There seems to be no end to statements and measures that politicians seem to have come up with to curb violence against women. Most of them lack logic, sensitivity or reason.
About three months ago, while giving her reasoning for the increasing number of rape cases, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said rapes were on a rise in the country because men and women interact with each other more freely now. “Earlier if men and women would hold hands, they would get caught by parents and reprimanded but now everything is so open. It’s like an open market with open options,” she was quoted as saying.
The Puducherry government is not too far behind. As an aftermath of a recent meeting between Education Minister T Thiagarajan and principals of private and government schools, the guidelines formulated are seen as largely regressive. The measures that include reducing contact between boys and girls “to prevent basic misbehaviour and reduce temptation”, also state that girl students will now have to don an overcoat instead of dupatta. The safety steps also include having separate buses for boys and girls. The measures have irked sociologists, psychologists and women’s rights activists.
According to Archana Agarwal, a lecturer in Delhi University, the measures are “condemnable”.
“Boys and girls should get to know each other than perceiving the other sex as an object to be pursued or feared. This would lead to an increased possibility of crimes when the interactions actually happen,” she says.
Psychologists also pointed out that there is a tendency to assume that victims of sexual violence somehow brought it on themselves. In fact, according to a survey of judges conducted in 1996, 68 per cent of the respondents said that provocative clothing is an invitation to rape.
Psychologists strongly refute that. According to psychologist, social worker and counselor of victims of sexual violence Dr Sahana Das, the “provocative clothing bit and the measures suggested by the Puducherry government indicates that we acknowledge our inability of providing for an equitable society that perpetuates the patriarchal notion shrouded in the packaging of ‘protecting women.’ Let us concentrate more on reforming men who are the actual offenders than coming up with more ways to curbing the little freedom of women.”
Dr Vidya Reddy of Tulir, Centre for the Prevention and Healing of Child Sexual Abuse questions, “Lawmakers think only girls at school and college are subjected to sexual violence? If that is the case, then I can only imagine the quality of educators and their myopic vision.”