Rape Culture Widespreading In India

Rape Culture in India

In the last over a decade, India has acquired a new title – the rape capital of the world. According to a report by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), over 4 lakh reported cases of crimes committed against women in 2019, up from 3.78 lakh in 2018 and 3.59 lakh cases in 2017. NCRB reported 32,033 rape cases which translate to a shocking 88 rape cases a day -- and this is just 10% of all crimes against women. Experts say that picture could be far worse as most such crimes go unreported in the country, and the conviction rate is below 30%.

Several gang rape cases caused widespread outrage across the nation and highlighted the fact that how pervasive sexual violence is in the country. The cases that shook up the entire nation – Unnav rape case, 19-year-old lower caste woman was gang-raped by four upper-caste men, Kathua rape case (2018), Hyderabad rape and murder case to name a few. In 2012, the heinous and ghastly Delhi Nirbhaya rape case exposed the grim reality of bestial crimes against women in India. In this case, a 23-year student was raped and brutally murdered. The barbaric nature of the crime appalled the country and brought worldwide attention to the rape crisis of India. The government sought to appease the widespread street protests in many cities and lawmakers were forced to refer this case to a fast-track court, and the judgment was pronounced in less than a year. The law concerning violence against women was amended by the Parliament. The maximum punishment for rape resulting in death (or vegetative state) of the victim was modified from life imprisonment to include the death penalty. Other laws related to sexual crime were made stricter, in the hope that this would deter people from committing such crimes.

This case caught international headlines, and the convicts, after a supposedly historic judgment, were executed after 10 years. Right after two weeks of this judgment, a 23-year-old girl from North India was assaulted and doused in gasoline before setting her on fire. In the wake of such cases, India made the law to hand out the death penalty to the convicts of sexually assaulting a child under 12 years of age. Unfortunately, these laws do not seem to create fear for the abusers and rapists, and the number of these ghastly crimes against women is only increasing.

Who is responsible?

Culturally, Indian society is a patriarchal society where women are considered as secondary citizens. Children internalize this “value” from a very young age. The birth of a boy in a family is a highly celebrated occasion while on the birth of a girl child, the mother is often subjected to abuse. The demands and desires of a boy are considered superior to that of a girl child. These values are programmed in the Indian mindset. Sex-selective abortion, infanticide, and discrimination continue through adolescent and adult life with high levels of female infant mortality, child marriage, teenage pregnancy, lesser wages for women, unsafe workplaces, domestic violence, maternal mortality, sexual assault, and neglect of elderly women… the list just goes on that highlight the patriarchal nature of Indian society. Marital rapes are very common too but hardly reported to protect the family honor.

Indian society highly stigmatizes the victims of sexual assault or rape and victim shaming is very common. What she was wearing, what time she was traveling alone, were her gesture suggestive, or maybe she was smoking or drinking to give wrong signals to offenders, and the list goes on.

For men, it starts with “men will be men”. A minister from the government even suggested women give in while being raped so the rapists do not commit a heinous crime after the act or murder the victim. A judge even stepped ahead and said that because a smaller number of marriages taking place due to coronavirus lockdown, it is natural for men to rape in a bid of fulfilling their sexual desires.

These highly offensive remarks again highlight the deep-rooted social prejudice against women and emphasize how Indian society objectifies women, and how men are just born superior to women.

The increasing socioeconomic divide

India today is one of the fastest developing economies in the world. But benefits of the accelerating economic growth and the westernization of culture due to globalization are not reaching all social and economic classes equally. The upper-middle-class and rich class are the biggest beneficiaries of globalization and have accelerated the adoption of western-style dressing. This socio-economic and cultural divide is going broader by the day and manifesting in terms of the increase in the crime rate. In many rape cases, the convicts confessed their intention of teaching the woman a lesson for hurting the so-called Indian culture by wearing pants or staying out till late. Ironically, men are never punished for wearing western attire or not acting exactly what the culture teaches.

Caste dynamics permeate every aspect of Indian society. Cast-based rivalries, and sometimes religion-based ones become prime motivational reasons for sexual violence. Sexual violence against marginalized groups including tribal people and lower caste (who form the bottom of social hierarchy) is very pervasive.

Here rape becomes the show of power and an exercise to show the lower-class people their place and vulnerabilities.

The awakening of hope

After the widespread outrage against the sexual crimes, protests by thousands of people across the country demanding justice have pushed for strong penalties in the long-running court proceedings. More cases are being reported the government is being called on to address the broad pandemic of sexual crimes against women.

by Juana Rodriguez

The extraordinary Maya Angelou

Celebrating Women's History Month

Marguerite Annie Johnson Angelou known as Maya Angelou was an American author, civil rights activist, actress, screenwriter, dancer, poet and award-winning author best known for her award-winning memoir, “I Know Why the Caged Birds Sing” – the first American best seller by an African American woman. Angelou received several honors throughout her career, including two NAACP Image Awards in the outstanding literary work (nonfiction) category, in 2005 and 2009.

Early life

Born on April 4^th, 1928 in St Louis, Missouri, Angelou had a difficult childhood. She and her brother Bailey had to live with her father’s mother in Arkansas after their parents split up. Not only she experienced firsthand racial discrimination during these early years, but she was also sexually assaulted by her mother’s boyfriend at the age of seven. Traumatized by this incident, Angelou stopped talking and stayed virtually silent for five years. During this silence, she found her love in poetry.

Angelou as the first black female cable car conductor

During the World War II Angelou moved to San Francisco, California, where she received a scholarship to study dance and acting at the California Labor School. Angelou became the first black female cable car conductor – a job that she held briefly.

Angelou as a singer, artist, and activist

In 1950s, she landed a role in a touring production of Porgy and Bess, later appearing in the off-Broadway production Calypso Heat Wave (1957) and releasing her first album, Miss Calypso (1957). Soon she became a member of the Harlem Writers Guild and a civil rights activist and she organized and starred in the musical revue Cabaret for Freedom as a benefit for the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, also serving as the SCLC's northern coordinator.  In 1961, Angelou appeared in an off-Broadway production of Jean Genet's The Blacks with James Earl Jones, Lou Gossett Jr. and Cicely Tyson. In 1973, Angelou went on to earn a Tony Award nomination for her role in a play – Look Away and an Emmy Award nomination for her work on the television miniseries Roots in 1977.

Angelou as an editor and a freelance writer

Living first in Egypt and then in Ghana, Angelou worked as an editor and a freelance writer in 1960s besides holding a position at the University of Ghana for a time. In Ghana, she also joined a community of "Revolutionist Returnees” exploring pan-Africanism and became close with human rights activist and Black nationalist leader Malcolm X. In 1964, upon returning to the United States, Angelou helped Malcolm X set up the Organization of Afro-American Unity.

Angelou’s famous poems

Angelou’s several collections of poetry gained fame but her most famous was “Just give me a cool drink ‘fore I Diie (1971)” which was also nominated for Pulitzer Prize.

Other famous collections of Angelou’s poetry include:

• Oh Pray My Wings Are Gonna Fit Me Well (1975), which includes Angelou’s poem “Alone”
• And Still I Rise (1978), which features the beloved poem “Phenomenal Woman”
• Shaker, Why Don’t You Sing? (1983)
• I Shall Not Be Moved (1990), featuring the poem “Human Family”; Apple famously used a video of Angelou reading this poem in an advertisement at the 2016 Olympics
• Even the Stars Look Lonesome (1997)

In January 1993, Angelou recited On the Pulse of Morning, at the President Bill Clinton’s inaugural ceremony, a poem she especially wrote for this occasion. She won a Grammy award as the best-spoken word album, for the audio version of the poem.

Other well-known poems by Angelou include:

• “His Day Is Done” (1962), a tribute poem Angelou wrote for Nelson Mandela as he made his secret journey from Africa to London
• “Amazing Peace” (2005), written by Angelou for the White House tree-lighting ceremony

Angelou’s Books

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings is Angelou’s enormously successful memoir about her childhood and young years. The poignant story made literary history as the first nonfiction bestseller by an African American woman. The book, which made Angelou an international star, continues to be regarded as her most popular autobiographical work. In 1995, Angelou was lauded for remaining on The New York Times' paperback nonfiction bestseller list for two years—the longest-running record in the chart's history.

Angelou and her work have inspired millions of Americans and the people of world. Her success and her work despite her difficult life paved the way for many African Americans writers, and millions of people across the globe for whom Maya Angelou is a true hero. This includes the youngest inaugural poet Amanda Gorman too, who proudly adorned the pendant of a caged bird during her recital at the President Biden’s inaugural address honoring Angelou’s I know why the caged bird sings.

1995, Angelou was lauded for remaining on The New York Times' paperback nonfiction bestseller list for two years—the longest-running record in the chart's history.

Angelou’s other works

‘Gather Together in My Name’ (1974) - Angelou’s follow-up to A Caged Bird, this memoir covers her life as an unemployed teenage mother in California, when she turned to narcotics and prostitution.

‘Singing and Swingin and Getting Merry Like Christmas’ (1976)  -  Angelou wrote this autobiography about her early career as a singer and actress.

‘The Heart of a Woman’ (1981) - Angelou crafted this memoir about leaving California with her son for New York, where she took part in the civil rights movement.

'All God's Children Need Traveling Shoes' (1986) - A lyrical exploration about what it means to be an African American in Africa, this autobiographical book covers the years Angelou spent living in Ghana.

'Wouldn't Take Nothing for My Journey Now' (1994) - This inspirational essay collection features Angelou’s insights about spirituality and living well.

‘A Song Flung Up to Heaven' (2002) - Another autobiographical work, A Song Flung Up to Heaven explores Angelou’s return from Africa to the U.S. and her ensuing struggle to cope with the devastating assassinations of two human rights leaders with whom she worked, Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr.

'Letter to My Daughter' (2008) - Dedicated to the daughter Angelou never had, this book of essays features Angelou’s advice for young women about living a life of meaning.

‘Mom & Me & Mom' (2013) - In this memoir, Angelou discusses her complicated relationship with a mother who abandoned her during childhood.

Cookbooks - Interested in health, Angelou’s published cookbooks include Hallelujah! The Welcome Table: A Lifetime of Memories With Recipes (2005) and Great Food, All Day Long (2010).

Angelou as a Screenplay Author and Director
After publishing Caged Bird, Angelou broke new ground artistically, educationally, and socially with her drama Georgia, Georgia in 1972, which made her the first African American woman to have her screenplay produced. In 1998, seeking new creative challenges, Angelou made her directorial debut with Down in the Delta, starring Alfre Woodard.

Accomplishments and Awards
Angelou's career has seen numerous accolades, including the Chicago International Film Festival's 1998 Audience Choice Award and a nod from the Acapulco Black Film Festival in 1999 for Down in the Delta. She also won two NAACP Image Awards in the outstanding literary work (nonfiction) category, for her 2005 cookbook and 2008's Letter to My Daughter.

Famous Friends
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., a close friend of Angelou's, was assassinated on her birthday (April 4) in 1968. Angelou stopped celebrating her birthday for years afterward, and sent flowers to King's widow, Coretta Scott King, for more than 30 years, until Coretta's death in 2006.

Angelou was also good friends with TV personality Oprah Winfrey, who organized several birthday celebrations for the award-winning author, including a week-long cruise for her 70th birthday in 1998.

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by Juana Rodriguez