Sexual assault is now quite common in India. Everyone is aware that sex without consent is called rape but under Section 375 of the IPC, sexual intercourse by a man with his own wife without her consent – and the wife not being under fifteen years of age – is not rape. In India, marital rape is thus legal. This lets misogynist men in our country do whatever they want and treat the women as their property.
Almost every day, we see a new case of rape in our country – from Nirbhaya to Kathua to the Mumbai gang rape. One of the major reasons behind all this is the patriarchal culture in India.
People often say that the reason behind rape is the western clothes worn by women. But what about the women being raped who were wearing suits and sarees? Some of these people will also say that rapes only happen in urban areas but then what about the Kathua rape? Not even children are being spared which shows the sick mentality of people.
It’s not about the place, clothes, age or caste. It’s about the prevalence of misogyny and patriarchal mindset in our country. People often suggest their daughters to not to go outside, not to do certain things, etc. Such people should try to teach their sons to respect women instead. One should always understand that a ‘no’ means no.
A new ordinance has been passed to issue death sentences to those who rape children. But this is not about the existence of laws – it is about how laws are implemented in our day-to-day life.
We need to be aware of our rights and the laws practised in our country so that we can implement them in our daily lives.