Wronging women

In a startling demonstration of insensitivity,and clear violation of the law,the Jammu and Kashmir government has revealed the identities of hundreds of rape victims across the state. A 90-page document listing names and addresses,parents names and tehsil identification of rape victims were handed out to legislators and the media. When asked a question in the assembly about someone accused of rape,the government gratuitously provided details about the victims.

The public outing can be devastating for these victims and their families,and is entirely at odds with the practice of concealing the victims identity in cases of sexual assault,and may make women even more reluctant to report these incidents. This is a difficult argument to make,since it seems to reinforce patriarchal ideas about shame. Women and their bodies are vested with larger notions of group honour,their autonomy and mobility is constrained by the effort to secure that honour,and then,if they are brutalised by a male world,they are further blamed for losing that honour. Some might say that effacing these names would further entrench the shame,make victims feel that they went through an unspeakable experience. They argue that unemotionally describing the assault is the only way to drain the emotional pain,move away from a position of victimhood to one of control. However,that position ignores the situatedness of these women. In an ideal world,sexual crime would not carry a special stigma and the victims of rape or sexual assault may be named,just like anyone who has suffered any other kind of violent crime. However,we know that in our social context,women are shamed and harassed for their own victimhood. After the physical and psychic violation of rape,they have to deal with the trauma of being socially singled out and shunned.

That is why the states Ranbir Penal Code explicitly forbids the disclosure of their identities,and makes it a punishable offence,unless permission has been given by the victim or her nearest relative if she is dead,or if she is a minor. The Jamp;K home ministry,headed by Omar Abdullah,has made a spectacular error by giving away these details. It has shown a deep disregard for the privacy and selfhood of its citizens.