Assault vs the Actual Impact: The Truth Unfolded

Over the decades, assault has been objectified into merely an overlooked issue with repetitive delays in its justification that has forced its victims to gradually accept it as a culture of life; women have been succumbed to the ideal of ‘moving on’ or in a more fitting explanation, suffer their trauma in a chamber of silence and rejection from the community. The idea of sexual assault has itself conflicted society in its perspective towards the status of women, including their capabilities to defend themselves and their rights. Yet, in efforts to create a ‘safer space’ for the present and forthcoming generation of women, they are unaware of the rise in the innumerable number of conflicts that are being stirred over the act of ‘protectiveness’, or rather ‘possessiveness.’

The ideology of assault has moulded itself into a fear that has been instilled in the people to be combatted with a sense of unity and strength, however such decisions are instead robbing women of their rights in the name of bringing them justice. Women in the world are constantly provoked for the way they dress, their goals and ambitions, as well as their own individual efforts to claim their respect in order to build a place for themselves in the world.

When women are assaulted in any way, they are immediately considered a disgrace towards society and are blamed for inviting trouble to themselves with the so called ‘conflicted resolutions’ they make of dressing inappropriate, as opposed to the wrongdoer themselves for committing such a horrendous crime in the first place. One recent example of assault towards women is the sorrowful incident of the Iranian Hijab protests, which has ignited a number of controversies for its harrowing treatment against the proper presentation of hijabs worn by the women in Iran. Another disclaimer- Delhi alone has recorded 6 rape cases every day this year, as per police data.

So why is the society that was meant to help women win back their rights pitting against their own contributions to reclaim their self-respect after ignoring their pleas for justice? Why then, are the terms ‘rape’ and ‘assault’ treated with disgust, when the very citizens are contributing towards communizing it by overlooking the issue?

By Tarini Dayal