From the men's point of view

Criminal intent

A psychiatrist blames pornography and alcoholism for crimes like rape.

To call woman the weaker sex is a libel; it is man’s injustice to woman. If by strength is meant brute strength, then, indeed, is woman less brute than man. If by strength is meant moral power, then woman is immeasurably man’s superior. Without her, man could not be. If non-violence is the law of our being, the future is with woman.”

These words spoken by Mahatma Gandhi seem to have gotten buried somewhere crimes and atrocities against women in present day India, specifically Delhi, keep increasing.

The latest example of it is the Munirka gangrape of a 23-year-old which has sent shock waves across the nation. The Capital is witnessing increasing numbers of rapes; cases of sexual harassment, discrimination and domestic violence but nobody seems to be bothered. Is it because women are considered the ‘weaker’ sex? Or is it the perverted minds of men which are making the very existence of women impossible? Metrolife spoke to few men to try and get an insight into the psyche of violence and the male gaze.

Vinay Kumar, a PhD student of Translation and Comparative Literature, JNU says, “The whole incident reiterates that we lack civic sense, education, social understanding and gender equality. It is all about hum mard hain feeling. Men still think that they can do anything with women and nobody will point a finger. This is veheshipan and at that time they are only aware of ‘action’ without being bothered about its consequences. What’s worse is that, the Indian law is playing a major role in giving birth to such criminals.”

So what provokes a man to rape a woman? Dr Samir Parikh, a leading psychiatrist shares that the case reflects a stagnating and degenerative society. “All this happens when men start objectifying women. Pornography, alcohol, peer pressure are all responsible for these crimes.

These all are anti-social traits. It is high time that we make an example out of this case and not let it become just ‘another rape case’. I am telling you that if tomorrow India plays Pakistan and Sachin Tendulkar hits a ton, we all will forget this. The news on page one will shift to page five and eventually die out. We need to act now,” he adds.

Rohit Thakur, another Delhiite working with a national bank blames “traditional values” which lead to domination of women and in turn to such cases. “Since ages women have been dominated by men and women also take all the s**t because of a word called ‘marriage’. Women are taught since birth to be with their husbands till their death even if he beats her up everyday. Family background too is responsible for such acts. It also depends on how a boy was brought up in his family.”

Siddhant Sachdeva, a IIIrd year IIT-Delhi student feels that, “Men who do this are those who are weak themselves and want to take out their frustration. By dominating women, these men feel superior.” In short, then what is missing at the most fundamental level is respect for the woman. Will the male gaze change if a change is wrought in the man’s attitude?