By Jaai Vipra:
Every time a child being raped makes the news, a lot of people like to say, “Now what? Was the child asking for it? Was she being provocative?” On the surface of it, it seems like a great question. It points out that you cannot keep blaming rape on the victim, because clearly a child wasn’t asking for it.
But what assumptions does that make? Hypothetically, what if the child was dressed provocatively? Would it be okay to rape her then? Of course not. Why should this be pointed out only when children are abused?
Why not adult women? The point is, even if a woman is provocatively dressed, you have no right to violate her personal space. Even if a woman ventures out at night in the shadiest localities possible, she is not asking for it. The whole issue of consent is ignored. Consent ought to be explicit and continued.
It is not a good idea to ask why a child was raped even if she was a child. Because no one should be raped, not children, not grown women, not men. Regardless of how old they are, how they dress and what they do, everyone deserves to have their consent asked for.
Devastated & Heartbroken Mother
Please leave little girls alone, rather, leave all females alone (Gudiyaas, Budiyaas and the middle aged ones). Please legalize red light areas like other countries. There is no harm in it, rather, anything is better than ruining a female’s precious life.
Wishing Gudiya a speedy recovery!
Raj
Did you all know that prostitution in India is legal?
Amrit
Yes, I couldn’t agree more. Child rape or sodomy is unacceptable… there is no excuse for it. I wonder why Child Rights which should be one of the major issues in this country is being ignored like this.