There seems to be ‘selective outrage’ over the rape of women in India… selective outrage because there is a rape every 16 minutes in the country and only a handful receives attention. That is a point to be discussed at another time.
And whenever we do hear the ‘outrage’, men in India… apna sina taan ke kehte hain they need to protect women. For each man, the chauvinist in him is aroused, and he needs to become the defender/protector of women’s honour. He needs to be a Krishna to protect Draupdi’s honour, every woman is a Sita whose honour has to be defended/avenged from the evil forces.
Arre Bhai, it’s not about you! It’s not about your honour, it’s not about your aggression against the violator!
Let’s look beyond the patriarchal mindset of women requiring your protection!
It’s about the woman! It’s about the ‘safety’ of women in our society….not about ‘protection’.
Can we please first of all understand the difference between protection and safety?
“Protection is defined as keeping someone or something safe from harm, injury, or loss. Safety is defined as being free from the risk of injury, danger, or loss. Protection is an action that carries a sense of responsibility, while safety is a state of being.”
What women want is an environment of safety. We are not objects that need to be kept safe-we need to feel safe! Safe to walk in our neighbourhoods, safe in our workplaces, safe on the streets, safe in our families… Safe to just be!
