The Social Tolerance of Rape: An Analysis of the Jyothi Singh Case

• In Event: Roundtable: Sexual Violence and Consent

Abstract

Rape culture describes the interactions between patriarchy, victim blaming, objectification of women and responses (justice system, family, community) to victims and perpetrators of rape. Rape culture depends on the larger culture of the country. Rape culture in India could be defined as a social tolerance of rape. In a culture driven by patriarchal dominance and antiquated views of sexual violence against women, it is no surprise that more than 240,000 sexual offenses against women were reported in India in 2012. The number of incidents is likely even higher, however many rapes go unreported because women are afraid their perpetrator may retaliate, they may be persecuted by their family, and isolated by their community. In public discourse, rape is still viewed as a victim provoked incident, which is socially tolerated. The Jyothi Singh case highlights this tolerance. This paper will highlight elements of Jyothi Singh’s rape and engage in a larger discussion about rape culture in India. These elements are blaming of Jyothi Singh, how the justice system treated her and the perpetrators, how the victim’s family and the community responded to this assault, and how all of these elements combine to allow for a culture of rape in India.

Authors

• Laurel A. Mazar, University of Illinois at Chicago

• Evanka Swampillai, University of Illinois at Chicago