The Political Economy of Rise in Sexual Violence against Women and Girls in India

Author: Ranjani K. Murthy, originally posted July 23 2018 - Over the last few years there has been a rise in sexual violence against women and girls in India. Indian men - like anywhere in the world- are not biologically rapists - it is society which makes some men rapists. This includes family, peer circles, films, media/social media, teachers, education system, violent sports encouraged for boys/men, etc., all of which celebrate hyper masculinities.  The rise in right wing (all faiths) over the last few years has also strengthened the machismo culture.

The economic context may also have a role to play in the rise in sexual violence against women and girls. Indian women are less often found in the work force than before, due to decline in work force participation rate over the last few decades. This is also linked to decline in agriculture growth - the sector where women's work force participation is higher. That is, women may be less found in public spaces.   With growing income due to growth in services and industries, a number of Indian men want women to stay at home but be educated to be good wives and mothers.  Further, there is a gender-based division of labour, with women being few in law enforcement, security, maintenance and transport.  At the same time, the paths of growth over the last 3 decades have increased inequalities and alienation. What the poor earn in a month is what the rich spend in a day in India.  

Is construction of hyper masculinities, masculine work spaces, masculine law and security enforcement and rising inequalities leading to the increase in sexual violence on women and girls? Are women's and girls' bodies becoming sites to express frustration? 

There is another facet to sexual violence against girls and women. According to a UNICEF study, 42% of Indian girls have gone through the trauma of sexual violence before their teenage. While there is uproar when girls and women face sexual violence, the uproar is more when the survivor is from the middle or upper class and the alleged perpetrator from the lower class. There are cases of domestic workers abused by male employers, dalit girls harassed by upper caste men, rape as a strategy to 'save honour' (inter caste/religion marriages) which receive less protest. Further, the majority of cases of sexual violence against girls (cutting across classes) is by relatives and known people. These rarely come to light as parents hesitate to complain to protect the honour of extended kin. The perpetrators go scot free.    

I hang in shame about this spate of sexual violence against girls, but let us address causes - construction of hyper masculinities, rising inequalities, spread of right wing, decrease in (and gendered) labour force participation, in addition to bringing ALL perpetrators to book. Sexual violence against girls by relatives and known people from their same class needs to be visibilized.

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