Where is her honour?

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  • Women are considered as symbol of honour. This is a major factor in sexual crimes during war and communal riots. Patriarchal idea of honouring women based on her virginity,hymen,sexual activity is also main cause of sexual offences. Rape is a crime which hurts women physically and psychologically, but her honour is not lost." Why to place a woman's honour in her vagina?" is my question to all sexist people. Rape cases go unreported due to the value system of virtue and honour.  People used to argue that feminist shout "rape,rape". Rape never existed before feminism and liberation. I have met 2 rape victims who never reported due to fear. Let me share their story.Soundaram was an old widowed women, she was the last women to have her head tonsured and wearing sandal colour saree. She said she was a widow at the age of 16. Her parents could not take her back;as it used to be in her days. She didn't have any children and her parents were poor. she said she was raped by her brother-in-law. I was astonished and asked her why she didn't report.  She said that her Co-sister found that her husband has an eye on her and she became vigilant. She started harassing me and always mentioned that a widow have to stay in maternal home. My Brother-in-law raped me during her delivery. He threatened me of throwing me out of the home if I reveal about the incident. She was an 89 year old women and she said to me these things when I was questioning her of plight of widows. She lived with her Brother-in-law's  children. She further added ,no body  have ever asked to wear colourful saree, in spite of changing times. I met a 45 year old home caterer. She said that she was married to mentally retarded man. She was not informed of his condition. She said  she was sexually abused by her Brother-in-law. Her parents could not afford to care her. She never said about her harassment to any one fearing shame. Shame,blame and guilt are main reasons for rape. Women's character,dress and time are never reason for rape.

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