Islamabad - Some time ago, a question went viral on the Internet, in which women were asked with whom they would feel safe in the forest. With a strange man or with a bear? About 95 percent of the women chose the bear, which many men missed. The question and its answer surprised a large number of people.
After that, CNN even wrote an article on it. This question and its answer were well discussed on TikTik and Insta.
Then the same question was asked by some women to men, who do they think their daughter is more safe with? Most of the men also chose the bear in this case and explained that the bear would probably kill only with its life, but there is no limit to the ferocity of a man.
After the gruesome death of Dr. Mamita in India, it seems that only bears can be found in this medical college at night. His tortured corpse tells a harrowing tale of brutal atrocities committed by many men, from which even beasts might seek refuge.
Mamita belonged to a middle-class family. His parents worked day and night to make their only child a doctor and the fateful night of August 9 plunged him into darkness forever.
As there was no separate room for the female doctor on duty, she decided to take a break in the seminar hall after 36 hours of duty and her body was found there in the morning.
The management first tried to paint it as suicide and then the principal said that he should not have gone to the seminar hall at night. Was their life so cheap that it was deemed appropriate to paint it as suicide or hold them personally responsible? How long will we blame the victim and back the real perpetrator? How long will we accept this thinking?
After the gang rape of a 22-year-old girl in a moving bus in Delhi in 2012, a movement was born and some measures have been taken to protect women, but they are certainly insufficient.
According to 2022 government data, an average of 90 cases of sexual assault are reported in India a day.
No one could cope with the painful news of Dr. Mamita's murder that on August 20, news of the sexual abuse of a five-year-old girl was heard from Ganga Ram Hospital in Lahore. Just like the principal of Dr. Mamita's college said that she should not have gone to the seminar hall, so perhaps this girl should not have been treated in the hospital?
Last month in Multan, Sania Zahra was hanged from a fan by her husband after severe torture and murder, so that it was considered suicide and not murder.
She was only 20 years old and pregnant with her third child. Her jaws, feet, ribs and several broken bones were evidence of her husband's brutality. If only her parents had not married their 15-year-old daughter to this animal, if only our society did not consider child marriage and husband violence acceptable.
From public transport to schools, from hospitals to streets, from offices to shops, countless incidents of harassment are heard every day.
A few days ago, a CCTV footage surfaced on social media, where a motorcyclist with a small child was seen groping a veiled woman on the street.
That is, such people are proudly passing on their dirty mentality, proving the weakness of women and the privileges of being a man to their next generation? To defend such indecent acts, the blame is usually placed on the woman's dress.
How can a girl walking down her street wearing an abaya be held guilty? Perhaps the fault of all women is birthing and breathing.
Women themselves are complicit in promoting patriarchal thinking and allowing men to tyrannize, who think that their brothers and sons are free from all restrictions. Even after such an atrocity, the wrongdoer is not usually cursed.
It is cursed that this should happen to the criminal's own sister and daughter.
That is, the woman of the sinner's house is targeted. Until our social thinking changes and we realize the oppression of women, perhaps no one is safe.
Even if men reach Western countries while disturbing women walking in the streets and markets, they do not dare to do so there.
They know very well that neither the law will grant any concession nor the society will accept such an absurd argument. Whether the girl is wearing short clothes or is alone in the evening or at night, the offender will be punished.
Prompt justice is very important for the criminal without making any excuses and defenses. Justice delayed equals justice denied.
Along with strict and immediate justice, a change of mindset is essential. It is very important to change men only do it to men respect women. Parents, teachers, media all have to play their role in changing this thinking.
Taking individual responsibility for this change is very important. Humor that demeans women should not be acceptable in private gatherings, offices, public transport, schools, even WhatsApp groups.
It is true that every man is not cruel but every man is not fulfilling his role.
Educated and talented men should be far ahead of women in spreading this awareness because "we are not like this is not enough anymore, everyone has to play their part. Only one woman will not be protected by the change of thinking b Like all men's sisters, daughters, wives, mothers, friends, colleagues, human beings in every form will be protected.
As a mother, I am heartbroken to hear this news. How long will we continue to struggle to get this basic right? Will this land ever become safe for our daughters?
Note: The opinion expressed in any blog, comment or column of DW Urdu is the personal opinion of the author, with which it is not necessary for DW to agree.
