Rape: From Victim to Survivor to Livelier

We celebrate the birth of daughters in the family and love them with our souls. But ask any parent- somewhere in a tiny corner of their hearts lies a buried fear that comes associated with living in India! The fear of their safety! The fear of eve teasing, stalking, physical violence, rape.

India is shamefully termed as ‘Rapistan’ – a country where the safety of a girl is always at a risk. Nirbhaya, Asifa, Badayun victims – they all bring to light the extreme horrific violence that rapists are capable of committing, and their sick mental makeup. These cases have brought to the surface

the need to shift our perspective from blaming the raped to showing care and support. 

The Mindset of the Rapist

The term ‘rape victim’ arouses a certain sense of bias – we tend to pity or blame people who are raped. “It must have been the dress”, “It must have been the cigarette”. What we fail to understand that “Rape” is not because of someone’s dress or lifestyle, it happens because of the filthy mind-set of the rapist. 

Rape victims suffer from intense psychological trauma. Imagine walking out of the house and people pointing at you saying anything they want! It is not only psychologically damaging but dents a person’s confidence and will to live. Self-worth and self- respect go for a toss. The belief in finding value to life is replaced with finding measures to end it. 

The Psychological Impact on the Victim

Suffering the consequences of rape is spine chilling. Given the socio-economic construct of Indian culture, women are always at the risk of losing their social identity and stature. Some of the most harmful psychological effects of rape are –

• Chronic Depression and Anxiety

• Neuro-Psychiatric disorders as dementia

The repercussions of rape are majorly psychological but an affected mind can trigger other problems like:-

• Use of drugs

• Acute loss of appetite and malnutrition,

• Fear and panic attacks,

• Inferiority complex,

• Suicidal tendencies and also

• Self-loathing 

The Need for Change and Helping the Victim

To help rape victims come out of the unfortunate incident, there is a need to design a progressive mental health program that includes: –

• Certified care givers proficient in handling mental health programmes.

• Therapy sessions that involve the participation of family members and friends 

• Meditation and recreational therapy sessions 

• Emphasis on the need to empathise and not sympathise 

• Last but not the least, making everyone learn to treat the rape victim with dignity and respect.

Change the Perspective

Our power to judge others lies in the privilege of us not having to stand in their shoes. Our job is to support the rape victim and not blame them. Because tomorrow, god forbid, if we experience the horrors of this heinous crime, we should be able to have undisputed support and lead a normal life.