Women are subjected to rape the world over but unfortunately it is mostly in the Sub Continent that justifications are made for the predator and reasons are given for blaming the woman.

The woman is held responsible when confronted with crimes like acid throwing, harassment and even rape

Tragically women in our society are just “honor” for their family, not a person with individual goals and aspirations. The woman is held responsible when confronted with crimes like acid throwing, harassment and even rape. Instead of receiving empathy the rape victim is reprimanded for inviting unwanted attentions, by dressing inappropriately or staying out late

This knowledge has made the predator very strong, since he knows the woman would not dare to report the crime

In our society rape is considered a source of shame not for the rapist but for the victim and her entire family. This knowledge has made the predator very strong, since he knows the woman would not dare to report the crime, without being condemned and ostracized by society

The entire rape scenario is surrounded by the concept of “izzat”, as a family’s izzat is only gaged by the daughters being “untouched” and free from all scandal. The sons can indulge in illicit affairs but that is attributed to”boys will be boys” and no harm done to the family’s izzat.

The culture of shaming the rape victim is not only prevalent in villages but in the big cities as well

It is astonishing that in case of every rape the only cause for the family’s concern is that “izzat kharab ho gaee” and there is absolutely no concern about the trauma and the horrific experience that the girl had gone through. Instead of empathy and therapy she is subjected to insults, badgered by questions and made to feel responsible for disgracing the family. The culture of shaming the rape victim is not only prevalent in villages but in the big cities as well and the news of every rape is followed by questions and raised eyebrows about the victim’s character. Many are of the opinion that if a girl has an independent lifestyle and has male friends, then harassment and rape are inevitable.

We are in the 21st century yet this perception of rape has not changed and the girl who is raped is morally perceived the same and met with the same contemptuous treatment as a girl who has willingly had an illicit relationship. The unfortunate girl besides going through the horror of rape also has to experience the loss of relationships and respect, as many friends and even certain family members turn away from her and she is utterly alone in this hour of need

In an environment where rapists and abusers roam freely, without fear of retribution, no female is safe from this horrific experience and unless rape is treated like a reportable crime and not a dark secret which can stigmatize the girl’s family, this injustice would continue and the predator would continue to grow stronger