Rape.
Many of us believe that any act of violating a woman physically without her consent is what rape is. But reality is different. Rape isn’t just a physical thing. For a woman, more than being physically violated, it’s the emotional trauma that follows that’s the toughest to negotiate.
More than anything, for a woman, a rape is a blot on HER character, instead of being a blot on the man who was heinous enough to commit the crime. While the man can whistle to his glory walking guilt free until proven otherwise, it’s the woman who has to live with it. A crime she never asked for, a crime she never deserved.
There are scores of women who get raped, but how many of them get the support they need? Aren’t we still living in a society that thinks women are responsible for the atrocities meted out to them? Is rape a woman’s fault?
The answer is an obvious NO.
Why then, does the police embarrass the victim on the pretext of questioning? Why do relatives mutter under their breaths that the girl would be lucky to get married? Why are the victims treated like they are dirty?
They’re not dirty, the ones who did this, they are. The ones who think like this, they are, too.
Sunitha was raped when she was a teenager and that taught her what ‘shame and forced isolation’ meant. Khap Panchayats have archaic laws. They are patriarchal, essentially. Even though the Supreme Court has outlawed Khap Panchayats, it hasn’t been far too effective.
Perhaps it’s high time for us to fight this out and help women get the love, understanding and respect they deserve.
Sunitha survived a rape and mental aftermath, but many others won’t. Let’s act now.