By Daud Arif for TwoCircle.net,
Who am I?
I am a male for whom my family might have killed my unborn sister, or perhaps sisters, till they got to know it is me who is going to come in this world. You see, how honored I am in the hierarchy even before I arrive on the earth?
When I come in the world, I start learning at times by spoken words, at times by the things I see around. Few neighborhood families do take up the curse of giving birth to a female child. Oh yes, I heard females are curse in scriptures, Maybe God said it.
TCN file photo
When it comes to school, it is my right for sure to have access to education. I did hear decisions being made by those around me where I could easily pick up the fact that for many, females are not meant to go to school.
During the childhood days it was well taught to me that I will be the bread earner of the family, I will grow up and become a muscular being, free and independent to practice my might.
I did see Super‘Man’, Spider‘Man’ and Bat‘Man’ cartoons, I read Amar Chitra Katha , I heard stories of the battles and wars of the ancient times. Indeed might always have been an adjective associated with males, and females are always the ones who exists just for mere service.
Being done with school, with some female classmates on an exceptional note, next was the college. First, many of them were made to reach their ultimate destination – their parents employed them at the houses of male bosses. Of course, it was the employer’s right to ask for a bribe in return of the favor. Usually the bribe is spelled “DOWRY” and the job “MARRIAGE”.
Rest who continued college, I still remember many of them escorted by their younger brothers, half their age. Indeed, a younger male is strong enough to guard even an elder female, a fully grown girl, just because she is weak. In fact, for males the age is a progression, but for females there is an inverse relation between age and strength.
The media guided what my roles were. Cleaning, cooking, washing clothes, taking care of children, none of it was my job. Everywhere, it was there. Even the advertisements of all sorts, be it of detergent powder or of rice and wheat, the male was just the consumer, the receiver of the service.
When I am taught all this, when I am defined of my levels of superiority, why should I not be free and wild enough to meet my instincts? Women, after all second class, who cares.
If today an instinct is born within me, which is nothing but a result of what I have been socialized with all my life, why blame me for what you call as a crime against woman, rape or whatever?
There! First, stop classifying rape as a crime since it is my right and rights aren’t crimes. And if at all you are to debate if or not it is a crime, drag not me alone, but every single entity in our so-called structured society and ask them the questions!
That might give ingredient for a better and fruitful discussion. And tell you what? It just might be a cause of change in future!! (Just kidding, do you really think so?)
Till then, I am free, I am superior, and I am Independent, because I am a male !
Disclaimer: The post is a way to explore the hows and whys of the mindset of the offender is conditioned and what prompts a heinous crime such as rape. In no way this is a confession of a rapist.
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( Daud Arif is a student of Jamia Millia Islamia, currently in USA under an Exchange programme.)