Thursday, March 15, 2012

A Woman's Guide to Survival in the City

I'm 27. Married. I work.. often for long hours. I drive around. Shop. Cook. Take pictures. Hang out with my friends. Drink. Frequently. Love my family and friends.
And I don't want to be raped. Just like every other woman I know (or don't know).


So I do as they say. Wear 'decent' clothes that cover elbows and ankles. Travel escorted by male family members. Lock car doors as soon as I climb in.


Interestingly, oh powers that be. I never feel safe. Not at 8:00 PM. Not at 8:00 AM.


Because rape happens irrespective of time. 
There is no clock that indicates the immeasurable levels of insanity that makes some men violate a woman's dignity, her physicality for no understandable reason.


No matter what you do, who you're with, where you are, you're always asking for rape in a country where rape seems to be an 'understandable' crime and where women seem to 'ask' for it.


Wearing a short dress? You're giving a 'wrong signal'. Drinking, out with friends? Are you out of your mind? 'Alone at night' - That's it, you're paying for it now! 


Ok, for a moment, let's leave aside these immoral women.What about the nice ones who are always covered up, cook, clean, take care of the kids? What about the little young girls who're brutally assaulted? Why do they have to pay for it? Why do they get raped? 


The only logical conclusion I can come to is, that women in India, clearly dig the idea of rape. Oh they want it bad.. so bad that they even dare to get out of their homes all the time sending out all the wrong signals to innocent men who are left with absolutely no choice at all but to rape them!


What is a man to do but to rape, if he sees a woman.You surely must be out of your mind if you want to blame him for wanting to do this!! 


Why, he would've obviously not done it if the woman was covered, not drinking, not smoking, surrounded by male family members, not walking, not seen, just invisible.


That's just it. That's the way for a woman to survive in today's city. Be Invisible. 
How can you be hurt, if you aren't seen....

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