She’s Back With – Shaadi A License To Rape in India

Section 375, the provision of rape in the Indian Penal Code (IPC),   echoes very archaic sentiments, mentioned as its exception clause-  “Sexual intercourse by a man with his own wife, the wife not being  under 15 years of age, is not rape.”

Without any doubt India is behind other countries when it comes to any kind of women’s rights, and specially when dealing with cases like rape.

1. The first step towards penalizing marital rape is to accept that it happens. We are too parochial to accept that. We feel that it is woman at fault if she refuses the husband. It is her duty to obey her husband.
2. Marriage is an institution that hides a lot of ugliness of our patriarchal society – forced abortions, extortion, torture (mental and physical). We are squeamish of dissecting marriage. Arranged Marriage is a barter. An exchange of promises. Sex is one of them. Marital right to sexual intercourse is a firmly held belief.
3. Marriage is a solution to rape in many parts of India. Its like you walk into a store and damage any product, you need to buy it / pay the price of it. A raped woman is damaged goods. Marry her and rid the family of a liable asset, you are redeemed of your crime. Such a society is incapable of understanding marital rape.