DEATH PENALTY FOR RAPE AND FEMALE SECURITY AND SAFETY


I think there are some conflicts and mis-perceptions here . Do we wish the death penalty for any and every rapist? It takes me back to the days of “thugs” when every “thug” was hanged. What resulted was that these thugs killed all their victims to remove any evidence, and as the penalty was death for thugging or killing, they had nothing to lose. This is precisely what will happen here too.
If we think that the death penalty will be a deterrent, it seems highly unlikely, as it is seldom a planned crime. 
This is more a consequence of a mindset. 
    Virtually every male is used to passing lewd remarks and commenting on the ‘tits and arse’ of females he sees, more so if they are in company. This attitude requires change, for as the females rightly persists, it’s their body .Often one hears of arguments that their provocative and exhibitive dress acts as an instigation, but then why should the Salmans and John Abrahams go about flaunting their muscles and machismo. If the boys can flaunt what they think impresses the girls, well the girls will show off what they think impresses the boys. What is important is that nothing entitles either one to paw the other. The need to keep your distance and cool should be evident and understood. Can our youth understand this or be taught this at all levels, be it the urban and rural, the educated and uneducated, the civil and moral and the crass and banal? Who will impart this moral education and alter the behavioral attitudes, and when? Do all the scantily dressed or ‘hot’ looking females in the West receive catcalls and gropes? Is the frequency of rape as high? And if not, why not?
     The first lesson is to learn to respect the females and the female body and stop thinking about them as “tits and ass”. That should not be so difficult, given our social and cultural beliefs and family values. If we get so agitated over someone portraying our goddesses in a ‘derogatory’ way and are ready to take up cudgels against anyone ‘abusing’ our female family members ,we should be able to give respect and show proper dignity to any other female for she too is ‘family’ to someone. We do not, and that is the beginning of the end of  security and safety of our womenfolk. This is the basic issue that needs to be addressed but when and how? Will policing and legislative action ensure this change in perception?
    Will the Barkha Dutts please debate an answer, a solution?

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