YCS posting on July 23
, 2012 to a much worn out stereotypical debate on ‘ freedom of dressing ‘ …
missing the core issue of saving the victim
Background : There were huge number of posting on this ' not new anymore ' topic of whether how a woman dresses , encourages a rapist . Sadly most of the postings as always indulged into theoretical intellectual debate on a woman's freedom to choose how to dress -- which is very inconsequential since it doesn't help a woman caught in the ' circumstance ' . While such debate is taken as a showcase of ' intellectual prowess' of the ' poster ' it misses the core issue of how to help the victim . Hence felt need to set the perspective .
Yatin Samant • Are
we missing the point ... it's not about an intellectual paper discussion on
what is right / wrong or what is legal & legitimate ... the core point is
to protect a woman's right , dignity & security .
While it's true that it should be in individual's ( here woman's ) right to choose the dressing & no body else's business & while it may also be true that it's more to do with a criminal's mind than a woman's dressing ; to me that's not the point --- at least not enough . For a woman in distress situation it's not as much about upholding freedom of choice as much it's about saving her life & dignity . Please empathise with the victim , what she needs to do to escape from the situation / save herself or better still way to prevent one . If the core issue is about debate on protecting a woman's right to dress .... carrying with her a law book & letters from many of us endorsing her right to dress should be enough for the victim forced into a situation to save herself to just overwhelm the criminal by showing him these documentary evidence .... if that helps her to escape , all this predictably theoretical intellectual debate is worthwhile ... it's not , if that does not help .
Bringing in an attitudinal change is a solution in the right direction .... but that will not happen overnight .... what should possible unsuspecting victim do in the meanwhile , how does she take care of herself , is to my mind , a more relevant discussion .
Transforming criminal when faced with one , is an uphill task for a victim .... however what one can possibly do to save herself in a situation or better still is there anything a woman can do to avoid situation / minimise chances , we should think of that ... well if there is nothing that one can do ( & left entirely to the criminal to decide whether he wants to rape ) , there is no debate -- we'd need to depend on one's luck .
It's in this context choice of dress , location , time may come into picture , if one at all has a choice there .
Take an analogy : While in a civilised society with established law enforcement machinery , it's logical to argue that whether I lock my house while going out or do not lock the door or even keep my door open .... should be my legitimate , democratic right .... it's not for the criminal or even my neighbour to ask me to lock my door . One can also argue that it's more to do with the criminal tendency of a robber that my keeping door unlocked , which has to do with the crime of robbery ....well then , how many of us go out with our minds & doors open at the same time .... most don't , makes sense that while me keeping door open is no reason for a robber to come & take away my belongings , I take ' adequate precaution ' that at least I do not make it any easy for the robber to choose my house.
It's in this context of learning from this analogy that it may make sense to a woman to be conscious of risks of her ( free ) choice of dress , location , time .... not for us to have a theoretical exercise on debating what she should do . Of course a woman should have her right to choose .... my only submission is that in her own interest she does so with her eyes wide open .... sense & weigh risks associated with whatever she chooses & be equipped to handle that , because caught in a circumstances a debate with the criminal may not help , only the woman has to take control of her life !
While it's true that it should be in individual's ( here woman's ) right to choose the dressing & no body else's business & while it may also be true that it's more to do with a criminal's mind than a woman's dressing ; to me that's not the point --- at least not enough . For a woman in distress situation it's not as much about upholding freedom of choice as much it's about saving her life & dignity . Please empathise with the victim , what she needs to do to escape from the situation / save herself or better still way to prevent one . If the core issue is about debate on protecting a woman's right to dress .... carrying with her a law book & letters from many of us endorsing her right to dress should be enough for the victim forced into a situation to save herself to just overwhelm the criminal by showing him these documentary evidence .... if that helps her to escape , all this predictably theoretical intellectual debate is worthwhile ... it's not , if that does not help .
Bringing in an attitudinal change is a solution in the right direction .... but that will not happen overnight .... what should possible unsuspecting victim do in the meanwhile , how does she take care of herself , is to my mind , a more relevant discussion .
Transforming criminal when faced with one , is an uphill task for a victim .... however what one can possibly do to save herself in a situation or better still is there anything a woman can do to avoid situation / minimise chances , we should think of that ... well if there is nothing that one can do ( & left entirely to the criminal to decide whether he wants to rape ) , there is no debate -- we'd need to depend on one's luck .
It's in this context choice of dress , location , time may come into picture , if one at all has a choice there .
Take an analogy : While in a civilised society with established law enforcement machinery , it's logical to argue that whether I lock my house while going out or do not lock the door or even keep my door open .... should be my legitimate , democratic right .... it's not for the criminal or even my neighbour to ask me to lock my door . One can also argue that it's more to do with the criminal tendency of a robber that my keeping door unlocked , which has to do with the crime of robbery ....well then , how many of us go out with our minds & doors open at the same time .... most don't , makes sense that while me keeping door open is no reason for a robber to come & take away my belongings , I take ' adequate precaution ' that at least I do not make it any easy for the robber to choose my house.
It's in this context of learning from this analogy that it may make sense to a woman to be conscious of risks of her ( free ) choice of dress , location , time .... not for us to have a theoretical exercise on debating what she should do . Of course a woman should have her right to choose .... my only submission is that in her own interest she does so with her eyes wide open .... sense & weigh risks associated with whatever she chooses & be equipped to handle that , because caught in a circumstances a debate with the criminal may not help , only the woman has to take control of her life !
Good intellectualisation!
ReplyDeleteIt is true that any intellectual discussion if does not lead to any action for the individual concern or in his / her domain of influence it is futile and only serves one purpose, it shows of the intellectual muscles of the participant or participants.
I am aware both you and me are culprit of the same.