FACTS againest MYTHS V0L-V-11-1999
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- FACTS againest MYTHS V0L-V-11-1999
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PATRIARCHAL FEARS & MISOGYNIC ASSAULTS!
MYTHS ON GENDER VIOLENCE - I
•comment
omestic violence, sexual assault and
D
The worldwide recognition of gender violence
has been officially recognised by the Indian
judicial system. In its important judgment,
Vishak and the State of Rajasthan, the Supreme
Court—viewed sexual harassment, for the first
time in the country’s history, as a violation of
human rights — stated that international
conventions were significant “in the absence of
domestic law occupying the field, to formulate
effective measures to check the evil of sexual
harassment of working women at all work
places”. On August 14,1997 it promulgated
guidelines prohibiting sexual harassment. The
Indian. Express (13-2-2000) reported that the
Judges had stated that any international
convention that was not inconsistent with the
spirit and provisions of the Constitution, must
be read into the existing law so as to enlarge its
meaning and content.
rape are but few of the many crimes
committed against women. The
women’s movement in the country and abroad
raised the issue of gender violence at national
and international foras. A wide variety of forms
of such violence hitherto unexposed are now
public. These range from incest to sexual
harassment; and paedophilia to cybersex.
Prostitution, earlier seen as a ‘social evil, is a
form of violence against women as it not only
commodifies women into saleable sex objects but
has many aspects of coercion. Similarly,
development polices e.g NEP, SAPs and the
current phase of economic globalisation have
|seen shown to have adverse
Effects on women. Since the
era of “free trade” and
“liberalisation” such policies are
depriving poor women of their
livelihood and exacerbating
their household chores. This led
to The Informal Working
Group on Gender and Trade1
to note: “WTO policies calling
for trade liberalisation will
severely compromise women’s
economic status by increasing
the capital needed to stay
competitive in market trade,
and will further reduce their
participation in international
trade.”
Sexual Harassment
against MYTHS
Q FOR PRIVATE CIRCULATION ONLY
The various forms of gender
violence, its proliferation and
perpetuation through various
societal institutions has clearly
expanded the perspective of
violence. Besides, the gender
division to violence makes it a
more complex phenomenon
with women of all ages as
targets of violence, right from
the foetal stage2Amniocentesis,
for instance, is meant to kill the
unwanted female foetus in the
mother’s womb. The census
figures, decade after decade,
point to the growing rate of
female infant mortality.
Women-specific violence operates by keeping
women where they are — powerless within four
walls — apart from restricting their ability to
make choices about their lives. It is particularly
insidious because sexual acts are ordinarily and
rightly a source of both pleasure and
communication .But like all other forms of
violence, gender violence must be viewed in the
context of the socio-economic and political reality
of power relations. Its roots are embedded in
caste, class and in the patriarchal social order
where male power is omniscient. Women,
however, are also at the receiving-end of the
Varna’ system and the religious hierarchy of
caste. Dalit women especially have to
additionally experience the oppressive structure
of untouchability.
Feminist discourse2 and perspectives have
revealed that gender violence reinforces gender
inequalities, and traced its roots to a) the
exploitative production relations (the Marxist
theories) b) the basic contradictions between
men and women (the radical feminist discourse)
c) the nexus between capitalism and patriarchy
(the socialist-feminist school) and d) the caste
class linkage (Marxism-Phule-Ambedkarism
current).
Women-specific violence have been shown to
be one of the few cultural constants that cuts
across geo-political boundaries, and woven into
the fabric of society to such an extent that a)
most battered women feel that they themselves
are to be blamed and b) many ofthe perpetrators
of such crime feel justified through powerful
societal messages that view such violence as
‘fait accompli’! Little wonder, then, that the
Establishment e.g. the police, including medical
and health professionals, fail to recognise
violence against women as the serious health
problem it is, a denial of the basic human rights
of women.
Gender violence is, however, no historical
accident but but manifestation of deep-seated
fears and misogyny emanating from patriarchy.
To illustrate:
In March 1989 Justice O.P. Sinha
acquitted the 14 policemen guilty ofmass
rape of Adivasis women of Pasaria
Village (Bihar) by accepting the Defense
Counsel’s argument that these women
could not be equated with “such ladies
who hail from decent and respectable
society” because they are engaged in
'menial work’ and were of 'questionable
FACTS against MYTHS
character’. The judgment read: “It cannot
be ruled out that these ladies might speak
out falsehood to get a sum of Rs.1000/which was the sum for them’’.3
The recently published views of Judges by
Sakshi4 of Delhi revealed the Judges biases on
gender-violence:
►► 74% of the Judges believed that
husbands have valid reasons to punish
their wives;
►► 64% felt that women are partly
responsible for the violence they
experience; that such violence is the sole
responsibility of the male is
preposterous,
►► a woman’s dress and behavior, “failure
to take precaution” and. her
‘provocative” nature was responsible ivb
triggering violence in men,
™
►► 37% ofwomen are reluctant to file a suit
against the husband owing to a) lack of
economic means and relevant
information b) 27% due to family
pressure c) 15% due to stigma attached
to battery d) 14% due to shame and
guilt and e) 7% due to fear,
►► 55% of women experience negative
vibes from Judges hearing their case on
battery and experienced discrimatory
responses on treatment between
themselves and their male counterparts,
through the Judges behaviour,
expression, views and mannerism,
►► 64% of women advocates experience^,
condescending, and patronising’
attitudes from male colleagues to the
extent of being ignored, demeaned and
harassed by them.
► On December 6,1989, 14 women
engineering-students were gunned down in
Montreal-Canada by a 25-year old student as
he held them responsible for not being selected
into the college. Before committing suicide he
left behind a letter containing a tirade against
‘feminists’;
Apart from these gender-blind biases, the major
obstacles in understanding gender-violence are
the deep-seated myths shaping societal attitudes
and disbelief. Whilst denying this fact the
obstacles simultaneously convey that women
being the guardians of morality, men are
therefore not responsible for their violent
behaviour. These fallacious arguments
characterising the various forms of gender
violence — sexual harassment, rape,
prostitution — need to be exposed and
dispelled with.
1. Sexual Harassment
Sexual harassment is unwanted sexual
attention from an employer, manager, or any
man with power over a women. This includes
saying something sexual that makes a woman
uncomfortable, touching her in a sexual way,
or making her to have sex. Every woman is
in danger of sexual harassment. It does not
matter if she works for her family in the
country or in a factory in the city.
MYTH: Sexual harassment are rare.
W^ACT: Various surveys and studies prove
that sexual harassment has been discovered
to be extremely widespread but remains
unreported. Although Section 509 of the IPC
provides for prosecution of harassment, only
a few cases are recorded; most are dismissed
for lack of evidence. In the well-known case,
Rupam Bajaj Deol, a senior IAS officer, filed a
case against the DIG, K.P.S. Gill. The
Government failed to take any action and the
High Court merely dismissed the case.
►► An ILO Report5 reveals that 60% of
working women and 55% of female
students in colleges and universities are
affected by the crime;
•
►► Outlook magazine (19-4-2000) cites two
surveys viz., the National Commission
for Women .which in their survey on
sexual harassment covering 5 States
showed that 68 per cent of women
experienced the crime; 26 per cent
experienced physical harassment and
33 per cent gender discrimination b) In
March 1999 a pilot study by Sakshi of
Delhi showed that 72% women and
74% men either heard or experienced
sexual harassment.
►► Finally, a report in the Free Press
Journal (2-2-2000) stated that Janata
Dal leader, Dr.A.N. Nadar had
misbehaved with a senior IAS officer,
Nalini Netto, on l-2-2000.The case is
still pending judgement.
( FACTS against MYTHS
There are number of reasons why it is
hard for a woman to say ‘No!’ to sexual
advances:
►► She may be apprehensive she will
lose her job, which she needs to support
herself and her family;'
►► She may be conditioned to obey and
respect the wishes of older men and men
in authority;
>► The man may be a relative, and she
may be afraid if she says NO or complains
he will be made to look bad.
In some countries sexual harassment is
called the “lay down or lay off* policy.
This is because women are often fired if
they do not have sex with the man who is
harassing them. But no matter what
situation a woman is in, sexual
harassment is absolutely wrong. It is also
against the law in any country.
MYTH: Incidents ofsexual harassment has
been exaggerated. Most so-called
harassment is actually trivial and
harmless flirtation.
FACT: Sexual harassment can be devastating.
Studies indicate that most harassment has
nothing to do with ‘flirtation’ or sincere sexual
or social interest. Rather, it is offensive, often
frightening and insulting to women.Research
also shows that women are often forced to leave
school or jobs to avoid harassment; many
experience serious psychological and healthrelated problems.
MYTH: Many women cook-up and report
incidents of sexual harassment to take
spite on their employers or others who have
angered them.
FACT: Again research shows that less then one
per cent of complaints are false. Women rarely
file complaints even when they are justified in
doing so.
MYTH: Sexual harassment is normal
behaviour and carried out in light-hearted
humor and a women merely over-react.
FACT: Sexual harassment is about power, a
way to dominate by embarrassment or
degradation. It is not an expression of healthy
human interaction. In most cases, sexual
harassment involves men harassing women.
MYTH: On just ignoring such behaviour,
sexual harassment will go away.
FACT: It will not! Research shows that simply
ignoring the behaviour is ineffective; harassers
generally will not stop of their own accord.
Ignoring such conduct may even be perceived
as condoning or encouraging it.
MYTH: It will not be possible to
complement someone you admire without
being accused of sexual harassment.
FACT: Complements in and of themselves are
not generally considered sexual harassment but
when in doubt, do not. It is the impact of, not
the intent behind, a behaviour or remark.
Apart from sexual harassment there are also
forms of sexual assault that often are not
considered by most people as rape. For example,
sometimes life events can push a woman into
having sex when she does not really want to.
This can happen in marriage. Some married
women are made to feel that having sex is their
duty, whether they want to or not. Although
society does not punish this type of forced sex,
it is still wrong.
2. Prostitution
Another form of gender-violence is prostitution,
earlier defined as a ‘social evil’. Like sex in
general, prostitution is seeped in myths, one of
which is the belief that it always involves
someone else; the woman who sells sex is never
our mother, our daughter, or our sister but
someone anonymous ‘other’ who is ever so
desperate than those we care or love. Similarly,
This girl was sold byherfamily, thinking she would
get ajob in another country..Instead, she was sold
again to a brothel owner who forces her to sell sex.
Q FACTS against MYTHS
the man who buys sex — as for t hat matter
someone who indulges in eve-teasing — is
never our father, brother, husband or boy
friend, but another whom we do not know and
may not even wish to know. For many .these
are women who work in the “flesh-trade” or “redlight” area, etc. But women who sell sex are a
diverse group. A prostitute or sex worker may
be a young girl or an older woman with several
children at home. She may work in a brothel,
or on a street with a pimp, or in a bar. What
most of these women share in common, though,
is that they sell sex because they desperately
need the money.
MYTH: Immoral and lazy women get into
prostitution.
FACT: On the contrary! Most women do so
out of sheer economic necessity with no other
means to earn their livelihood. They require the .
money not only for the daily necessities of lif9 f
but to support their children and families, to
pay debts, or to purchase essential medicines
and other basic necessities.
This desperate need often arises in situations
beyond their control e.g. her husband dies,or
she get divorced, or her husband or family
abandons her. Or she may be raped or have an
unplanned pregnancy and find that no one will
marry her. If she has no job skills or ways to
get money, she sells the only asset she has —
her body — in order to merely survive.
Other women are forced into prostitution. Often
women are tricked into thinking they are going
to get employment or rich husbands in other
This woman lost her home and land when her
husband dies, because there were no laws saying
his property must be given to his wife. Now she
has no money. She started selling sex to feed her
children.
b
countries like the Middle East, etc and are sold
into sex work instead. Then it is almost
impossible to stop selling sex. The women may
be in a new country illegally where she has no
rights, no money, and no way to return to her
home and family. She may have large debts to
repay, or her employer may threaten and even
blackmail her if she leaves.She has been turned
into a sex slave.6
MYTH: "Women choose to go into
? prostitution.
FACT: Not entirely true!
It is well known that children, for instance, who
are victims of violence (abuse, rape, incest,etc)
often lose their sense of physical integrity. This
loss of feeling that their body belongs to them
explains why women seem to “choose” when in
fact there is no choice.Women who are in
^situations which are economically, socially or
emotionally difficult often have very little
choice and will become prostitutes where others
never will. It is also well known that most
prostitutes have been victims of violence.
Yet, on the other hand, for most prostitutes it is
indeed a choice albeit a relatively limited choice.
Given the reality that the choices are even fewer
for impoverished women and those women from
ethnic or Dalit communities, who are into this
work, prostitution is preferable to the other
limited number of options accessible to them.
To that extent it is a question of economics—
and survival . However, for the many women
whose sexuality was stolen from them,
contorted and used against them by men who
abused them as children, the sale of sex becomes
- a much more viable option.
MYTH: Prostitutes are a high-risk group
in the spread ofATDs.
FACT: (See FAM #12,1993 for the demolition
this myth).
3. Freedom of Expression
The on-going controversies on the film “Water”
and earlier on “Fire”, among others, is an
attempt to restrict the right to freedom of
expression. This manoneover has relevance also
to what is called offensive speech, i.e. sexual
speech including sexually explicit material e.g.
pornography. This raises the question of
whether the law must prohibit all words and
images that someone finds offensive. In such
a situation much speech — certainly, much
interesting speech — would soon be illegal.
(■ FACTS against MYTHS
Women’speech might well be considered
offensive because it runs counter to one’s
religious beliefs. Feminist material on
reproductive choice, for instance, would be
particularly vulnerable.
Should the
Government force a woman to remove a pro
abortion poster or article from her office because
her colleague finds its objectionable?
MYTH: Sexually explicit material e.g.
pornography is not only inherently harmful
to women but above all leads to gender
violence.
FACT: First and foremost, gender-based
harassment should be illegal whether or not it
relies on sexual language or imagery. A woman
is likely to be more intimidated by comments
that she is a “dumb-belle” or “idiot” than by
sexual jokes. Moreover, women themselves
make and enjoy sexual banter. Very broad
restrictions on sexual material treat women as
infants and shore up destructive Victorian
stereotypes that they are (or should be) so pure
that any expression about sexuality offends and
demoralises them.7
Finally, focus on sexual material deflects
attention from the underlying causes of
harassment. Gender-based harassment
(whether it uses sexual language or not) is
typically a power play by men who feel
intimidated by women’s progress towards
equality. Instead, it is the deeply-rooted social
causes of such hostility that the authorities and
culture cops need to first address. Research
from various parts of the world including Asia
do not show any causal link between
pornography and violence. For instance,
studies on violent pornography are
inconsistent.7 Some find it increases aggression
in the lab, some do not. Research also shows
that aggression will be increased by anything
that agitates a subject (raises heart rate,
adrenaline flow, etc.) not only violent movies
but also riding exercise bicycles. Agitation will
boost whatever follows it, aggression or, for that
matter, generosity. One research, measuring
violence out of the lab, found that membership
in a delinquent poorer group accounted for
three-fourths of sexual aggression.
MYTH: Men who watch pornography
imitate it or force women to perform what
they see.
FACT: Violence and intimidation have existed
since millennia pre-dating pornography and
5
interest to allow a variety of pleasurable
materials that enhance well-being and
sexual fulfillment.
*.J
tradition-bound countries like Asia, Africa or
the Middle East are no exceptions.
The fundamental problem is force. Not sex. After
all, treatise on sex have also been in existence
since ages with all societies endowed themselves
with an ‘ars erotica’.
Moreover, people do not mimic what they read,
see or hear in as knee-jerk or in a mechanical
manner. People manipulate or juggle words and
images — good and bad — with all the others
they have seen, viewed or heard with all their
life experiences. It is experience that is the
strongest teacher.
Men do not learn coercion or force from pictures
or graphics on sex. They learn it from the
violence and contempt for women from the
environment in which they live and interact —
from their families, communities, for instance
— where each generation passes down what
type of force, etc.,are acceptable, even
“masculine”.
Copycat theories and interpretations are
nothing but “pornography-made-me-do-it”
excuses for rapists and batterers. They relieve
criminals of responsibility for their offenses
against women.7
MYTH: Pornography degrades women.
FACT: Again, it is not sex but sexism —
prejudice or discrimination against women —
that degrades women. Though sexism pervades
contemporary world cultures in both North and
South in various forms, it cannot be eradicated
by banning sex. Sexism and violence stem from
long-standing economic, political and emotional
factors. These are the ones that need
addressing.
►► Porn is a symptom, not a cause of
women’s oppression — only part of the
wider image that advertises “passive”
beauty queens and fashion models, air
hostesses, smiling PAs, etc. These also
need to be addressed;
►► Women interpret pornography in
various ways. Some find it sexist; some
find it a form of fantasy, like dreams
and movies. Opponents of sexual speech
fail to realise that it is in everyone’s
MYTH: Banning pornography will help
and protect women.
FACT: Historically, censorship has hurt women.
Information about sex and reproduction has
"been banned under the facade of “protecting”
•women. All groups may be censored, including
women. The best protection for women’s ideas
and voices is the constitutional guarantees to
freedom of expression.
4. Sexual Assault
Rape refers to sexual contact that a women does
not want. It is some times called sexual assault
because it is an act of violence using sex as a
weapon. Studies show that overwhelming
desire is rarely the cause of rape—it is more often
tied to the establishment of power. It is also,
commitment of the prevailing socio-economic
condition where want engenders resentment
and resentment violence.I0(See box on Pg. 7)
REFERENCES
E.Haxton,(ed) Gender Focus on the WTO,
SIDA, Uppsala, 1999.
2. Gandhi, N. One India,One People, #6,
Mumbai, 1999.
3. Kelkar, G. Violence Against Women,
Indian Institute ofAdvanced Study, Shimla,
1992.
4. Sakshi, Judicial Perceptions, New Delhi,1
2000.
5. Bhatkal.S.C. India’s 90 Million 'Working
Women Start to Speak Out on Harassment,
TWN Features, Goa.
6. Niemann, S. (ed) Where Women Have No
Doctor, Macmillan Education Ltd. 1997.
7. Women in Action, ISIS International, #1,
Manila, 1998.
8. Kapur, A. (ed) Women Workers’ Rights in
India: Issues and Strategies, ILO, New
DeUli, 1999.
9. Smith', J., Misogynies, Faber and Faber,
London, 1988.
10. Tong,, R. Feminist Thought, Unwin
Hyman, London, 1990.
11. Men Stopping Rape, Inc., Box 316, 306 N.
Brooks St., Madison, WI53715.
1.
Ct&SO
C FACTS against MYTHS
6
MYTH: When a Woman Says "No”! she actually means "yes”!
FACT: Even if the woman knows the man and says “Yes”, if saying “No” was not
really an option, then it is rape. Hence, “No”! means “No”! Without her consent it is
RAPE!
No = No
MYTH: The greatest danger of rape is from strangers,
FACT: Most rapes are committed by someone the victim knows and these are
premeditated acts of aggression usually committed by men known and trusted by
women. A large number of women are sexually assaulted within their homes.
MYTH: Rape results from an uncontrollable sexual urge. It is all about sex.
FACT: Rape is a criminal act of violence, using sex as a weapon. Rape is an expression
of dominance and hostility. It is NOT a biological phenomena. It is sociological. The
recent events in Bosnia illustrates this point, and where it was used also as a political
weapon by the Serbs in their political strategy of ethnic cleansing.
MYTH: Women often lie about being raped.
FACT: False reports of rape are 2-4%, same rate as other reported crimes.
MYTH: Because ofa few violent, highly publicised incidents, the issue ofrape has been
over-dramatized.
FACT: In the US, each year men rape millions of women, men, girls and boys.
MYTH: Because ofthe special nature ofthe marriage relationship, a husband cannot
rape "his” wife.
FACT: Sex without consent is rape. A marriage license is not a license to rape, nor a
substitute for communicating and establishing consent.
MYTH: Only the poor and the less educated men commit rape.
FACT: Men from all classes and economic statuses rape, including doctors,
lawyers,professors, therapists, judges, police, accountants and managers. The Free
Press Journal (20-1-2000) reported that a maid-servant, Anjali A. Ketkal was raped
on 18-2-2000 by her employer, Mr. Kapoor,in his posh flat, Sagar Sangeet, at JuhuMumbai.
MYTH: Men who rape other males (including boys) are homosexuals.
FACT: Most males who rape other males are heterosexuals. Insecurity about their
own masculinity leads some men to assault gays. These men assault to vent hostility
and get a sense of power over others.
MYTH: A man can tell by a woman’s body language when she wants sex.
FACT: When we assume what a body movement means, we are projecting what we
want onto our partner. Acting on assumptions often leads to rape.
MYTH: Men’s reality = Women’s reality.
FACT: A group of men were asked “Why are you afraid of women?”. Their response:
“We’re afraid they’ll laugh at us”. A group of women were then asked, “Why are you
afraid of men?” Their response: “We’re afraid they’ll kill us”.
MYTH: A couple has sex: he does not ask, she does not say no. That cannot be rape!
FACT: No response to a question not asked is not consent. Submission does not
mean consent. Sex without consent can lead to rape.
MYTH: "Normal” average men do not rape.
FACT: Husbands, fathers, other family members, friends, dates, classmates and co
workers have been found to commit the majority of rapes.
MYTH: Nothing can be done to stop rape when it is committed. It is a ‘fait accompli’
situation.
FACT: Every day there are opportunities to change behaviors that support rape.
Because men rape, it is men’s responsibility to stop.
Q FACTS against MYTHS
DON'T GO OUT ALONE AT NIGHT
THAT ENCOURAGES MEN.
DONT' GO OUT ALONE AT ANY TIME
ANY SITUATION ENCOURAGES SOME MEN.
DON'T STAY AT HOME
INTRUDERS & RELATIVES CAN BOTH RAPE.
DON'T GO WITHOUT CLOTHES/£Q§7'g>x
THAT ENCOURAGES MEN./&Z^
DON'T GO WITH CLOTHESXI n- u
il]
“ Ud CT
Lil k
ANY CLOTHES ENCOURAGE SOME^IEN.
AVOID CHILDHOOD
------
SOME RAPISTS ARE TURNED ON
-----
BY LITTLE GIRLS.
AVOID OLD AGE
SOME RAPISTS PREFER AGED WOMEN.
DON'T HAVE A FATHER, GRAND-FATHER,
UNCLE OR BROTHER....
THESE ARE THE RELATIVES THAT
MOST OFTEN RAPE YOUNG WOMEN.
DON'T HAVE NEIGHBOURS
THESE OFTEN RAPE.
DON'T MARRY
RAPE IS LEGAL WITHIN MARRIAGE.
TO BE QUITE SURE - DON’T EXIST!
(COURTESY: London Rape Crisis Centre-Guidelines on How to Avoid Rape)
Facts Against Myths is a monthly bulletin offactual
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