RAPE CULTURES IN INDIA-PRATIKSHA BAXI
Pratiksha Baxi writes this piece in the context of the Nirbhaya rape case, while whole of India was enraged and protesting. Baxi makes several striking points and observations, however the one that stands out to me the most is the way she talks about the nature of rape. She says that the politicians and legal officials treat rape a if it is sex- as if it is about lust and sexual deviancy; and instead of talking about the real evidence, courts are caught up with the character of the girl and till what time she stays out. However, Baxi correctly points out that rape is an act of political dominance; it is an act of sheer power. She talks about the humiliation and shame rape survivors have to go through to get justice. She also points out that by asking for a death sentence for rapists, not only are politicians equating rape survivors with dead bodies by treating rape the same as murder; but they are also aggravating the crime of rape as rapists are now murdering the victims. Baxi's article is an eye-opening piece which shows us the other side of things; even though the world is enraged about the horrific Nirbhaya case, politicans and most of the Indian public have accepted the fact that rape is a common act and will happen no matter what- instead of trying to implement safeguards for women. Baxi reminds us of Bhanwari Devi, whose case is still stuck at the Rajasthan HC but because of whom women have safeguards at work in the form of the Vishaka guidelines; Baxi reminds us of Manorma, whose gangrape showed the country the brutality of the army doing as they please because of the freedom granted under AFSPA and many others who have yet to get justice. Baxi successfully proves that India has a very dominant rape culture where certain forms of rape are considered a "sport" and men feed off of pornographic sexual violence.
Pratiksha Baxi writes this piece in the context of the Nirbhaya rape case, while whole of India was enraged and protesting. Baxi makes several striking points and observations, however the one that stands out to me the most is the way she talks about the nature of rape. She says that the politicians and legal officials treat rape a if it is sex- as if it is about lust and sexual deviancy; and instead of talking about the real evidence, courts are caught up with the character of the girl and till what time she stays out. However, Baxi correctly points out that rape is an act of political dominance; it is an act of sheer power. She talks about the humiliation and shame rape survivors have to go through to get justice. She also points out that by asking for a death sentence for rapists, not only are politicians equating rape survivors with dead bodies by treating rape the same as murder; but they are also aggravating the crime of rape as rapists are now murdering the victims. Baxi's article is an eye-opening piece which shows us the other side of things; even though the world is enraged about the horrific Nirbhaya case, politicans and most of the Indian public have accepted the fact that rape is a common act and will happen no matter what- instead of trying to implement safeguards for women. Baxi reminds us of Bhanwari Devi, whose case is still stuck at the Rajasthan HC but because of whom women have safeguards at work in the form of the Vishaka guidelines; Baxi reminds us of Manorma, whose gangrape showed the country the brutality of the army doing as they please because of the freedom granted under AFSPA and many others who have yet to get justice. Baxi successfully proves that India has a very dominant rape culture where certain forms of rape are considered a "sport" and men feed off of pornographic sexual violence.
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