Cruelty against women . Review on Cruelty Against Women

The mere mention of the word feminism is enough to make many men see ‘red’. They argue that what we all need to strive for is ‘equality’ and that there is no need for'feminism' as such.  The word ‘feminist’ is now used as an insult to denote a woman who enjoys breaking happy marriages and creating a raucous wherever she goes.

Now, What really is the need for these loud-mouthed trouble-makers? Of course, the state of women is just fine, look at all the girls who are studying, competing with men and focusing on their careers even after marriage. If really things are so great and women are indeed finally “free” then why the growing number of crimes against women? Everyday we read about Rapes, dowry killings, domestic violence and that too when most of the women do not approach the police and a case is never filed. As for the opportunities in the workplace, women not only face harassment at their offices but if they are married they are overburdened with office work and household chores. I am not saying that there is no improvement in the lot of women but is it really enough?

Last month in May, a Delhi University student was raped by four men in a car. Strangely, most people blamed the girl because she was from a North-Eastern state so possibly of a* “loose character”. People in her neighborhood said *“her male friends used to visit her” and that “these girls dress provocatively”, better yet some said, “She went out in the middle of the night, it was bound to happen”. Such statements not only show the insensitivity on the part of people but also betray a complete lack of understanding. It does not matter, what time she went out or how she was dressed, nothing gives anyone the right to violate her.

What really upsets me is when girls say that “oh, if one is good-looking, one has to pay the price by being harassed by men”. First of all, I do not think it has anything to do with how you look and rarely ever to do with what you wear. It is when someone sees you as “easy prey” or “vulnerable” that you are in danger. That is not to say that individuals who are violated are “weak” in any way but that they were preyed upon in their* “moment of weakness”*.

So one might ask what really is the need of the hour? There are tons of steps that ought to be taken but it is not possible for me to list them here, neither do I claim to know the answer to the problem. But surely the least parents can do is make their daughters economically independent and teach their sons to not treat women as sexual objects or as their play-things.

P.S. How about passing the Woman’s Reservation Bill? Hope the Bill against Domestic Violence doesn’t die in the Parliament either.

This is one half-baked review, I know I know… so freaking lazy  :op