1 Billion Rise

A billion women with suppressed stories of sexual violence incurred upon them rose on February 14^th 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.