It's Dark Outside

It's Dark Outside

What was she wearing? A doctor’s coat.

What was she doing? She was asleep. 

Maybe she deserved it? No. Nobody deserves it. 

On the 9th of August, an aspiring doctor lost her life in what was considered a safe environment. Her pelvic bone was shattered, glass shards were in her eyes and her life ended. 

The cause? Blithe disregard for women’s safety even 12 years after the horrifying Nirbhaya rape case.

 I am a 16-year-old girl. On the evening of the same day, I was wearing a short dress while I was out with my friends. If somebody thought I deserved it on that same day, would I have met the same fate as her?

Today, I went for a walk at 6 pm. As I was walking, I saw a group of three men standing near the gate of my building. I continued to do my rounds but kept noticing their gazes on me, looking at me up and down, even though I was fully covered up. When I realised it was getting dark, I walked back home as quickly as I could. I couldn’t stop shaking until after a few hours. Why? Because I realised that as a teenage girl, I am constantly vulnerable, regardless of where I am, what I’m wearing or how I’m acting. 

We live in a society where young girls are taught how to sit, defend themselves, and say no. But what difference does it make? Some men will still look at us, they’ll still force themselves onto us despite our cries, and won’t understand that no means no. 

There’s an ongoing debate online where women answer the question: “Would you rather be alone with a man or a bear?”, and almost every time, they choose the bear. People question their thought process but the reasoning is very simple. People would believe me if I said that I was attacked by a bear and nobody would ask me if I did something to provoke it. Some of the male users feel very offended when they hear this response and proceed to simply prove our point when they try to defend themselves. The online world itself is so incredibly terrifying that it’s heartbreaking to know what our reality truly is. 

Every morning when I read the updates about this case, I can’t help but wonder if things will truly change and if people will listen to our plight. We read these headlines, we cry for help and we’re ignored by the masses. Women start covering up, carrying pepper spray, learning self-defence and rethinking every decision they take in hopes that they don’t accidentally provoke these men. 

The world of young girls and women changes drastically to accommodate the fact that nothing has changed. 

We will keep on protesting, screaming and crying. But will they listen?