-Time for Women to Take a Stand

By Adelta Mathurin

Imagine yourself on a bus going home, from an evening movie with a friend. You’re 23 years old and six men approach you. They begin beating and sexually assaulting you.

You defend yourself by kicking and biting them. As your friend tries to help you, the men use a metal rod, hitting both of you, saying, “Maar do ise [kill her]!” Then the men toss you out the bus, and try to run you over.

Jyoti Singh Pandey

This actually happened to Jyoti Singh Pandey, a medical student from New Delhi, India, who was attacked on December 16, 2012. She suffered severe organ failure following serious internal injuries to her body and brain, and died peacefully with her family two weeks later. Her father

was left in shock and depression.

http://edition.cnn.com/2012/12/28/world/asia/india-rape-victim/index.

After her death, fellow Indians gathered for a candle lighting ceremony on December 31, 2012. Outraged crowds protested against Indian law enforcement’s lack of protection of women.

Jyoti was not the only victim. According to the New York Times, “In New Delhi 635 rape cases have been reported in the first 11 months of last year, but only one ended in conviction. Sixty-Eight percent of Indian judges said that ‘provocative attire’ amount to ‘an invitation to rape.’” http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/13/opinion/sunday/is-delhi-so-different-from-steubenville.html?ref=nicholasdkristof&_r=0

The problem is not only in India alone. In South Africa, 37 % of men reported that they raped a woman, according to the Times.

Recently five men were charged with Jyoti’s murder, rape, and kidnapping and could be sentenced to death if convicted. The sixth underage suspect is expected to attend juvenile court where he will be sentenced to three years in juvenile home.

Although the suspects were arrested, other Indian women, like a 19-year-old student and female friends at a leading women’s college in New Delhi, fear for their safety when they leave campus. http://edition.cnn.com/2012/12/21/world/asia/india-rape-danger/index.html

Women should protect themselves by learning self defense, although that would not have worked in Jyoti’s case. In addition, judges in India should start convicting rapists. That way other men would know raping someone is not acceptable. This story should inspire females like myself to voice our opinions, and stand up for ourselves.