TW: trying to be sensitive - but Why is there such a rape problem in India?

[BabyLlamaZen]

I really, really do not want to upset anyone with this thread or make it into some hideous racist thing, but there clearly is an issue! Obviously most people in India are horrified and protesting.

I really want to understand why there is such a big issue there. The more recent news and the story of the student doctor on the bus years ago - absolutely floored me. I know rape happens everywhere but there stories have been so extreme. I also remember the story of that little girl in public years ago and those women who were raped when going to the toilet outside. It’s always so horrific, violent and involves gang rape? Why is this happening?

That's really interesting to read, thankyou for sharing. India is vast I know, so it's important to hear nuance.

That's horrible, isn't it? And to be deemed "asking for it" in any circumstance, never mind just being on a bus minding your own business, or even worse, going to the loo outside because you don't have indoor plumbing, is appalling!
It does seem though that the lack of appropriate justice for offenders is enabling and encouraging them though. There are evil sex offenders and women haters in every nation, creed and ethnicity, but when culture excuses them and the legal consequences are too lenient, it emboldens them. I pray to God that plenty of assertive, strong Indian women get into more and more positions of power and influence to combat this toxic culture and unjust legal system and Indian women can start to get the justice and protection that ALL women deserve!

@BabyLlamaZen No In UK, rape doesn't happen (often) on buses (although there was a case I think last year where a woman was raped on a train. In broad day light I believe in London). The being raped in the fields, well you dont have the issue of lack of access to toilets. Here women are raped in homes, trafficked en masse, children are raped in different places. Doesnt make it any better. All horrific.

Why is there a global epidemic of rape: Misogyny is the easiest quickest answer. Also anecdotally I noted in countries where various forms of inequality prevail, rape prevails too. IOW if you see certain groups of people as less than and undeserving its easy to extrapolate that to women or indeed women are one of those groups. Thus you see so much sexual violence in India with caste system and strong patriarchy. In South Africa with a background of apartheid (which also destroyed families and community support systems) and strong patriarchy. In midwest America and other places where segregation was strong as is partriachy. But what data says and it says it is also important. In early 2000s I was in RSA and it was classified as having one of the highest rape in the world. It also turned up that they collected more data including rape without conviction, marital rape, rape in intimate relationships and male-on-male rape. Most of these were not being recorded by many countries. I think RSA was the first to record marital rape. So yes, sexual violence is an epidemic in India but I don't not think the UK is as safe as "we don't have rape on buses". Well, you have it on trains, on TV/movie sets, in churches, in many "sex work" places. Doesnt make it better. Perhaps we should be asking ourselves, why are we not protesting in the UK as much as they are doing in India. 50 women killed by end of last month. Mostly by men. Were are our placards? Where is the mass anger? Where is the incessant reporting on this?
Rape and murder is also an epidemic in UK. We should be angry about that

I used up one of my 9 lives as a young woman travelling in India. I very narrowly avoided a gang rape. Who knew gibbering in fear was a real thing?

Such a shame as we would love to travel there and take our teen girls but we will not be doing this. It’s just too dangerous.

The violence of the attacks is terrifying. I wish I had not read the details of the bus rape. Dear god.

@CandyLeBonBon This is good to know, thank you. I hope that what you've described becomes the norm all over India, and everywhere TBH.
I have heard Kerela is a beautiful part of the country, I hope you're having a lovely holiday and fair play to you for getting away from the rubbish so-called "summer" we're having! Wish I was there😉

I often feel really upset that rape is the first thing that people think of when thinking about India. BUT I am not trying to downplay the seriousness of the issue either.

Another factor is the " demographic dividend" which is turning out to be a curse. Most of India is below 25. It is the youngest nation in the world, but hasn't been able to generate enough jobs for its young men. Hordes of unemployed, angry rootless men are not good for a country.
I very much fear things are going to get worse before they get better.

The women of India are incredible really. I am always amazed at how much they prize education and hard work, surmounting so many challenges. There is deep anger and fear here, but also I meet so many women who are not going to be cowed down.

still cannot find anything to support the assertion that India particularly has a rape problem..the statistics just do not support this at all. I think psychologically it is a protection mechanism....it a problem which happens in other places, it's those men that are the problem, it's not our men

@GingerScallop I absolutely agree, very well said! You ask a very valid question- why aren't we out on the streets protesting about OUR rights as women to walk around our own communities and countries safely, and most of all, to be safe in our own homes? Too often, the man who pretends he's going to be your protector, turns out the be the one you need most protection from! We've managed to get marital rape outlawed, but there's still a long way to go!

I would think most would not be reported as women would feel ashamed or be too scared. Especially in rural India where caste and communal violence is widespread.

I have felt more unsafe in certain parts of London than in India. But overall definitely feel safer in the UK. That said, as I said earlier, I move about freely in my part of India during the day at least.

I spent three months in India in 2003 doing a course in one of the international campuses. There were lots of us from different countries (mostly developing ones, I lived in my birth country back then). It was before the bus rape case and I didn’t feel threatened in a slightest. However, I lived in a secure camp, we did venture outside but always in groups and never took a public transport. We also befriended a few local guys, there were students visiting our camps so I’d say more middle class. We went out with them, mostly on their own bikes and nothing bad ever happened. But the recent cases are horrific but I’m guessing this could happen anywhere. I’m from Kazakhstan, and trust me women and children are raped there as well. It just doesn’t get published worldwide but there are a few cases that attract higher public attention. So not India only unfortunately. Everywhere where patriarchy And traditions are dominant

90 rapes a day reported apparently. When or how will this change.

Imagine how everyone is viewing the UK right now?

Why is there such a problem in the Uk with women and young girls being stabbed to death?

I was watching Kent news this morning. Top 2 stories were women being stabbed to death. Doesn’t even make national news.

It’s an emergency now. Something drastic has to be done to get knives off the street, and stop and search more people, and this upping in hatred of females.

Quite frankly I wish other major countries like the US, European major players, Australia, all said that they’ve put up a don’t go there statement as it’s too dangerous for females.

That is the only thing that would gear our new government into action.

reporting is an issue for all countries. and I hear you about women who are isolated, uneducated, ashamed etc particularly in rural parts of India. and this isn't comparable with Europe in general. but the UN statistics are worldwide and definitely alot of areas in African countries for example would be comparable.

and I am not saying that rape in India isn't an issue. it most certainly is for women who live in India. but for commentators outside of India, rape just doesn't appear to be an issue in India particularly. if we want to say why does such and such a country have such a rape problem, then wouldn't we be talking about South Africa first?

we can't tackle issues if we don't accurately represent them first

@NoddyNameChanger no need to take it so personally. India has a problem with rape for decades and nothing is done about it. Women are disrespected in every way. Change needs to happen. It doesn't happen because men in the country speak up and say it's our country and our business we'll sort it and look at your own country. Well no nothing has been done.

sorry, I meant to @Lentilweaver in my last post 😊

I've had the same problem when I lived in Malaysia! As an Indian woman,walking on my own was pretty scary because I was being intimidated by the local men(Indians). Sexual gestures, whistling, winking was common place. I was really glad that I moved to UK, it's so peaceful 💓

stats -india just isn't near the top

(I don't know why I find myself in this weird position of apparently underplaying rape in India. will welcome statistics etc that show otherwise)

The state of West Bengal, where the latest horrific rape happened, is governed by a woman chief minister. It's not as simple as men vs women. Though sometimes it can be.

Bollywood is renowned for its depictions of sexual harassment and rape. The 80s was particularly bad, where it was very common. However it's featured in Bollywood since the 60s, although it's not quite so prevelent now.

Yes Hollywood does depict violence (as does Bollywood) but rape, stalking and eve teasing does not feature as heavily. It's not uncommon in Bollywood for women to marry their rapists or even fall in love with them.

I agree @cupcaske123 though new Bollywood appears to be a bit better.

It seems to be a lot better now.

How did you escape it? Thank goodness you did I’m so sorry.

‘Reported’ rapes

@TheaBrandt In your place I would go to Sri Lanka. It's much safer, but similar to India. I often visit there and travel solo too.

I'd love to visit India but it seems impossible with the levels of male assault. A friend travelled there and a group of men followed her, wanking at her. She too narrowly avoided gang rape. Just horrific.