The idea that men and women are equal and have fundamental human rights, among them the freedom to control their own sexuality - and not to have that sexuality controlled by anyone else - has its origins in the Enlightenment (though of course roots can be found in many older traditions). It has spread worldwide from the "West" - the colonial, material and cultural hegemony which the "West" (Europe and North America) has established throughout the world in the past 300 years or so has many consequences, some negative, some positive, most now irreversible. it has taken generations for the practical consequences of this basic recognition of equality and autonomy to work themseves out. In most western countries women have only obtained the vote in the past hundred and twenty years. The recognition and practical application of these basic rights mean a continual cultural revolution which is by no means at an end.
It's 55 years ago now since the contraceptive pill was first approved in the USA. It has initiated a further fundamental change in human cultures and societies, since now women have a dependable method of control over their fertility. It has meant that sexual relations must no longer be automatically linked with human reproduction. The consequences of this revolution are also still working themselves out. I am no proponent of cultural imperialism. This, however, does not mean that I am an adherent of value-less cultural relativism. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_Declaration_of_Human_Rights> is a constitutive document of the UN and as such binding for all its members (India was one of the countries which initially voted in favour of it in December 1948). There is no excuse for rape. The view - which *is *unfortunately held by many in India (and in many other countries for that matter) - that women invite rape by their dress, or behaviour, is completely illegitimate and a denial of the fundamental human right of sexual autonomy. In this context I would also argue that the general argument put forward in the Islamic tradition that women should cover themselves in public so as not to excite base masculine sexual instincts is also completely reprehensible. The view that women, through their display of sexual attractiveness, provoke men to uncontrolled animalistic behaviour is demeaning - both for men and women. Different cultures, societies, and countries are a different stages of this process of this fundamental redefinition of sexuality and human relationships - the long journey away from a patriarchal to an egalitarian world. India is in a different place to France, or Saudi Arabia, or the USA, or China, or Nigeria, or Germany. In my native Ireland a referendum will be held this year, the result of which, in all probability, will be the confirmation of the equal legal status of gay marriage. Just another consequence of a deepening understanding of the consequences of the basic human right to sexual autonomy. >From what I have read about it, showing the documentary about the horrific rape and murder of a young woman in Delhi a few years ago could have led to a continuation of the discussion of Indian cultural attitudes - and what is wrong with them. Banning it was a mistake by the Indian authorities - a sign of a failure of nerve perhaps, or a capitulation to a backward cultural attitude. But the discussion will go on nevertheless and with the discussion will come change. Am Mittwoch, 4. März 2015 20:13:51 UTC+1 schrieb facilitator: > > Article: > "Blaming women for rape is what hundreds of millions of men here are > taught to believe. > And the code for women in this country is simple: Dress modestly, don't go > out at night, don't go to bars and clubs, don't go out alone. If you break > the code, you will be blamed for the consequences. > > When one of the four men sentenced to death for the high-profile gang rape > of the woman in 2012 was quoted in a new documentary as saying "a girl is > far more responsible for rape than a boy," he was repeating something > community and religious leaders in this nation of 1.2 billion routinely say. > -- --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups ""Minds Eye"" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
