I agree with the sentiment. Well said!

I just read that Train to Chennai link you provided and how many times have I experienced exactly the same thing on North Indian transporation! Countless times. It is abuse, plain and simple. And the funny thing is, all the confusion and conflicting emotions that Hemangini expressed are common amongst all us women who bear this type of abuse frequently. The problem in India is that the transportation like busses or tempos are often so crowded that when hands are on you, you really don’t know who they belong to, so you cannot slap anyone without possibly slapping the wrong man. And the abuse also is meted out in a very tricky way, such as an “accidental” brush against the breasts, where you really can’t tell if it was on purpose or not. Just like Hemangini was first thinking. And then there’s the classic pinch or rub on the left buttock by a man walking behind you and to the right. So first reaction is to look left and think it’s somebody on your left side, while “Mr. Right” walks briskly by. Uggggggggh!!!! It’s exasperating. Read any Indian travel guide. They all have a warning to women about this.

When reading Hemangini’s account of her experience and all the, “madam you will ruin my life,” and “madam, rethink this, you will ruin his life” pleas, all I could think was his life NEEDS to be ruined!!! It’s called KARMA PHAL, the just deserts of one’s actions. And the funny thing is – the guy was travelling to take his RAILWAY EXAM. Imagine if he ended up working for the railways what kind of havoc he could wreck on all the women travellers as he roams from carriage to carriage in the wee hours of the night?!?! Perhaps now he will think twice before attempting rape.

If all Indian women and non-Indian women travelling in India stood up for themselves like Hemangini did in similar situations, perhaps India really could be “shining”.

Maitri -

Regarding the above quoted, “Apparently in situations where men feel powerless, they often empower themselves by stealing whatever little power the only people who are always less powerful than them, women, possess.”

My question is, do the conditions of India cause (alot of) it’s men to behave like this? There is a percentage that do not behave like this, even facing the very same conditions.

spiral-city, that’s exactly how I see it, too.

Even if we take it as fact that women and children need more protection during chaos, more than who? Leave the men who are being murdered(drowning in Katrina) in chaotic situations and give priority to protecting women?

Again, I do not advocate that men are not saved or paid attention to during times of crisis. However, in shitty times, women have it shittier, and not because they are inherently weaker, but because they don’t have the things that normally defend them namely secure shelter, a working police force and a criminal justice system.

At least, put “the protection of women and children” on the priority list or make them an equal priority.

Apparently in situations where men feel powerless, they often empower themselves by stealing whatever little power the only people who are always less powerful than them, women, possess.

During the evacuation and flood in New Orleans, many of the drug-addicted lost their supplies and suppliers rendering them menacing than usual. In this time, disenfranchised men physically and sexually assaulted disenfranchised women and children. It was their power, their release, the only thing they could have, and they grabbed.

Education of women is key, too. Our public school system has historically stunk as badly as the bathrooms these poor children have had to use. When poorer black women are pregnant by 15 and Welfare Queen is an occupation, self-esteem is in the pits and it only gets worse during Katrina-like crises.

We are terribly fair (except for those of us with tans).

Rolls eyes

Please try and remember that as we moderate these threads, we are looking at a much bigger picture than some of you are,

I’m glad someone is. Based on extensive past experience, I have complete faith in you and have no doubt that my trust is well-founded.

I wish you blogged on SM as much as you used to. Your presence here has been sorely missed.