"Rape: Invitation from woman?"
The first question asked when a rape case comes out is:
“What dress was the girl wearing?”
“What time was it during the incident?”
“What is the background and character of that girl?”
What! Do you feel like you have heard these statements or something like this anywhere? Let’s not go too far; we can get to see these conversations in our own country, our village, and sadly sometimes even in our own home. The dress and freedom of the girl are questioned before raising even a finger at the rapist. Then, does it really mean that the way a girl dresses is an invitation for rape? We can find it out ourselves.
Let’s go back 7 months. On March 14, 2022, two men were arrested by Morang police in Sundarharaicha-7. They were charged in a rape case. Just guess the age of the victim. She was just an 18-month-old child. The age to learn, to grow, and to make memories were destroyed by these two men. The story doesn’t end here. These two males, so-called superior people in our society, took the child from her house after having marijuana, and both brothers raped her brutally. Your blood is probably boiling, right? Well, there's more. The child was hit with a beer bottle and stones when she cried. After raping her, those two discarded her. The mother of the child found her daughter in the bushes in a naked condition with blood coming from her head and vagina. While undergoing treatment, the child's soul left the world.
I want to ask everyone, male or female, rich or poor, educated or uneducated, higher caste or lower caste: Does rape really happen because of a girl's dress and freedom? Why do the victim and her family always have to deal with societal pressure, especially when mental pressure is already present? Even after her death, a girl who has already been raped and, in some cases, murdered, is questioned about her character. If a girl is raped, she is blamed for her appearance, education, male friends, freedom, job, and everything else. For a minute, let’s agree with all the above-given reasons for rape. But do any of these reasons fit this child's case? She was neither dressed inappropriately nor alone at night. Let's put aside everything else and just focus on her age. How can someone even think of doing something like that to a child that age?
Rape cases are increasing by a significant number every year. But the saddest part is that the survivors are criticized, their freedom is criticized, and their family is criticized, but the person who has done this to the victim gets away after a few years of jail time or doesn’t get any punishment at all.
However, the trauma of the incident always remains with the girl, her family, and her dreams.The way someone is dressed should never be questioned in any case of sexual harassment because it’s our body, our choice. No one has been given the right to rape anyone just because of her dress-up. It’s really sad that when the victim needs support and care, everyone is busy raising questions about her. So, here I want to say to every girl that you are strong, dress as you want, do what you like, go wherever you want, dream big, work hard for it, and at the same time take care of yourselves because we are not in a society where justice is easily served. We live in a society where rapists are not hanged but victims are criticized, and unfortunately, most of the time by women themselves. I want to say to all females, “Keep shining and be safe.”