Gender sensitivity and the need to take a stand against recurring violence against women were discussed by a core group of feminists, social workers, bureaucrats, NGOs and students at a workshop hosted by the Tiruchirapalli Women's Forum (TWF) in the city recently.
The workshop was prompted by recent cases of crimes against women reported in the State, said the organisers.
“We would like the voice of all sensitive women and men to be heard aloud rather than being scattered and reflecting only individual standpoints,” N. Manimekalai, Director and Head, Department of Women's Studies, Bharathidasan University, and co-ordinator of the Saturday event held at the office of the Women Entrepreneurs Association of Tamil Nadu (WEAT), told The Hindu .
“Even among those who are gender-sensitive, there seems to be a prejudice about the background and looks of the victim,” said J. Christy Subathra, Correspondent, Crea Children’s Academy, Nagamangalam, and participant of the workshop.
“In most of the recent reports, the apathy of the onlookers to the crime has been more shocking than the act of the perpetrator or the condition of the victim,” said Ms. Subathra, a postgraduate in Women’s Studies.
“We need to understand that our apathy to violence could kill us too. We must learn to speak up against it immediately.”
The meeting discussed the need to discourage the media from engaging in baseless speculation on crime victims through the yardstick of cultural and moral behaviour.
Feminist thinkers A. Oviya and Dr. Kalpana shared their views through Skype, while others contributed their thoughts in writing.
A group of female engineering students were among those who attended the workshop.
TWF will meet again on Friday (July 22) to release a formal declaration and to plan for a series of activities to raise awareness of the issue.
“We need to arrive at a consensus in order to show to society as to what the recurring crimes against women imply, especially for those occupying or intending to occupy public space,” said Ms. Manimekalai.
