Observation: My friend told me about an article from BBC about how the culture of India is creating problems in bringing justice to those who are being raped.
Last year a huge story developed from this case that happened almost a year ago in Delhi. Check it out here
After these series of events many changes have begun to take place in India on the topic of rape and gender. Many protests began occurring on bringing awareness to rape and what it has been doing to its women and society. India has a powerful history with a strong culture. Much of it is influenced with views stemming from Hinduism. --> Check out this article about a campaign that was used to bring domestic violence awarness to the public. Women are highly regarded in Hinduism, but its crazy to see how over the years my mother countries culture has evolved into something that is entirely different.
India has a long ways to go in being a equal nation. It is the worlds largest democracy, and has so much potential for greatness. Unfortunately right now its still lost in the darkness of its injustices.
In the observation article, a younger 17 year old women was raped by a group of men that are in a high caste of people. If you are familiar, India used to have a caste system of people which put people into classes of people and it created much inequality between groups. The women raped is in the lowest group considered not even to be a caste (the untouchables).
In court they blamed the victim for many and used her class as the basis of their decision and treatment towards her. The boys who were being charged with the rape were even offered water in the hot courtroom while she was neglected. This story brings up the problems that India is still facing with the caste system even if it has been ended officially.
Their are old practices and laws that are still being used today which indicate whether a victim was raped. (Two finger rule in article and the use of the Non-penatrative sexual act are still being utilized)
India is a country where only 3% of the law enforcement are women and police have the ability to refuse to register sex crimes.
The girl's father in this case committed suicide later that day when police first refused to register the charge.
There is so much that can be discussed with this case and it's sensitivity. Like any client, it is important for us to understand where they are in order for us to work effectively with them. India as a client has many issues that influencing this case. Something that needs to be understood that is different from how we view things here in the States is the idea of shame. India is a very communal place not like the U.S. and public shame has a general far greater effect on a person and their community in India than it does in the U.S. Its important to also recognize the consqueunces the caste system, and the patriarchal system that plays a role in India.
We are social workers and world changers must be sensitive and open to the cultures and systems that we work with. Its important to recognize the different worldviews and perspectives people have and how they play a role in the lives of people in their respective communities while we try to understand and create solutions to the problems we see in today's world.
--> Check out this gang of women fighting sex trafficking in India who are making the changes they wish to see in the world.
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