Gang Rapes and Molestation Cases in India: Creating Mores for Eve-Teasing by Ambika Kohli

This article highlights the patriarchal nature of the Indian state and discusses this in relation to the state’s response to several rape and molestation cases. It emphasises a number of responses made by political, community and well-known fundamentalist leaders, which have focussed on controlling women’s sexuality and mobility. Such statements are framed within patriarchal notions of female morality, honour and shame through which mores are created for eve-teasing (sexual harassment). The article also discusses public remarks highlighted within the media in relation to the internationally reported Delhi gang rape case, which focussed on the movements and morality of the victim. I argue that such patriarchal responses support a rape culture in India, which has led to increased violence against women and breaches of Indian women’s human rights.

本文聚焦印度国家的父权制本质，并结合该国针对多起强奸与猥亵案件的应对举措展开论述。文中着重阐述了政界、社群及知名原教旨主义领袖的诸多表态，此类表态均以管控女性的性行为与行动自由为核心目标。此类表态依托父权制下的女性道德、名誉与羞耻观构建，借此为街头性骚扰（eve-teasing）确立社会习俗规范。本文还探讨了国际舆论聚焦的德里轮奸案中，媒体所披露的公众言论——这些言论将争议焦点集中在受害者的行动轨迹与道德操守之上。本文作者认为，此类父权制回应助长了印度的强奸文化，进而加剧了针对女性的暴力行为，并侵犯了印度女性的人权。