Women in solidarity

A law student’s bobbitisation of her sexual predator in Thiruvananthapuram last week has caused much a stir in the state. Most women activists see this as a desperate act as society has not produced any reliable institution a woman can go to and demand safety for herself. Women activists held demonstrations in several parts of the state expressing solidarity with the girl.

In Kozhikode, social activists K. Ajitha, P.Viji, Gargi Harithakam and P.P Sapna conducted a rally on May 23 at Mananchira supporting the girl.

 Myna Umaiban, a writer and a social activist, said she felt that the act of the girl reflected poorly on the failure of the government. “In most cases woman get no justice,” she said. “If that was not the case, the girl might have approached the police.”

Journalism student Anna Pappachan said she would take it as a bold act but wanted the government to step in to help women in vulnerable position. “I hope the government will take strict action against the culprits at least next time.” Reshmi Manghat, a journalism student at Sacred Heart’s College, Thevara, would like everyone to understand the physical and emotional trauma the girl had to undergo all these years of sexual abuse.

C. Thulasi, an engineering student at SRM University at Chennai says bobbitisation was a defence mechanism against sexual assaults. “It’s sad if she was trapped with the knowledge of her mother.” C. Ashna, a teacher at White School, Kozhikode, would take it as a lesson for every man who misbehaves with a woman”.

Sreya Venugopal, a psychology student at St. Aloysius College, Mangalore, blames the slow process of the judicial system that forced the girl to take this violent step. “There are nations which assure speedy action against those who abuse women. We must look for solutions that ensure speedy justice.”