Introduction to International Politics (Spring 2014): Catalyst For Change

On December 16, 2012 in a neighborhood south of New Delhi, a young woman was brutally gang raped by six men. The 23 year old woman was accompanied by her male friend who was beaten before they began raping her. Not only did these men rape an innocent woman but they also penetrated her with a metal rod, causing injuries that damaged her abdomen, intestines, and lungs. Unfortunately the injuries were so severe that the woman died at a hospital in Singapore. Four of the men were convicted (Mukesh Singh, Vinnay Sharma, Pawan Gupta, Akshay Thakur) and have been hung for their crime. Ram Singh, part of the convicted group, died in prison while the unnamed juvenile will serve three years in a reform home.

This event, which sparked national and even international outcry due to it’s horrific and savage nature, emerged as a byproduct of a multitude of factors. In India, rape is currently reported on an average of every twenty-one minutes. Out of the thirty five major cities, in Delhi (the nation’s capital where this case occurred), rape is higher than any other city in the country. Over 400 cases arose in 2010 alone and it has been commonly referred to as “the most unsafe city for women.” Percentage wise, NDTV has demonstrated how rape is nationally taking place alongside kidnapping and abduction. It can be said that internally, the issue emerged as a product of three main factors: history of patriarchy, modernization within a traditional context, and inadequate legal structures. The first of these as mentioned in this article, has to do with a history of patriarchy. Skewed interpretations of Hinduism and male dominance after the attack of the British Raj (colonial era), left groups within the country divided and separated. As time progressed, sexual liberation under the British was quelled as “improper” and many ideals of Hinduism were misinterpreted as a result. This factor and the modernization forced upon the nation after colonial rule resulted in many males within the country feeling uncomfortable with the new rise in female power, prominence, and presence. As a byproduct, rape culture (especially within villages), has been seen as a predominant force that not only requires structural modification (more widespread legal repercussions), but also a radical mental restructuring of the way in which women are perceived.

Because of this horrific incident, outrage has been expressed across the country and throughout the world. Following the 2012 rape case, more reports about rapes have been pouring out of India. One of these took place in a rural village in the Birbhum district of eastern India. In this incident, a 20 year old woman was raped by 12 men for having a relationship that was not approved by the tribal leader. According to The Guardian, sexual violence attacks and rape, especially on foreigners, have hit global headlines, including the rape of a 51 year old tourist as she was walking back to her hotel. The United Nations has urged India to change their laws and policies in order to ensure the security and safety of women. India has facilitated structural change in laws and policies but the change has yet to be seen “on the ground”. It will take a lot more than changing laws to stop the rape outbreak, it will need a change of mindset. Jason Burke of The Guardian states that commentators say this wave of violence towards women is a result of women trying to claim their basic rights and freedoms denied to them.

The New Delhi rape case has particularly grabbed the attention of the world, though rapes have constantly been occurring at extreme numbers. What stood out about this case, however, was its gruesome nature and how it served as a catalyst for national backlash. Recently, a 20-year woman was admitted to a hospital in critical condition. Her rape was under orders from village elders due to an “inappropriate” relationship because they had disapproved of her relations with a specific man. In a tribal run setting, there are many strict traditions. The leader of this woman’s village had originally fined the couple 25,000 rupees but because she could not pay, men were ordered to do as they pleased with her. In these villages elders are extremely influential in villager’s lives and women are still very much treated like second-class citizens. Thirteen men were arrested for their association with this rape as well as the elder leader. Since the 2012 gang rape case, India has tightened its anti-rape laws but as seen through these recent cases, there is little change being done on the ground. Women across India live with a daily fear of sexual violence and often victims never receive justice in return.

Cases of sexual violence like the ones seen recently in India have become a new tool in political rebellion and as a war tactic. Rape is used in a multitude of tactical ways. It’s been seen as punishment for disobedience and also a tactic to defile or sterilize women with the intention of ceasing the reproduction of a certain population that is now legally classified as genocide. Basic human rights that are guaranteed protected under the universal human rights act are being violated in the use of rape as a weapon. “Freedom from fear” is being ignored as many women’s daily life is dominated by fear of being raped or experiencing sexual violence. While it is easy to put the New Delhi rape case at arms length as an isolated or “third world” incident, rape is spreading and becoming more common. As seen with the New Delhi case and many others in history, a tragic and horrific incident has to take place to incite the fury of human rights injustices to create global change.

Group: Adriana Levandowski, Jacklyn Ngo,

Monica Chitre, Taylor Valencia, Tiffany Quach

Citations: