Hate Speaches Against Women: Is There A Connection with Some Gobally Emerging "New Right"? In recent days, there has been a spurt in rash, irresponsible and outrageously sexist remarks from people occupying positions of prestige. Justice Cyriac Joseph ,The Karnataka High Court Chief Justice and The Karnataka Human Rights Chairperson Justice S.R.Nayak have talked disgustingly enough of women's responsibility in conducting themselves in avoiding crimes against women like rape. Similar sexist remark has come from the Australian Independent MP Bob Such, in the form of an infamously expressed comment that contained the wisdom that women wearing stylish T -shirts is bound to result in rape. Is there a connection between the ideology of the new right wing all over the world and such remarks repeatedly made by people in power and positions with unfailing impunity?
(1) <http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/indiawomen2008/>Dear all, On the 9th of February 2008, remarks by two emminent judiciary members the Chief Justice of Karnataka, Cyriac Joseph and State Human Rights Commission Chairperson Justice S.R.Nayak, stating that immodest dressing was the cause of increasing crimes against women were reported in the press. (the clippings are pasted below with links). The Hon'ble Chief Justice further elaborated his statement by mentioning that "*Nowadays, women wear such kind of dresses even in temples and churches that when we go to places of worship, instead of meditating on God, we end up meditating on the person before us*" and that the "*provocative dresses that women wear in buses*" put the "*men travelling in the buses*" in awkward situations and hence "*women must dress modestly*." The Chairperson SHRC, speaking on 'Human Rights and the Lawyers Role", gave his opinion on the Mumbai New years eve molestation issue by saying "*Yes, men are bad", ''But who asked them (the women) to venture out in the night,'' ''Women should not have gone out in the night and when they do, there is no point in complaining that men touched them and hit them. Youth are destroying our culture for momentary satisfaction.''* Thousands of crimes like molestation, domestic violence, rape etc go unreported in the country because the patriarchal society we dwell in refuses women the space to report violence.Where it should be the prerogative of the seat of law to protect the privileges of the vulnerable and the victims of any violence, we have seen the perpetration of subjugative regressive ideology. As people who believe in systems of Justice and the value of equity, please join us in raising a voice for the cause of women in the country and sign the petition below: http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/indiawomen2008/ Do share the petition with as many people as possible. With warm regards, Arpita Joshi, Harminder Kaur, Gitanjali Mahanti, Bhargavi S Rao, Dolly Kalita http://www.hinduonnet.com/2008/02/09/stories/2008020959100600.htm * CJ has some 'modest' advice for women * Staff Reporter BANGALORE: Urging women to dress "modestly" for the "safety and security of the people," Cyriac Joseph, Chief Justice of the High Court of Karnataka, on Friday said: "Nowadays, women wear such kind of dresses even in temples and churches that when we go to places of worship, instead of meditating on God, we end up meditating on the person before us." Mr. Cyriac Joseph said that the "provocative dresses that women wear in buses" put the "men travelling in the buses" in awkward situations and hence "women must dress modestly." Reason Coming back to why attacks on women happen, he linked it to their clothes. He advised the media to play a "constructive role" by highlighting this reason. Launch The Chief Justice was delivering this speech at the launch of the journal "Supreme Court on Section 13 of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955" and the release of the "Judicial Empire", a monthly newspaper. http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IE120080209005211&Page=1&Title=Bangalore&Topic=0&; *Women were to blame: SHRC* Saturday February 9 2008 11:13 IST BANGALORE: State Human Rights Commission Chairperson Justice S R Nayak on Friday summed up the molestation incident in Mumbai on New Year's eve, which had enraged the entire country, with just these words: ''Yes, men are bad.'' ''But who asked them (the women) to venture out in the night,'' he asked, speaking on 'Human Rights and Lawyers' Role' at a programme organised by the Vakeelara Sangha to felicitate him for being conferred with the Nadoja Award. ''Women should not have gone out in the night and when they do, there is no point in complaining that men touched them and hit them. Youth are destroying our culture for momentary satisfaction,'' he remarked. The Mumbai incident, where two women were molested by a mob, had drawn criticism from various quarters. ------------- <http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/indiawomen2008/> (2) http://www.alternet.org/blogs/peek/77252/ " No, Bob Such, it is not just parents' responsibility to teach their boys that women like men have the right of sexual autonomy, it is society's responsibility too. The state has a responsibility of safeguarding all its citizens and this includes promoting women's sexual rights. Male-defined ideas of what supposedly comprises 'consent' to any sexual act must be challenged, since true consent cannot occur unless both parties mutually and freely agree. Too often men presume they know precisely what women desire sexually and it always neatly concurs with men's sexual desires and beliefs." (Lucinda Marshell, from her blog) .Please read the full text here: T-Shirts Don't Cause Rape No doubt about it, that is a headline I never thought I'd write, but thanks to Aussie MP Bob Such, apparently we need to clarify a few facts. "Independent MP Bob Such has also accused the women who wear them of demeaning their sex. The South Australian pollie and former Speaker of the SA Parliament yesterday said some clothing could lead to men losing respect for women. "I am not one to say that it in any way justifies a sexual assault, because it does not, but I see women getting around in T- shirts saying 'Give me a few more drinks and I will do this or that' and displaying comments drawing attention to their breasts and so on," he said. "People may say these are flippant comments but they do not help in trying to impress on young men a respect for women. Some of these women do not help, they actually demean women overall." During his speech Mr Such also questioned how someone could be charged with rape if consent was withdrawn "part way through intercourse". "I am aware in Western Australia men have been convicted of rape on the basis that they were part way through sexual intercourse and did not stop. "I am interested in the Attorney's justification for that. I think that the everday person - male or female, and I have spoken to men and women about this - finds it hard to understand how, if intercourse is underway someone can say "stop the world I want you to get off" and how that is really a reasonable action that could result in someone being charged with rape."" When I first saw the above, all I could do was sputter incoherently, so I asked UK activist Jennifer Drew if she would like to offer a response and she kindly obliged with this excellent response: "Independent MP Bob Such was wrong in accusing women of demeaning their sex when they wear T-shirts with captions such as 'Give me a few more drinks and I will do this or that' etc. It is the manufacturers who print and sell these T-shirts who should be held accountable for promoting the normalisation of women as men's sexualised commodities. Many women wear these T-shirts because they perceive them as either 'edgy' or simply humorous which is not surprising given the media claims such phrases are supposedly sexually empowering to women. T-shirts with captions saying 'Give me a few more drinks etc.' do not in themselves cause men to rape women. Male rapists choose to rape women irrespective of whether or not a woman is wearing a supposedly 'provocative T-shirt.' I am surprised Bob Such claims a man should not be charged with rape if a woman withdraws her consent after a man has commenced penetrating her with his penis. It is well known that men are not suddenly rendered incapable of withdrawing once their penises have entered a woman's body. Imagine a scenario wherein a woman and man are engaged in consensual penetration and the woman's or man's parents enter the room unannounced. Does the man continue penetration or does he withdraw out of embarrassment. Of course he withdraws because he has been caught 'in flagante.' Rape is rape and if a woman changes her mind after initially consenting to being penetrated, then her right of bodily integrity must be upheld. I am certain if a man consented to being penetrated anally and he changed his mind this would be upheld as his right. No, Bob Such, it is not just parents' responsibility to teach their boys that women like men have the right of sexual autonomy, it is society's responsibility too. The state has a responsibility of safeguarding all its citizens and this includes promoting women's sexual rights. Male-defined ideas of what supposedly comprises 'consent' to any sexual act must be challenged, since true consent cannot occur unless both parties mutually and freely agree. Too often men presume they know precisely what women desire sexually and it always neatly concurs with men's sexual desires and beliefs." No doubt about it, that is a headline I never thought I'd write, but thanks to Aussie MP Bob Such, apparently we need to clarify a few facts. "Independent MP Bob Such has also accused the women who wear them of demeaning their sex. The South Australian pollie and former Speaker of the SA Parliament yesterday said some clothing could lead to men losing respect for women. "I am not one to say that it in any way justifies a sexual assault, because it does not, but I see women getting around in T- shirts saying 'Give me a few more drinks and I will do this or that' and displaying comments drawing attention to their breasts and so on," he said. "People may say these are flippant comments but they do not help in trying to impress on young men a respect for women. Some of these women do not help, they actually demean women overall." During his speech Mr Such also questioned how someone could be charged with rape if consent was withdrawn "part way through intercourse". "I am aware in Western Australia men have been convicted of rape on the basis that they were part way through sexual intercourse and did not stop. "I am interested in the Attorney's justification for that. I think that the everday person - male or female, and I have spoken to men and women about this - finds it hard to understand how, if intercourse is underway someone can say "stop the world I want you to get off" and how that is really a reasonable action that could result in someone being charged with rape."" When I first saw the above, all I could do was sputter incoherently, so I asked UK activist Jennifer Drew if she would like to offer a response and she kindly obliged with this excellent response: "Independent MP Bob Such was wrong in accusing women of demeaning their sex when they wear T-shirts with captions such as 'Give me a few more drinks and I will do this or that' etc. It is the manufacturers who print and sell these T-shirts who should be held accountable for promoting the normalisation of women as men's sexualised commodities. Many women wear these T-shirts because they perceive them as either 'edgy' or simply humorous which is not surprising given the media claims such phrases are supposedly sexually empowering to women. T-shirts with captions saying 'Give me a few more drinks etc.' do not in themselves cause men to rape women. Male rapists choose to rape women irrespective of whether or not a woman is wearing a supposedly 'provocative T-shirt.' I am surprised Bob Such claims a man should not be charged with rape if a woman withdraws her consent after a man has commenced penetrating her with his penis. It is well known that men are not suddenly rendered incapable of withdrawing once their penises have entered a woman's body. Imagine a scenario wherein a woman and man are engaged in consensual penetration and the woman's or man's parents enter the room unannounced. Does the man continue penetration or does he withdraw out of embarrassment. Of course he withdraws because he has been caught 'in flagante.' Rape is rape and if a woman changes her mind after initially consenting to being penetrated, then her right of bodily integrity must be upheld. I am certain if a man consented to being penetrated anally and he changed his mind this would be upheld as his right. No, Bob Such, it is not just parents' responsibility to teach their boys that women like men have the right of sexual autonomy, it is society's responsibility too. The state has a responsibility of safeguarding all its citizens and this includes promoting women's sexual rights. Male-defined ideas of what supposedly comprises 'consent' to any sexual act must be challenged, since true consent cannot occur unless both parties mutually and freely agree. Too often men presume they know precisely what women desire sexually and it always neatly concurs with men's sexual desires and beliefs Tagged as: such, rape [Lucinda Marshall is a feminist artist, writer and activist. She is the Founder of the Feminist Peace Network. Her work has been published in numerous publications in the U.S. and abroad including, Counterpunch, AlterNet, Dissident Voice, Off Our Backs, the Progressive, Countercurrents, Z Magazine, Common Dreams, In These Times and Information Clearinghouse. She also blogs at WIMN Online and writes a monthly column for the Louisville Eccentric Observer.] --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Green Youth Movement" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/greenyouth?hl=en-GB -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
