Sexual Violence Becomes Normalized in Modi's India

A disturbing pattern of normalization has emerged in India, where sexual violence against women has become so commonplace that it barely registers public outrage, even as the government performs theatrical indignation over other scandals involving foreign figures.

The stark contrast in responses reveals a troubling reality about priorities in contemporary India. While government officials express performative outrage over international figures' past associations, the systematic violence against Indian women has become disturbingly routine, met with bureaucratic indifference rather than meaningful action.

This selective moral outrage exposes a fundamental disconnect between political theater and genuine concern for women's safety. The government's ability to summon immediate condemnation for foreign scandals stands in sharp contrast to its muted response to domestic sexual violence, suggesting that women's safety has become a secondary concern in the national discourse.

The normalization of such violence represents a profound societal failure. When rape becomes "ordinary" in public consciousness, it signals the erosion of basic human dignity and the collapse of protective social structures. This desensitization creates a dangerous environment where perpetrators operate with increasing impunity, knowing their actions will likely fade into the background noise of daily life.

The implications extend beyond individual tragedies to encompass broader questions about India's social fabric and governance priorities. When a government can mobilize swift condemnation for international controversies while remaining largely passive about endemic violence against its own citizens, it reveals a troubling hierarchy of concerns that places political posturing above fundamental human rights.

This pattern of selective attention undermines efforts to address the root causes of gender-based violence. Without sustained governmental commitment and public outrage, the systems that enable such violence continue to operate unchallenged, perpetuating cycles of harm that affect millions of women across the country.

The contrast between performed outrage and actual indifference suggests that addressing sexual violence requires more than occasional statements or symbolic gestures. It demands sustained political will, comprehensive policy reform, and a fundamental shift in how society values women's safety and dignity.

Sources

1. In Modi's India, scandal still embarrasses but rape has become ordinary — Al Jazeera English