Indian woman who is at fault, gentlemen! So why not just let her be?

PART 2: The Video
ELLE India, in association with WEvolve, a World Bank organisation set up in 2015, has launched a global campaign under the tag #UnGender, which aims to bring both men and women together against gender inequality by using art and media.

It has recently released a video that subtly captures the daily ordeal of Indian women in a highly patriarchal society.

Watch the video here:

WOMEN'S MARCH | Photo Gallery

Saturday's Women's March saw groundbreaking participation as people from all walks of life thronged the streets across the globe (mainly across America) to promote women's rights, immigration reforms, and health care reforms, besides representing their stand against Islamophobia, rape culture, and LGBT abuse as well as addressing racial inequities, workers' issues and environmental issues.

The rallies were largely seen as protests against Donald Trump, the recently- inaugurated President of the United States, and his various statements which have been deemed as anti- women and racial.

Here are some photos from some of the rallies that constituted the Women's March, featuring some well known faces who took time to actively participate in the marches.

Bollywood actress Radhika Apte was also a participant in Saturday's Women's March.
She shared some photos of the rally on her Instagram profile.

Emily Sears dons a T- shirt reading, "Feminism is the radical notion that women are people."

A little girl holds upright a placard reading, "GRRRLS will change the world"

Hollywood actor Mark Ruffalo participated in the rally in Manhattan,
highlighting some powerful opinions like these

Two women hug each other during Saturday's Women's March while holding a poster
that says, "WE THE PEOPLE ARE GREATER THAN FEAR"

The text on the board reads, "The end of patriarchy is nigh"

Cardboards and placards bearing strong words against patriarchy were a common sight
in Saturday's Women's March

Actor Mark Ruffalo displays a borrowed poster which reads, "99 PROBLEMS AND THIS BITCH IS ONE"
probably referring to the recently inaugurated president, we suppose.

Posters reading "WE THE RESILIENT HAVE BEEN HERE BEFORE"
were widely circulated in the marches besides other similar ones

Reports have suggested that over a million people participated in the Women's March from all over the world. This, undoubtedly deserves much appreciation.

That being said, following the successful implementation of the march, and keeping in mind that the issues that the event addressed are ideas that can't be brought about in a transforming manner overnight, the question that arises is this: What next?

Well, we say, it's something that has to be determined by people who so energetically came out in support of this peaceful procession to support the ideas of righteousness and equality.