Tuesday, March 07, 2006

 

Blank Noise Project


Blog-a-thon 2006

I am sure many remember the case of Pratibha, an employee of HP who was raped and killed by a cab driver in December last year.

Although I do not know her personally, being an employee of HP ties me with her identity. I am given to think that if could happen to her, it could well, happen to any of us who are in her position, as vulnerable and as unsuspecting as she was.

It is definitely not the company’s fault. I know how much care goes into selecting a cab driver. The newly appointed cab drivers are watched for a period of a few months until the company is assured of his credibility. Is it right to blame the victim, right from her choice of shift to clothes? No. No one else is to be blamed other than the perpetrator of crime in such cases. But, enough has been spoken and heard about the cruelty of certain men who indulge in such brutal actions.

Instead of trying to indulge in fault finding, we can create a better world by finding solutions to the problems. The western world is aware of defense products like stun guns, pepper sprays etc., but we are totally incompatible with such ideas. A training in martial arts is not every woman’s cup of tea. So, that leaves us with just one weapon - COURAGE!

Comments:
As an ex-HPite though just for some months, I always had this sinister feeling about working in their Elect City office. One got the feeling that there were always numerous death-traps around. There were 100s of females getting off work in the wee hours. The half-asleep drivers would then drop them off, racing with the lorries at 80kmph+ on the empty roads. I'd witness atleast one accident a day on the arterial Hosur Road or Ring Road.
For most of the women in those BPOs, the safe commuting is a lottery.
 
While we keep talking about women safety and other related topics, who are the real people to be blamed? I think here men and women share 50-50 blame. While we are living in a progressive society and accept a far more modern lady than much before, every woman should also understand the ills of the same society that she lives in and practice a little moderation. By wearing provocative dresses, she is only inviting more lusty looks and comments. You cannot tame the wild horses of each man on the streets. That requires education on a much higher spiritual plane, which is not feasible in a short span of time. Meanwhile, every man should also understand that he is born from a woman, may or may not be married to a woman, may or may not have a sister... but the woman that he is targetting is probably all of these to someone... Like I mentioned before, taming the horse is not a short term probability. That does not mean we accomodate these wild idiots. We mete out strong punishments and make them repent for their sins. And thus, set an example for others...
 
Rubic cube, I agree with most of your thoughts but even if a woman covers every inch of her body, she'd still be given lusty looks. How do you explain pedophilia? Should we ask kids not to wear provocative clothes? "Provocative dressing" is a garb under which animals like these rapists hide. I don't expect someone like you to lend support to such creatures. tsk tsk....
 
I believe one should be conscious of her dressing...depends on where she is, which is something all the girls generally do...but if we think the solution is being fully clothed, I disagree...why else would women harassed in rural areas?
 
TTM, I am not sure about the EC office. Airport road office had a decent trasport management. (if u'd allow me to use the word mgmnt:)


RC,
While most of what you say is right, nor do I agree with your 50-50 logic for the same reasons
Deepa and BBB have pointed out. You are right about moderation to a certain extent. Dressing APPROPRIATELY could help in not being seen as an easy target, but it is not a solution in itself.
 
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