ARINDAM GANGULY, OP
Bhubaneswar: The recently reported rape cases have led to heated discussions on how the scenario is steadily worsening and how things can change for the better. Discussions also centre around observations that changes in dress codes – from traditional to western outfits – are leading to rapes. So, do women have the right to wear what they want? Recently, a Botany professor in Kerala courted controversy by saying women who wear male dresses like jeans provoked nature and this led them to giving birth to transgenders. Those who questioned his submission stressed that freedom meant the freedom to choose what one wants to wear, eat, court, and engage in. Women were provoked by call for restrictions on their dress code.
A Denim Day was observed April 25 against the sexual assaults on women and opposing those who claimed that girls’ or women’s dress habits have much to do with the increase in the number of rape cases in the country. This campaign was originally triggered by a ruling from the Italian Supreme Court in a rape case. The conviction in the case by a lower court was overturned by the Supreme Court, as the judges felt the rape might have been prompted by the fact that the victim was wearing tight jeans. “She must have helped her rapist remove her jeans, thereby implying consent,” the court had said. The Denim Day campaign asked women to wear jeans with a purpose and support rape survivors, “and also educate yourself and others about sexual assault.”
What of India?
Ranvir Singh, Haryana Khap Panchayat leader, has been quoted as saying, “We should restrain our girls from wearing jeans.” Dinesh Reddy, police chief of Andhra Pradesh, said, “If women dress provocatively, then rapes cannot be checked by police.”
Do women face vulgar comments on their dressing habits?
Rosalin Swain : “Personally, it sounds irrelevant to me. A government that chooses to shut its eyes as women get raped every minute cannot be expected to wake up just because a bunch of common people like us decide to gather around to protect those wearing jeans. Still, this is what we do to voice our protest. “There will always be some morons who think wearing jeans makes women vulnerable to sexual attacks. I ignore such views. I have faced lewd comments even when I was in my school dress. It’s not just about the jeans, it’s about one’s mentality.”
Kalkee Krushna: Jeans is most easy to wear for any individual in spite of age and gender. The number of eve teasings as also rapes is increasing by the day and the saddest part is that many people still blame the victim (girl) and her dress. If a woman wears something short, she is victimised by men. But what about a man who wears shorts, or a boxer, and who roam about in the streets like this. No girl would even look at such men. That is the difference. So, if a girl can control her sexual urges, then why not a man? From my personal experience, if you wear jeans to college and at tuitions, people stare at you more. When it comes to human rights, unless and until your actions are not harming any individual or the society, then you are free to do anything. So, I
think, wearing jeans or any other dress doesn’t harm anyone. It’s nothing but a mental illness or a so-called traditional culture.
Smita Dash: During my post graduation years, I and my friends were on a visit to a nearby area in the city when a group started passing comments on our dressing. We simply ignored them and came back. It’s so strange that people think wearing jeans is not good for girls. It’s not about clothes. It’s all about the mentality and upbringing.”
Priyanka Priyadarsini: I don’t think there is any need for a special day to protest against sexual assaults. Sexual assault is something that is happening at every nook and corner of the country and almost with every age-group of women. Some incidents come into the public domain, and some do not. So, if you want to fight against it, start fighting against yourself first. Then only can you fight for those who can’t fight for themselves. Protesting doesn’t need to be done in an outrageous manner. It can be a small fight against a person or against a community that supports it. So, I personally don’t feel there is any need for a Jeans Day or anything like that. May be, at first, I was de-motivated by the society I was living in. But, my family always supported me in everything or in wearing any kind of dress. In my family, almost every woman wears jeans including my mother. Rather, she always encouraged me to wear one. We believe that girls are not judged by their clothes but by their personality.
Jayshree Pradhan: Women can wear whatever they want and feel comfortable.