A billion women with suppressed stories of
sexual violence incurred upon them rose on February 14th 2013,
around the globe.
This form of violence does not need any
introduction because it’s all around you and the ugly truth is, you know it
very well. In fact, you yourself must have experienced it or worse, committed
it. It happens everywhere, rich or poor, across continents, across all
societies, religions and cultures. Yet, you choose to ignore it.
Each of these women had a story to tell of
a violent man. They rose on this day to finally put an end to it. They came out
of their houses to speak up against it, to say, it’s enough and they won’t
tolerate it anymore. One Billion Rise was a celebration of breaking the silence
and uniting against sexual violence.
But, can coming out on the streets one fine
day to protest, speak up or show aggression against it solve a problem like
sexual violence, which is present in every strata of the society? Can it be
stopped through n number of protest march everywhere or solidarity movements
like one billion rising or by feminist movements? Can an event like this change
our behavior, our perception or our thinking?
Events like this have certainly helped
women open up and speak up against violence. But, it is also bringing a sense
of aggression among them. And sadly, its
turning the image of men in the society into demonic figures.
It is true that the patriarchal culture has
a deep-rooted perception, which identifies women as commodity, which is
certainly the result of an underdeveloped society, and therefore, instead of
meeting aggression with aggression, we require educational and moral
development at all levels in our society.
If men have the advantage of power, women
are blessed with the godly virtues of compassion, patience and
mercy. Wouldn’t it be better if we
nurtured those qualities to our advantage instead of trying to turn into aggressive,
overpowering semi-men?
Equality,
respect and honor cannot be grabbed. We need to become so deserving that we
receive it automatically.
I don’t believe that it’s only the women
who are absolutely miserable and are tortured everywhere. Even the men are
suffering, and are tortured and harassed in several emotional and physical
ways. May be it is not very evident or may be its number is comparatively less
but that does not mean that they don’t face it.
Violence does not have gender and it cannot
have a specific classification and therefore we require neutral laws against
violence without giving advantage to a particular sex. We are not talking
equality when we demand a gender-biased law.
Revenge cannot be the perfect answer to
violence. We require a social change against violence not against a gender.
I see One Billion Rising as a revenge of
intimidated through intimidating. To me that’s not an answer. I wish for a
balance but maybe, that’s a utopia I long for.
