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?

I don't understand why you are doing it either? Even those stats you posted show an issue with reporting as the india stats are from 2013.

I know… 🙄

assault, murder and rape stats for Sri Lanka are much higher than India

I think that's oversimplification and a huge generalisation. I'm in india now and am married to an Indian. There are dozens of girls in the wider family who are very much loved and cherished, given the best education they can afford, encouraged to establish careers, not pressurised to get married etc etc.
I'm not saying sexual abuse isn't a probin India. It's clearly a huge problem- but I certainly wouldn't say that women are seen as largely worthless.

I am inclined to quote that saying about "lies, damn lies and statistics"!

yes there are a wide collection date range on that data source for sure...I can't find anything that has India as coming anywhere near the rape rate as many other countries. the earlier stats I posted were from a UN source and were more recent

I am very happy to see, if you have other information? so far no one has provided anything

Why do you think there is so much rape and horrific rape at that?

really?

I don't have any motivation for downplaying the extent of rape in India...why do you think I am doing that?

I keep asking 'does India in particular have a rape problem '? 'base on what'?

no one is answering

I think there is a lot of under reporting in India.

One of the Indian papers is covering UK stabbings in much detail, so I am often asked by extended family if there is a lot of violence in the UK. It's ironic in a way.

This is an interesting view. I am in a number of random Facebook groups and on one the other day saw a group of people talking about how dangerous the U.K. is right now with all the riots and stabbing of girls. I feel perfectly safe right now in the U.K.!

I've been to India a few times. I was touched on my bottom by a preteen but other than that, I've not ever had any problem. I screamed in shock and a man came running, ready to attack who ever had hurt the screaming woman. It's just an anecdote though. I know that violence against women is a problem.

Why are you quoting these so religiously? 😂

what do you mean religiously? I'm sharing statistics because people keep making statements and they aren't true. I'm a stickler for logic and facts. which is known NDA the opposite of 'religiously'...as religion relies on faith, in the absence of facts

Because you’re not even showing proper facts.

Statistics on rape are highly problematic and do not in any way accurately indicate level of sexual violence (against women or any other group). First there is the stigma. Will they report? And then if they report will they be believed, will it be recorded as rape? Then what is the definition of rape? There is no universal definition. Some places will include statutory rape others dont, marital rape is another area not normally reported. Child or minor rape often is severely underreported. Some African countries at war have better stats because of how the data is religiously collected. Rape by powerful figures or among "upper class" society is often not reported. So there are a lot of missing numbers and whats missing varies depending on context. And there is a lot of comparing apples to bananas. What is true is that sexual violence is an epidemic globally. Even one rape is one rape too many

the first link I posted was UN data, I was honestly surprised that India isn't higher up the league table. I was/am waiting for someone to present data that shows different. I can't find any myself. but no one has

is your position that India has the highest rate of rape in the world? based on what?

of course there are many problems with reporting rape. this is well covered in the UN data, where it talks about the different definitions of rape. India doesn't count marital rape but I was surprised that it does count consensual sex where the man has obtained consent by the promise of marriage. have you looked at the figures, the US and SA are way above India

anyway, I will leave you all to it, have good evenings

That’s truly shocking. Horrible reading.

This was in bbc news in the early hours
https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m0022808/hardtalk-karuna-nundy-senior-advocate-supreme-court-of-india

Was interesting but shocking to hear.

We are in agreement. My point is the ratings can not be relied on to judge which country has the biggest rape problem

I used to live in Tamil Nadu and was taking some of my young female students to a conference - at one point , several drunken men tried to break into our room. Thankfully, we managed to alert the hotel staff . They locked them in the janitor closet for the evening and elderly women from the village set up a rota to keep them up all night loudly telling them how deeply shameful their behaviour was and how their mothers’ would be disgusted in them to really drive home that hangover.

not to trivialise a truly awful situation but there’s also some excellent work being done.

Yes I agree with this. I’m from an Indian family. My sister and I were treated with care and like we were very much not worthless. Yet, when I compare India to England there are some really regressive attitudes. There are all manner of issues that need to be addressed and for sure it is deeply tragic and troubling as to how some women are dehumanised by men.

I wonder also if violence begets violence - so if you live somewhere that a horrific rape can happen like that one on the bus, some kind of line is crossed and seems that it is ok for other people to cross it too.

It's about power, not sex

Always is