A recent International Men and Gender Equality Survey (IMAGES) conducted in six developing countries across four contingents including Brazil, Croatia, Mexico, Rwanda and India revealed the mindset and attitude of men towards violence. The sample comprised 8,000 men and 3,500 women between the age range of 18 to 59 years. The findings revealed that rarely one in four Indian men has committed sexual violence at some point in their lives. 1,000 men out of 1,500 interviewed in India belonged to Delhi where the rape cases reported in 2010 were 499.
A similar study related to sexual harassment was carried by Department of Women and Child Development Delhi in 2004. The sample comprised of 5000 men and women under-35 years of age. The results indicated that 85.4 women, 87% men and 93% common witnesses confirmed sexual harassment to the extent that this single factor made Delhi the most unsafe city.
Such studies are an eye-opener for those who are glued to the Indian channels watching TV dramas serials where the soul of men is mostly submissive to women in the house. Violence is considered the worst act when it is related to women.
It is a double-edged trap for the international community as well as own audience to consider Indian men as very polite, hardworking and keeping themselves away from issues which may cause a conflict.
ANWAR MUKHTAR
Islamabad
