“Girls, some if not all, wear mini-skirts and one pieces, they speak in double meanings when they are drunk in a pub. All this will obviously lead to rape, wont it?”

One might expect this statement to come from one who believes that a victim is responsible for rape, and there are many in this country who do, or from an orthodox or uneducated man or woman. However, shockingly, it came at an audition of the well known TV reality show Roadies X1, when a young girl studying to become a journalist, made the statement in response to a question on the reasons for rape. Sometimes, the truth is stranger than fiction and this adage was proved right on the occasion.

Justifying her statements on rape and why it happens (as a part of a form to filled to qualify) she goes on to aver that that men and women are equally responsible for rape. Being drunk in a pub and speaking in “double meanings”, according to her are the inevitable causes for rape. While being questioned about countries where women wear swimsuits and bikinis on a beach and not being raped, she speaks of the difference in culture- “That’s what they wear. So they won’t get raped” She says making an astonishing comparison.

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 It is utterly shameful that someone who is well educated, and has an opportunity to question society about its misogynist thoughts, that may have been passed on through generations, holds those very same views. Sensibly however, Raghu Ram and Rannvijay Singh who judge the show, completely appalled by the way this young girl speaks of rape, question her as to why three year old girls get raped? Women clad in sarees and those who wear burkhas are raped as well. What did they do to provoke the rapist? Did they go and speak indecently to them indicating that they want to engage in a forceful sexual act? Why do they get gang raped?

Her response to these questions was even more shocking. She further confirmed that there are women in the society who think that it is an inevitable consequence of actions. She defined gang grape and individual rape as two different concepts, going to say that individual rape happens because of the provocation on the part of the victim. She basically confirms that women are responsible and are being punished for dressing and speaking in a certain way.

It would appear from the episode, that, some of the daughters of India believe that rape is invited rather than a crime – It happens because of dress, behaviour and technology, all a part of the western culture that India has imbibed in its quest for ‘development’ – Rape happened because a girl decided to wear a dress and have a drink? Is this what women think, what victims think? If so, then we ought to look at ourselves before going out and protesting for the justice of a rape victim.

One fears for the concept of rape as a crime, if the educated women of our country speak of rape as a consequence of the way women dress and the way they go about living their lives. It this message spread, then it won’t be long before everyone starts to believe it. One can blame victims and technology for the crime but somehow is it hard for people to understand that the criminal is responsible for the crime?

While this sums up the moral dilemma of the situation there is also the question of how then to make an attempt to put an end to such criminal behavior. While Raghu Ram blames the mindset of the rapist as the sole purpose of the crime, there has to be a way to change the mindset of people. Technology, more often than not is responsible in bringing about change in the way people think. Technology may be used to transmit pornography, but it can also be used to educate and create awareness about rape among girls and provide sufficient information about the do’s and don’t’s of sex while there is still time.

Its always been said – prevention is better than cure. Mindsets can be changed when people make an effort to change it. Education is the key- Make use of it. Question, argue, learn and then someday we can be proud of the change we have brought in our society.

(Edited by Disha Gloria Prabhu)

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