Intersection of Sexual Violence against Women and Sectarian Agendas in India

Authors

  • Afroza Anwary Minnesota State University, Mankato

https://doi.org/10.17583/generos.2018.3368

Keywords:


Downloads

Abstract

ABSTRACT

Using on-line newspaper reports, this paper examines how the narratives and counter narratives of the highly publicised gang rape of Pandey in 2012 reproduce rape myths. Using thematic analysis techniques, this research examines how gang rape is used in sectarian agendas in India. It demonstrates that the responses of government, the main opposition political party, and prominent leaders of Hindu nationalist forces to rape cannot be separated from the intersection of gender, misogynist culture and politics. Findings indicated that violated women’s bodies became a space for political debates between a conservative, opposition political party’s claims about Indian traditions and the government of India. These findings have important implications if we want to challenge rape myths that obscure the need for social and political transformation to stop rape. The highly publicised rape of Pandey marked a turning point for the anti-rape movement in India.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Author Biography

Afroza Anwary, Minnesota State University, Mankato

Professor of Sociology

References

Adawy, H. (2014). The Spark of ‘Nirbhaya’: Indian feminist interventions, common challenges

Google Scholar Crossref

and prospects, Spotlight, Institute of Regional Studies. Islamabad. Available at

Google Scholar Crossref

(www.irs.org.pk). Last accessed 28 February 2016.

Google Scholar Crossref

Anand, D. (2007). Anxious sexualities: Masculinity, nationalism and violence, The British Journal of Politics and International Relations, 9(2), 257-68.

Google Scholar Crossref

Basu, A. (1999). Women’s activism and the vicissitudes of Hindu nationalism, Journal of

Google Scholar Crossref

Women’s History, 1(4), 104-24.

Google Scholar Crossref

Basu, A. (1998). Appropriating Gender. In P. Jeffrey, P. & A. Basu, (Eds.) Appropriating

Google Scholar Crossref

Gender: Women’s Activism and Politicized Religion in South Asia, (pp. 3-14). Routledge: New York.

Google Scholar Crossref

Baxi, P. (2013). Rape cultures in India. [Blog entry]. Available at

Google Scholar Crossref

(http://kafila.org/2012/12/23/rape-cultures-in-india-pratiksha-baxi). Last accessed 13 March 2013.

Google Scholar Crossref

BBC. (2013). Explaining India’s new anti-rape laws, 28th March. Available at (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-21950197). Last accessed 28 March 2013.

Google Scholar Crossref

BBC. (2011). Rape and murder in Uttar Pradesh, by S. Darapuri. Available at (http://www.bbc.com/news/world-south-asia-14058814). Last accessed 18 July 2011.

Google Scholar Crossref

Bennice, J. & Patricia R. (2003). Marital rape: History, research, and practice, Trauma, Violence & Absue, 4, 228-46, doi:10.1177/1524838003004003003.

Google Scholar Crossref

Brownmiller, S. (1975). Against our Will: Men, Women and Rape. New York: Simon and Schuster.

Google Scholar Crossref

Connell, R. (2000). The Men and the Boys. Berkeley: University of California Press.

Google Scholar Crossref

Connell, R. & Messerschmidt, J. (2005). Hegemonic masculinity: Thinking the concept. Gender & Society, 19 (6), 829-59.

Google Scholar Crossref

Crenshaw, K. (1991). Mapping the margins: Intersectionality, identity politics, and

Google Scholar Crossref

violence against women of color. Stanford Law Review, 43, 1241-79.

Google Scholar Crossref

India Today. (2012a). Delhi gang-rape protests: President's son Abhijit

Google Scholar Crossref

Mukherjee withdraws his 'dented, painted women' remark. Available at (http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/delhi-gangrape-protests-abhijit-mukherjee-pranab-mukehrjee-son-withdraws-sexist-remark/1/239672.html). Last accessed 27 December 2012.

Google Scholar Crossref

India Today. (2012b). Migration to blame for rape, India Today, 12th April. Available at

Google Scholar Crossref

(http://indiatoday.in/video/migration-to-blame-for-rapes-sheila-dixit/1/184066.html). Last accessed 12 April 2012.

Google Scholar Crossref

India Today. (2013). Now VHP blames Western lifestyle for incidence of rape, 6th January.

Google Scholar Crossref

Available at (http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/vhp-blames-western-lifestyle-for-incidents-of-rape-in-the-country/1/241011.html). Last accessed 6 January 2013

Google Scholar Crossref

IRS. (2014). Available at

Google Scholar Crossref

(http://www.mruc.net/sites/default/files/IRS%202014%20Topline%20Findings_0.pdf). Last accessed 15 January 2016.

Google Scholar Crossref

Khanna, R. (2008). Communal violence in Gujarat, India: Impact of sexual violence and

Google Scholar Crossref

responsibilities of the health care system, Reproductive Health Matters, 16(3), 142-52.

Google Scholar Crossref

Kumar, S. (2001). Communalism and Secularism in Indian Politics: The Study of the BJP. New

Google Scholar Crossref

Delhi: Rawat Publications.

Google Scholar Crossref

Lonsway, K. & Fitzgerald, L. (1995). Attitudinal antecedents of rape and myth

Google Scholar Crossref

acceptance: A theoretical and empirical reexamination, Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 68, 704-11.

Google Scholar Crossref

MacAskill, A. (2013, January 10). Delhi rape victims are to blame, defendants’ lawyer say.

Google Scholar Crossref

Available at (Http://www.bloomberg.com/2013-01-09/delhi-rape-accused to-plead-not guilty-lawyers-say.html). Last accessed January 28 2013.

Google Scholar Crossref

Meyers, M. (1997). News Coverage of Violence against Women: Engendering Blame. London:

Google Scholar Crossref

Sage Ltd.

Google Scholar Crossref

Parashar, S. (2013). Delhi Rape Case: Rethinking Feminism and Violence against Women.

Google Scholar Crossref

Available at (http://www.e-ir.info/2013/02/11/the-delhi-rape-case-rethinking-feminism-and-violence-against-women). Last accessed 18 December 2016.

Google Scholar Crossref

Robinson, R. (2010). Boundary battles: Muslim women and community identity in the

Google Scholar Crossref

aftermath of violence, Women’s Studies International Forum, 33, 365-73.

Google Scholar Crossref

Ryan, K. (2011). The relationship between rape myths and sexual scripts: The social

Google Scholar Crossref

construction of rape. Sex Roles, 65, 774-82.

Google Scholar Crossref

Schwalbe, M., Godwin, S., Holden, D., Schrock, D., Thompson, S.,

Google Scholar Crossref

& Wolkomir, M. (2000). Generic processes in the reproduction of inequality: An interactionist analysis. Social Forces, 79(2), 418-52.

Google Scholar Crossref

Shandilya, K. (2015). Nirbhaya’s body: The politics of protest in the aftermath of the 2012

Google Scholar Crossref

Delhi gang rape. Gender and History, 27(2), 465-86.

Google Scholar Crossref

Simon-Kumar, R. (2014). Sexual violence in India: The discourses of rape and the discourses

Google Scholar Crossref

of justice. Indian Journal of Gender Studies, 21(3), 451-460.

Google Scholar Crossref

Suarez, E. & Gadalla, T. (2010). Stop blaming the victim: A meta-analysis on rape

Google Scholar Crossref

myths, Journal of Interpersonal violence, 25(11), 2010-35.

Google Scholar Crossref

The Daily Mail. (2013). Judge bars Delhi gang rape defendants from chaotic

Google Scholar Crossref

courtroom after 150 people cram into space meant for 30. Available at (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2258306/Delhi-gang-rape-Five-men-charged-Jyoti-Singh-Pandey-murder-appear-court.html#ixzz4RxJ77Md3). Last accessed 7 January 2013.

Google Scholar Crossref

The Hindu. (2012a). Delhi gang rape: The victim narrates the tale of horror. Available at

Google Scholar Crossref

(http://www.the hindu.com/national/delhi-gang-rape-the-victim-narrates-the-tale-of-horror). Last accessed 23 December 2012.

Google Scholar Crossref

The Hindu. (2012b). Let’s ask how we contribute to rape. Available at

Google Scholar Crossref

(http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/lets-ask-how-we-contribute-to-rape/article4235902.ece). Last accessed 25 December 2012.

Google Scholar Crossref

The Hindu. (2012c). Capital’s hall of shame. Available at

Google Scholar Crossref

(http://www.thehindu.com/capital-hall-of-shame). Last accessed 18 December 2012.

Google Scholar Crossref

The Hindu. (2012d). JNU student take to streets against capital’s shame. Available (http://www.thehindu.com/jnu-student-take-to-streets-against-capital’s-shame). Last

Google Scholar Crossref

accessed 19 December 2012.

Google Scholar Crossref

The Hindu. (2012e). Angry protest over gang rape. Available at (http://www.thehindu.com/angry-protest-over-gang-rape). Last accessed 20 December

Google Scholar Crossref

Google Scholar Crossref

The Hindu. (2012f). Crackdown mutes protest by Ali Mohammad and Ashok

Google Scholar Crossref

Kumar. Available at (http://www.thehindu.com). Last accessed 24 December 2012.

Google Scholar Crossref

The Hindu. (2012g). Let’s ask how we contribute to rape. Available at

Google Scholar Crossref

(http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/lets-ask-how-we-contribute-to-rape/article4235902.ece). Last accessed 25 December 2012.

Google Scholar Crossref

The Hindu. (2012h). Senior police officers should be held Accountable says Delhi CM.

Google Scholar Crossref

Available at http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/senior-police-officers-should-be

Google Scholar Crossref

held-accountable-says-delhi-cm/article4232431.ece. Last accessed 23 December 2012.

Google Scholar Crossref

The Hindu. (2012i). Angry protest cross Delhi over gang-rape. Available at

Google Scholar Crossref

http://www.thehindu.com/. Last accessed 20 December 2012.

Google Scholar Crossref

The Hindu. (2013a). Delhi gang-rape main accused Ram Sing found hanging, Pandey, D.

Google Scholar Crossref

& Sikdar, S. Available at (http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/delhi-gang-rape-main-accused-ram-sing-found-hanging/article4496333.ece). Last accessed 11 March 2013

Google Scholar Crossref

The Hindu. (2013b). Delhi gang rape: Chronology of events. Available at

Google Scholar Crossref

(http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/delhi-gang-rape-chronology-of-events). Last accessed 31 August 2013.

Google Scholar Crossref

The Hindu. (2013c). Women are equally responsible for sexual assault. Available at

Google Scholar Crossref

(http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/women-equally-responsible-for-crimes-against-them/article4273827.ece). Last accessed 5 January 2013.

Google Scholar Crossref

The Hindu. (2013d). Rape, shame and the curse of patriarchy. Available at

Google Scholar Crossref

(http://www.thehindu.com/rae-shame-and-the-curse-of-patriarchy). Last accessed 19 January, 2013.

Google Scholar Crossref

The Hindu. (2013e). Failure of government: Cause of crime against women. Available at

Google Scholar Crossref

(http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/failure-of-governancerrt-cause-of-crime-against-women-verma-committee/article4336046.ece?homepage=true). Last accessed 24 January 2013.

Google Scholar Crossref

The Hindu. (2013f). Helpline launched for women to report sexual assault cases. Available at

Google Scholar Crossref

http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/helpline-launched-for-women-to-reprot-sexual-assault-cases. Last accessed 4 January 2013.

Google Scholar Crossref

The Hindu. (2013g). Rape prevalent in India, not in Bharat. Available at (http://www.the

Google Scholar Crossref

hindu.com/news/national/rapes-prevelant-in-india-not-in-bharat/article4272914.ece). Last accessed 4 January 2013.

Google Scholar Crossref

The Hindustan Times. (2012a). Ninety percent rape cases consensual. Available at (http://www.hindustantimes.com/india/ninety-percent-rape-cases-consensual/story iY3vp3mTERGEqVzMJ6H8CM.html). Last accessed 16 October 2012.

Google Scholar Crossref

The Hindustan Times. (2012b). PM warns of ‘footloose migrants’ from rural areas by M. Singh.

Google Scholar Crossref

Available at (http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/NewDelhi/PM-warns-of-footlose-migrants-from-rural-areas/Article1-981257.aspx). Last accessed 27 December 2012.

Google Scholar Crossref

The India Week. (2013a). India’s deadly gang rape: 6 troubling attempts to blame the victim.

Google Scholar Crossref

Available at (http://theweek.com/article/index/238542/indias deadly-gang-rape-6-troubling-attempts-to-blame-the-victim). Last accessed 9 January 2013.

Google Scholar Crossref

The India Week (2013b). Now, VHP blames western lifestyle for incidents of rape. Available at

Google Scholar Crossref

(http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/vhp-blames-western-lifestyle-for-incidents-of-rape-in-the-country/1/241011.html). Last accessed 6 January 2013.

Google Scholar Crossref

The New York Times. (2012a). Week responses of India government in rape cases

Google Scholar Crossref

stokes rage. Available at (http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/30/world/asia/weak-response-of-india-government-in-rape-case-stokes-rage.html). Last accessed 12 December 2012.

Google Scholar Crossref

The New York Times. (2012b). A village rape shatters a family, and India’s traditional silence.

Google Scholar Crossref

Available at (http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/28/world/asia/a-village-rape-shatters-a-family-and-indiastraditional-silence.html). Last accessed 27 October 2012.

Google Scholar Crossref

The Times of India. (2012). The president’s son’s sexist remarks kick up

Google Scholar Crossref

nationwide storm. Available at (http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-12-28/india//36035658_1_sexist_remarks_unconditional_aplogy_cpm_leader). Last accessed 28 December 2012.

Google Scholar Crossref

The Times of India. (2013). Delhi gang rape incident: Asaram Blames Nirbhaya sparks furor.

Google Scholar Crossref

Available at (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Delhi-gang-rape-incident-Asaram blames-Nirbhaya-sparks-furore/articleshow/17933863.cms). Last accessed 8 January 2013.

Google Scholar Crossref

The Times of India. (2015). My daughter’s name was Jyoti Sing. Not ashamed to name her:

Google Scholar Crossref

Nirbhoya’s mother. Available at (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/My-daughters-name-was-Jyoti-Singh-Not-ashamed-to-name-her-Nirbhayas-mother/articleshow/50206977.cms). Last accessed 16 December 2015.

Google Scholar Crossref

Van der Veer, P. (1996). Religious Nationalism: Hindus and Muslims in India. New Delhi: Oxford University Press.

Google Scholar Crossref

Youtube. (2012a). Sushma Swaraj demands capital punishment over Delhi gang rape-case.

Google Scholar Crossref

Available at ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XfL0EbMw684), Last accessed February 10, 2017.

Google Scholar Crossref

Youtube. (2012b). Norendra Modi slams center on Delhi gang rape. Available at (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lnQQ58ySv8A). Last accessed 27 January 2012.

Google Scholar Crossref

Youtube. (2013). Mohanji Bhagwat: What he actually said, on the Bharatya tradition of

Google Scholar Crossref

respecting women. Available at (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aGu8nNLfpyE). Last accessed 4 January 2012.

Google Scholar Crossref

Downloads

Published

2018-10-25

Almetric

Dimensions

How to Cite

Anwary, A. (2018). Intersection of Sexual Violence against Women and Sectarian Agendas in India. Multidisciplinary Journal of Gender Studies, 7(3), 1736–1761. https://doi.org/10.17583/generos.2018.3368

Issue

Section

Articles