Violence Against Women in U.S. and Abroad

Friday, January 04, 2013

In the wake of a brutal gang rape in New Delhi, Western commentators have criticized the way Indian society handles cases involving violence against women.

Emer O'Toole, a post-doctoral researcher at Royal Holloway, University of London, agrees that Indian law enforcement and the country's judicial system -- as well as the society at large -- should take this opportunity to examine the adjudication of rape cases, and how victims are treated in the press and in the street.

Yet, O'Toole says, commentators in the West, "are using the event to simultaneously demonise Indian society, lionize our own, and minimise the enormity of western rape culture." Citing the alleged rape of an underage girl by football players in Steubenville, Ohio, O'Toole argues that the West needs analyze its own treatment of women victims of violence. 

Guests:

Emer O'Toole

Produced by:

Arwa Gunja and Mythili Rao

Comments [6]

oscar from ny

New Delhi......I'm scratching my head and wondering why God made billion and more of these people and my best guess is that God needs a lot of fuel for his hell..

Jan. 08 2013 03:19 PM
unkerjay from Puget Sound, WA

In the wake of prominent rape cases here and abroad, this is how we show we care about women:

"Congress fails to reauthorize Violence Against Women Act"

Jan. 08 2013 06:00 AM
earthmom18 from New York

I fault society, as a child in the 70's I do not remember the amount of sexuality, violence and language on television as I have seen today. As a motherI have taken it upon myself to take television completely out of our home. The internet is not permitted until the age of 14 and under strict rules. If society does not feel all this exposure to violence, assault, demoralization of women and those deemed weak, then families need to take control and model respect, compassion and empathy. Schools need to follow suit.

Jan. 07 2013 10:07 AM
Dee Dee from Kent, Ohio USA

We DO need only look in our backyard to see the same sort of attitude towards rape & violence against women. Just look at that recent event in Stubenville, Ohio~members of the community are actually standing behind these 'alledged' offenders due to their status on the high school football team~ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!? How does this make us as nation any better?

Jan. 04 2013 04:07 PM
Susan from Brooklyn

Today I read the details --very graphic ones --about what happened to the rape victim in India, and I cried.

Someone who had been heading home after a movie ends up thrown disemboweled and abused to the point of death -- onto the road??

There is no hell, but for the one we humans create. God -- if there is one -- called this woman home.

It was a kindness -- she did not have to live beyond this trauma.

How many other women do, though? So many.

Jan. 04 2013 03:26 PM
Maroloh

Remember the rape at Dan's Pool Hall in New Bedford, MA by 4 men of a woman customer on the pool table?

She was identified in the media, too.

Things have not changed very much.

Jan. 04 2013 11:41 AM

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