As we begin 2017 in the aftermath of the Bengaluru mass molestation on New Year’s Eve, more among us are trying to draw attention to just how shamelessly blame is assigned to the victims in practically every case of sexual violation – leaving the culprits free to shirk all responsibility and move on to their next victim.
And such attention truly is the only way to bring about lasting change in the Indian society – through awareness, reflection and dialogue.
Was it the woman’s fault? Was she ‘asking for it’ because of where she was or at what time? Or perhaps because of what she did or what she wore? This powerful photo series by AIE Services endeavours to answer these questions, by revisiting a few recent incidents where women were sexually assaulted. And pointing out how old they were, where it happened and most importantly, what they were wearing.
A 25-year-old woman was molested by five men in Colaba, Mumbai.
An 18-year-old was molested in a bus while 50 others stood by passively.
A man assaulted a teenager at Marine Drive, Mumbai.
An innocent two-and-a-half-year-old was abused by someone she knew.
A woman was molested right outside Mumbai’s international airport by four men.
A 22-year-old woman was gang-raped by five men.
A 35-year-old woman was sexually assaulted in Kamathipura, Mumbai.
A 22-year-old was molested on a crowded Mumbai local train.
A woman was raped in Mumbai during the early evening hours.
It is only when we stop blaming the victims that we’ll ever find a way to end this evil and move away from a world where women simply do not feel safe. Here’s hoping that world isn’t far away.