Don’t want to be raped? Then don’t exist

Andhra Pradesh police chief V Dinesh Reddy feels ‘women provoke men to rape them by wearing flimsy clothes.’

Last week, he said the police cannot be faulted for the rise in rape cases. ‘It can’t be attributed to police failure. One of the factors is that the accused are getting provoked as women are getting fashionable, even in rural areas… it is one of the factors provoking the accused (towards rape),’ Reddy said.

Later claiming that his comments had been misinterpreted, look what he said. ‘What I meant was one of the factors behind rape cases was the provocative dresses worn by women over which police has no control.’ Same difference!

This reminds me of a handout on avoiding rape given to us as students in Women’s Studies class. So here goes:

“Don’t go out and get drunk, you could be raped. Don’t have sex with someone because someone they know could rape you. Don’t be young because youth attracts rapists. Don’t be a child, child abuse is quite common. Don’t be old and alone since you won’t be able to fight the rapist. Don’t live in elderly homes, you may be asking for trouble.  Don’t be single; rapists think single girls are sluts and deserve rape. Don’t be married, haven’t you heard of marital rape? Don’t go jogging, you can be raped. Don’t use public toilets, rapists are lurking. Don’t be unconscious or dying; or you’ll get yourself raped. Injured. Raped. Disabled. Raped. Alone. Raped. Asking for lifts. You guessed it.

“Don’t even bathe naked; you could get raped. Don’t wear skimpy clothes, dunno when someone like Reddy may get hormonal. Don’t wear baggy clothing, gowns or burkhas either, it plays on the rapist’s imagination. Don’t have a father, brother, uncle or grandfather. You could get raped by them. Don’t even think of having a step-father. So raped. Don’t be ugly, you could deserve rape. Don’t be beautiful, you will be too tempting. Don’t flirt, this can get you raped. Don’t be rude to men — they may want revenge. Don’t take public transport. Raped. Don’t drive your own car, what if someone hid in the back seat, you could get raped. Don’t sell sex or anything close to it. Raped, raped, raped!

“Don’t be mistaken for someone who might sell sex. Obviously, you would get raped. Don’t be a nurse, waitress, teacher, police woman, or hairdresser. They can get raped, even by colleagues. Don’t dance, you could be raped. Don’t relax, it may look like you want it. Don’t be stupid, don’t be naive, you’ll deserve what comes to you. Don’t be adventurous, only stupid women do that and get raped. Don’t be silent, how will anyone know you didn’t want rape. Don’t be scared, weakness arouses rapists. Don’t trust, don’t be awed, don’t be flattered — that could get you raped.”

So there’s only one way you can avoid being raped. Simply don’t exist!