I was horrified by the information provided in this article, but intrigued by the leadership roles and efforts of advocacy that are taking place to institute change in India’s legal system and the broader approach to analyzing how rape is viewed by Indian society. There is no doubt that much of the West’s focus is on India’s economic growth, but there is an evolution of societal norms and practices occurring.
The article points out that while the Indian courts have been swift to some calls for reform, there has been slow progress made in regards to the rape of women. A recent report by the Human Rights Watch reopened questions about the country’s laws governing sexual violence. The report questions the common practice in India of subjecting unmarried women who say they have been raped to what the law calls a “ Finger Test”. This practices is archaic and horrifying to say the least.
As there doesn’t appear to be active resistance to reforming rape laws, a prominent feminist scholar makes the point that fighting indifference may be more difficult than fighting resistance. This is an intriguing observation and would require leaders and advocates to find creative ways to change societal perceptions or create some sort of external pressure to facilitate change.
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