Indian Rape

I've been following this story, and it leaves me impotent with rage.

She has died.

This is so sad, I hope now something will be done to protect girls and women in India. I understand a previous teenage victim commited suicide because the police were so slow in acting - taking 2 weeks to register the crime and a month before they arrested the rapist.

Words cannot express how terrible her ordeal has been. I hope the women of India are listened to now and their safety becomes a priority. What a sad day.

The article made me weep, too.

When I read about such brutality, I don't know where to go, what to do or how to be with it.

A REMINDER for FEBRUARY 14TH

What a moving article. But just like the Newtown shooting - nothing will change. How many baby girls will die or be aborted in India today? In a society where the lives of women are rated so lowly, why should male politicians do anything ? Hands will be wrung and fine words spoken. ... And nothing will change - a howl of despair

Unfortunately it may take this, or more like this, to get any change. I see a lot of young people in the protesting crowds. More power to their arm.

But it didn't make the headlines on BBC ten minutes ago.
The NY sport honours was obviously more important. so I changed to Sky where I knew it would be on first. Disappointed with BBC!

.....and has our record of rape convictions improved much?

I have no words and I know that my weeping wont help as nothing will change.

Things will change. India is changing. Do not give up hope, however despairing this horrific story makes us feel. We must not give up trying to change things.

Oh my. It leaves me speechless. I do so hope that things do change. I have worked with Indiian girls and I do know that with education the attitudes of this generation have changed some of the older ways. Lets hope for all the women out there that it continues and they find the strength keep trying.

I feel such sorrow and impotence right now but that will turn back into rage and anger soon. How dare men treat women like this and how dare politicians not do something right now. Women SHOULD take to the streets and voice their demands, especially on 14th February. Indian men should be the ones who have to curfew themselves, not congregate in groups, make commitments about their violent behaviour, listen to the women, be ashamed of what these and other rapists have done, and show that they won't tolerate it any more.

I know sexual violence is a complex matter, and have known of the same sort of violence with instruments be perpetrated on white British prostitutes by other prostitutes, on the instructions of their pimps.

The value of women is constantly undermined throughout the world, whether it is by paying them less than men, rating them in terms of their appearance, preferring sons to daughters, or stereotyping them as bitchy or bossy if they are ambitious or assertive. This is the day we admit that feminism has a long way to go. Inaction by the authorities because it's too hard to do has never been good enough reason, but inaction by both men and women is unforgivable. Boys have to be educated and socialised into self-control and that's everyone's responsibility.

I will find out what I can do to support change in India and continue to promote the safety and protection of women. Those rapists took this young woman's life as soon as they attacked her. I feel relief for her that she has died. That's a terrible thing, I know

Yes, B and when There must never be loss of hope that things will change, nor to keep trying to make a change. I'd rather lost some of that hope over the past few days.

I feel anger and disgust at the sort of society that has, until now, brushed incidents like this under the carpet. Now that this crime has gone viral, arrests have been made and the world is watching. The six involved face the death penalty if found guilty.

I'm lost for the right words to express my sense of loathing for those evil men, and deepest sadness for the woman they violated, and whose life is no more.

I have felt relief that her suffering is over. But she has lost the whole of the rest of her life....and India has lost a woman doctor who could have done so much for women there.....

Arudhati Roy spoke very eloquently on the Today programme about this. She made the point that there is much moral outrage that this has happened to a middle class woman - but state employees such as police and prison officers routinely rape poor women all over India and do so with impunity. She was very dignified, kept going and pretty much silenced the presenter who gave up trying to control the interview as she quietly and eloquently stated her case.

We hear about what's happening in India. And that's a start. But things are just as bad in many other countries but their culture sweeps it under the carpet. Simplistically, things can only change when there are enough good men to stand with and support their womenfolk to challenge these monstrous cretins who haven't the morals of an earthworm.

Yes Jess that's why I feel there's no hope - I don't know where you could start to improve things for women in India - I mentioned the killing of baby girls and foetuses and everyday in rural India girls are forcibly married to old men and the caste system results in for example the murders of lower caste girls who use a well - these men will now go to trial but here's betting somehow will never be punished

Education and exposure to more enlightened values will help things change.

And so, thank goodness for the growing Indian middle class who will speak up.

Oh Bags I wish I shared your optimism and hope - it would make me feel better!!

BBC correspondent seemed to be blaming it on culture clash between mediaeval type village cultures (swallowed up by the city) and middle class women in modern dress, living cheek by jowl. Hmmm. I am unconvinced somehow.
This smacks of - wear a mini skirt and you are asking for it, combined with a "poor men know no better" argument.
His prescription was "more police patrols". Not a great report I think.

there was a problem with rape in South Africa a while back, I believe. I wonder if things have improved there?

Still really high figures I believe