Editorial | Can Women’s Clothing Justify Violence Against Them?

04:56 PM Aug 24, 2024 | Rahul Chanda

 

The rape and murder of the 31-year-old doctor in Kolkata hospital has sparked huge protest across the country. Even in Assam, crime against women has not stopped and the people were shocked when a minor was raped on Thursday, August 22 while she was returning home from her tuition classes in Dhing, Nagaon.

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The police were alerted to the crime after receiving a tip-off from a passerby, leading to the rescue of the survivor, who was left abandoned in the wood. The girl was admitted to Dhing Medical Unit in Nagaon district for medical care. Amidst all these crimes taking place against women across the country, there are many social media messages where people are suggesting safety measures to the women.   

One suggestion making rounds is “don’t wear less clothes” or “wear proper dress”.  Many people feel that women should wear proper dress which will help them not to attract attention of men. Now it is a concerning issue or may be a question which can be posed to the people suggesting that women should wear proper dress, that was the dress worn by the minor returning from her tuition in Dhing not proper? Was the doctor who was raped and murdered in the Kolkata hospital wearing improper dress? What about the rapes taking place in villages of rural India where because of the hegemony of the elders the girls are anyways not allowed to wear short dresses? The issue will not resolve by blaming the apparel of women, but when men start respecting the rights and dignity of women.