This seems to have become the favourite phase of many "respected" politicians, "moral police", and much more recently, the media. They seem to think that, any woman, showing an inch of skin, is just asking to be objectified, and that she expects lewd comments, men pawing at her, and people writing her off as a "thing". Of course, why should the men be at fault? They were tempted and provoked to disrespect the lady's personal space; They were simply made to do it! And if they were a little out of line, well, "boys will be boys", as an absolutely charming politician put it!
What is really tragic is, that, the media house, instead of making a sincere apology, for showing flagrant disrespect, actually attempted to turn it around on the lady, and make it look as though she were the one at fault, and they were merely paying her a compliment! They attempted to actually justify what they did, by saying that they did nothing any other publishing house wouldn't have done ( which, by some convoluted logic, absolves them). To cap it all, they displayed some photographs of the actress modelling for calendars/magazines, which allegedly prove their point, i.e, the actress willingly posed for provocative photographs, therefore, she consents to be objectified, and reduced to nothing but a pair of body parts. She was asking for it, it is her fault!
In recent times, some politicians have also tried to justify rapes, saying that, the girl was at as much fault as the guy, as she willingly became friends with him, talked to him on the phone, and spent time with him. She tempted the boy, all but invited his assault! Therefore, in cases of rape, both the girl and the boy should be punished equally. Again, " she asked for it", therefore, use of cell phones should be banned for girls, as they are, apparently, one of the chief causes of rape. Nowhere does the boy's culpability come into the picture, except for an indulgent remark " Boys will be boys".
Even more frightening is the issue of marital rape, which is not even technically "rape" in the eyes of the law. The wife is at the mercy of the husband, who beats/rapes her at his will, and the law cannot even touch him. He effectively institutes such a system of mental and physical torture, that she's rendered completely helpless, and doesn't even dare to seek help. Even worse, many times, the wife's parents do not bother, saying that the wife must submit as her husband "wishes", and that it must be her fault that he was provoked into doing such things.
Where, in such a society, is there hope for women? Should they have to fight for basic respect, a right to personal space? Should they have to live in a place where, men use them for, either an object of entertainment, or a punching bag? Where the media objectifies them, passing comments on what they please, thus setting an example for others to follow? Women don't need patronizing remarks about how they should behave, or dress. They simply need to be respected as human beings. Is that too much to ask??
What is really tragic is, that, the media house, instead of making a sincere apology, for showing flagrant disrespect, actually attempted to turn it around on the lady, and make it look as though she were the one at fault, and they were merely paying her a compliment! They attempted to actually justify what they did, by saying that they did nothing any other publishing house wouldn't have done ( which, by some convoluted logic, absolves them). To cap it all, they displayed some photographs of the actress modelling for calendars/magazines, which allegedly prove their point, i.e, the actress willingly posed for provocative photographs, therefore, she consents to be objectified, and reduced to nothing but a pair of body parts. She was asking for it, it is her fault!
In recent times, some politicians have also tried to justify rapes, saying that, the girl was at as much fault as the guy, as she willingly became friends with him, talked to him on the phone, and spent time with him. She tempted the boy, all but invited his assault! Therefore, in cases of rape, both the girl and the boy should be punished equally. Again, " she asked for it", therefore, use of cell phones should be banned for girls, as they are, apparently, one of the chief causes of rape. Nowhere does the boy's culpability come into the picture, except for an indulgent remark " Boys will be boys".
Even more frightening is the issue of marital rape, which is not even technically "rape" in the eyes of the law. The wife is at the mercy of the husband, who beats/rapes her at his will, and the law cannot even touch him. He effectively institutes such a system of mental and physical torture, that she's rendered completely helpless, and doesn't even dare to seek help. Even worse, many times, the wife's parents do not bother, saying that the wife must submit as her husband "wishes", and that it must be her fault that he was provoked into doing such things.
Where, in such a society, is there hope for women? Should they have to fight for basic respect, a right to personal space? Should they have to live in a place where, men use them for, either an object of entertainment, or a punching bag? Where the media objectifies them, passing comments on what they please, thus setting an example for others to follow? Women don't need patronizing remarks about how they should behave, or dress. They simply need to be respected as human beings. Is that too much to ask??
