
Many women are struggling with the disturbing question: Am I a woman or simply a physical body? This is in response to recent events, especially the terrible rape and murder case of a trainee doctor in Kolkata. This unsettling questioning gets to the heart of being a woman in a society that so frequently treats us like things, stealing our identity and humanity.
The lens through which culture and society are viewed
Girls are frequently informed from an early age to use caution, hide their bodies, and steer clear of circumstances that could potentially expose them to harm. Despite their good intentions, these lectures are based on the widespread assumption that a woman’s body is a drawback, something that needs to be protected from the constant danger of assault. This cultural indoctrination promotes a mentality in which the female physique is perceived no longer as a vessel of power, ingenuity, and energy, but rather as a possible object of attack, a cause of threat.
Instances such as the tragedy in Kolkata serve as a clear affirmation of this mindset system. Women are yet again reminded that certain individuals view their bodies as just commodities, items to be used, assaulted, and discarded. The act of reducing a woman to her physical appearance in these heinous deeds raises significant existential issues. Does a female’s identity extend beyond her physical body, or is it inherently linked to the physical form that is frequently targeted?
What is Crime Against Women?
Crimes perpetrated against women encompass instances of sexual assault, rape, indecent behaviour, fatalities resulting from dowry disputes, intimidation, acid assaults, and abductions.
From the moment of her birth, or even before, a girl is susceptible to becoming a victim or target of a crime. A proverb states, “Upon her birth, a woman’s life is governed by her father, upon marriage by her husband, and after the demise of her husband by her son”[1].
What is rape?
According to Indian Penal Code section 375, rape is defined as (a) a man penetrating his penis, to any degree, into a woman’s vagina, mouth, urethra, or anus, or compelling her to do so with him or another person (b) It also includes a man inserting any object or part of the body, other than the penis, into a woman’s vagina, urethra, or anus, or compelling her to do so with him or another person. [2].
Factors contributing to rape
The root cause of rape in India, like in similar regions elsewhere, is complex and diverse, encompassing a confluence of cultural, social, economic, and psychological elements. The following are a few leading causes:
- Patriarchal society: The patriarchal beliefs that are strongly ingrained in Indian society are characterized by the widespread perception that males are superior to women. This phenomenon of gender disparity contributes to the perpetuation of the notion that women are subordinate, which in turn leads to the objectification of women and, in the most extreme circumstances, sexual assault. It is common for men to be taught in patriarchal societies that they are entitled to control women, even if it means abusing them sexually. One of the main causes of rape is this feeling of entitlement.
- Objectification of women: The objectification of women is a prevalent phenomenon in media, advertising, and popular culture, whereby women are often reduced to mere objects, therefore reinforcing a prevailing cultural perception that prioritises their physical attractiveness and sexual accessibility.
- Abundant and easy availability of pornography: There is compelling evidence indicating that certain persons who engage in sexual assault may be affected by the content they have encountered in pornography, especially violent or derogatory material. The inclination to recreate situations from pornography, particularly when under the influence of alcohol or drugs, can result in manifestations of sexual violence.
- Ignorance Regarding Consent: Insufficient provision of comprehensive sexual education in certain regions of India results in a limited understanding of the notion of consent among young individuals. This lack of knowledge has the potential to result in circumstances where sexual limits are disregarded.
States ranking highest in India for rape
According to the National Crime Records Bureau report [4] “Crime in India” 2022, reveals that Rajasthan had the largest number of rape crimes among all the states in India, with 5399, followed by Uttar Pradesh with 3690 cases. Madhya Pradesh secured the third position with a total of 3029 instances, while Maharashtra followed closely with 2904 cases. Odisha secured the fifth rank with a total of 1464 recorded cases.
States ranking lowest in India for rape
In 2022, the states with the lowest rape records were Nagaland with 7, Sikkim with 13, Mizoram with 14, Tripura with 62, and Goa with 73, according to the same research. Outside of Jammu & Kashmir (287 instances) and Delhi (1212 cases), the Union Territories also have the lowest reported rape rates.
Number of cases reported in India in 2022
According to a report published by Statista Research Department [3], on February 19, 2024, number of reported rape victims across India in 2022 by age group are as follows:
Age Group | Number of victims |
Below 6 years | 32 |
6 to 12 years | 88 |
12 to 16 years | 370 |
16 to 18 years | 527 |
18 to 30 years | 21063 |
30 to 45 years | 8644 |
45 to 60 years | 1171 |
60 years and above | 87 |
Source: Statista Research Department, 2024
The table above unequivocally demonstrates that no women, regardless of age, have been subjected to this heinous act. The table indicates that the largest proportion of victims falls within the age range of 18 to 30 years. Women between the ages of 18 and 30 are more vulnerable to rape due to a combination of complex and interconnected factors. These factors include the perception of youth and physical attractiveness and the portrayal of women in media, which often emphasizes their youth and physical attractiveness. This contributes to a culture that excessively objectifies and sexualizes young women and girls. Additionally, the persistence of patriarchal standards in many societies undervalues women and views them as possessions or inferiors to men. Within this societal framework, there exists a mindset where certain individuals believe they have the right to exercise power or authority over women, often manifested in acts of sexual assault. The second group of victims belongs to the age group of 30 to 45 years followed by 45 to 60 years.
The Mental Costs
Living in an area where violence happens often can mess with your head. Women start to question their value based on how they look. They wonder: Do people care about my thought’s ideas, and who I am, or do they see me for how I dress and if I fit into what society expects a woman to be? This inner struggle can make a woman feel lost unsure of where her sense of being female ends and her physical self begins.
For women who’ve seen or experienced violence, the question of whether they’re more than just their bodies hits hard. It’s tough to carry the worry that people care about how sexy or pretty you are. This disconnect can turn your body from something that makes you feel strong and good about yourself into something that scares you and feels like it’s let you down.
When people keep asking these questions, it shows a bigger problem in society—we need to change how people see and value women. It’s not enough to teach girls how to protect themselves; we must teach society to respect and honour women as full human beings. This means we have to break down the harmful ideas about being a man that causes a lot of violence against women. We also need to speak up against how women are treated like objects in the media and culture. We should build a society where everyone respects each other and is treated well.
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Conclusion
The tragic event in Kolkata and comparable cases compel women to confront difficult questions about their identity and value. While disquieting, these inquiries indicate a more extensive societal concern that necessitates immediate attention. These haunting questions will persist until society truly acknowledges and respects the fact that women are more than their bodies. The pursuit of gender equality, safety, and respect must persist to establish a society in which no woman is required to question whether she is valued for her entire being or merely for her bodily appearance.
Tehzeeb Anis is a research scholar at Department of Sociology, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh 200202.
References
- https://rishihood.edu.in/crime-against-women-rape-cases-in-india/
- https://www.indiacode.nic.in/show-data?actid=AC_CEN_5_23_00037_186045_1523266765688&orderno=424#:~:text=1%5B2%5B375.,commit%20%22rape%22%20if%20he%2D%2D&text=(d)%20applies%20his%20mouth%20to,Secondly.Without%20her%20consent.
- Statista Research Department (2024). https://www.statista.com/statistics/633782/reported-rape-victims-by-age-india/
- National Crime Records Bureau. (2022). Crime in India. Ministry of Home Affairs https://www.ncrb.gov.in/uploads/nationalcrimerecordsbureau/custom/1701607577CrimeinIndia2022Book1.pdf