By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: While taking a dig at the recent statement by Andhra Pradesh Police Chief, V Dinesh Reddy for blaming women’s dressing style for the increase in crime against them, many commoners have opined that one should not overlook the easy accessibility of adult sites in television, internet and CDs which is alleged to have been easily available in the markets of the town, which is significantly fuelling crimes against women.
A college teen said that one should not read too much about the Andhra Chief’s remarks but should be more concerned about the easy availability of porn materials in the market. “The flow of information now is readily available which is rather affecting the society,” she said.
Like her a university student said that media also plays a crucial role in this regard. “I am not saying that the media should not report on crime and other social evils but it is about the rapid flow of information which influences the society now,” he said.
A guardian said that small shops and roadside vendors in the city are the hotbeds where adult CDs are available. “Youths mostly target these vendors. The hunt should be on these vendors,” he said. But crimes against women have to been seen from the right perspective, according to a professor of NEHU.
“It has to be understood that the problem of violence against women is the outcome of a long standing power imbalance between men and women in the country. By and large men have total control over property and resources and there is also a sexual division of labor in India that results in female exploitation,” he said.
However it has also to be seen that violence against women in the country has deep seated tradition roots in the culture. “Crime against women in the country is there since time immemorial. I would rather say that the current crimes are mostly due to the opening up of the economy and the increased impact of westernization in the country,” said a parent. She is echoed by an elderly gentleman who said that this is where the dress sense comes into play.
“These wears are meant for the western countries where people’s outlook is liberal whereas the Indian mental setup is not so,” he said.
But there are also those who are of the opinion that dress sense to an extent also inclines others to do the wrong thing. “I am not endorsing what the police chief in Andhra Pradesh had said recently but it is true that people have a tendency to look at some people differently in line with their dresses,” said a resident of the town.
An insurance executive said that how a person dresses also reveals the personality inside.
“Everyone knows that there are some men and women who take a long time in makeup. So it will be unwise to say that dress sense can incite a feeling on the onlookers,” he said adding that the person who dresses up taking long hours would also like to get noticed.