When headlines of the recent mass molestation case in Bangalore appeared in newspapers across the country, there were many reactions. Some reacted with horror, some with empathy and most reacted with anger.
But there were also those who decided to take this opportunity to shame the victims and pass the buck to the ‘short dresses wearing’ girls who got molested by innocent boys. Innocent because they were tempted, like ants to sugar. We really wish we were making this up, but we’re not.
The comments from Karnataka’s home minister G. Parameswara and Samajwadi party leader Abu Azmi met with nationwide backlash. Yesterday, Akshay Kumar posted a video on Facebook ranting against the archaic remarks and the blatant misogyny they represented. “The Bangalore incident makes me feel we are evolving backwards,from humans to animals, rather beasts cause even animals are better! Truly shameful!” he wrote. In the video, he implores women to learn how to defend themselves in whatever way they can. He also calls out those who say women who wear short skirts or dresses are asking for it, saying that it’s not the skirts that are too small, it’s their minds.
Watch the video here:
To keep this momentum on conversation about sexual violence against women in India going, we’ve initiated a project that invites women across all walks of life to share their experiences with sexual harassment of any kind.
These women stepped forward to share the stories of their first time, and you can too. Speak up by tweeting or posting your story on Instagram using #MyFirstTime.
