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This rape and assault proof armour is what Indian women need

  • We pretend we respect and behave properly with women, but the truth is that it just takes a few drops of alcohol to let out our animalistic urges
  • I believe Kubra’s armour is the way out to the problem of women’s clothes and generally wanting to live like a free citizen in India
This rape and assaultproof armour is what Indian women need

Read: New Year's Eve proves fright night for Bengaluru women

 

If the safety of women in Bengaluru and the country continue to be the same then my suggestion is that all women upgrade their wardrobes to have the armour Afghan artist Kubra Khademi is wearing in the picture.

 

Kubra Khademi, was all of 27 in 2015 when she made a suit of armour to protest against sexual harassment in the streets of Kabul. It features a breastplate in the form of breasts and an iron attachment covering the buttocks.  Now Khademi has gone into hiding, deactivated her Facebook account because of the number of death threats she had been receiving.

 

Watch this video that Kubra made of her ordeal:

 

 

Take a look at this picture, it prevents the woman from being raped or inappropriately touched, but look at the lecherous, mocking gaze of the men that surround her. I am sure, every woman in India can associate with this image. Every day, this is what she faces when she goes out into public spaces.

 

Do we need Nirbhayas to suffer daily to finally understand that the problem lies with the mindset, the upbringing, men being more privileged than women in India? 

 

Also read: Being Nirbhaya: The change We desire 

 

That is exactly what happened in Bengaluru. We as citizens, pretend we are moralistic and do-gooders of the highest order. We pretend we respect and behave properly with women, but the truth is that it just takes a few drops of alcohol to let out our animalistic urges and then we conveniently blame the outburst on the victim.

 

Yes, I am sure you will hear people saying after the incident:

 

  1. Those girls should not have been there at that time of the night

Why only men have the right to celebrate New Year? Only men can roam the streets of a city unafraid and unquestioned as to their attire and state. Are women in India under some sort of unsaid curfew, which prohibits us from gathering in specified public places at specified times in a day?

 

  1. The girls were wearing provocative clothes

That should be the least of everyone’s concern. Like the men, they too have a right to dress as and how they please. Their clothes should not be an open invitation for anyone to grope them or assault them bodily. I ask men this, you too wear shorts and ganjees (more revealing than what women wear) how many times have you been told not to wear this attire, how many times have you had people ogling at your exposed legs and arms?

 

Also read: Delhi Rape: India is reminded of Nirbhaya everyday

 

I believe Kubra’s armour is the way out to the problem of women’s clothes and generally wanting to live like a free citizen in the country. This way the women get to walk on the streets free from inappropriate touching at least. However, this does not still prevent you from being free or from being looked on as a piece of delicious meat walking. For this I suggest women wear blinkers, nor can the jeering men see you unless directly in front of you and nor can the woman see the lecherous glances.

 

Now instead of wearing salwar kameez and saree (they also have proved to be ineffective in the face of a lusting male), Indian women should have rape-proof clothes. Clothes sown with cacti that repel the pervert, jeans which electrocute the assaulter, t-shirts with sensors that glows red when a man in heat approaches you and a scarf/ dupatta that transforms into an effective knife to ward off such advances. Then only can women walk freely. Then finally people will stop saying that a woman needs to pay attention to the clothes she wears or that she had not taken the necessary precautions to be out in public unchaperoned by a male.

 

Also read: Violent India: Failure of the legal system or are we 'brutal' by nature?

 

The problem is not those girls. The problem is you – MEN. The problem is you – State police. You failed to protect and honour these women, who thought they were living in a free country, who thought they were living in an India which is shining. 

 

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