Unequally Distributed Equality

Pooja Krishna H A, reporting from the United Nations Economic and Social Council, describes the portrayal of abuse victims in books and movies.

Author and filmmaker Ram Devineni’s bestselling graphic novel, ‘Priya’s Shakti’, shook the world when it was first published in 2014. Hoping to start a ‘global conversation against sexism’ (in the illustrator’s words), Devineni created the protagonist of ‘Priya’s Shakti’ in the image of neither a magical hammer-wielding Norse God nor a rich guy wanting to avenge his parents’ deaths. She (yes, the protagonist is a female), is an Indian girl who is gang-raped by men from her own village; she depicts the image of every wronged girl in the world.

The book has received positive comments from around the world, with people going so far as breaking down in Meet-The-Author sessions, ‘overwhelmed that someone was talking about these issues’ (according to Dan Goldman, the illustrator). However, not all is well from the critics’ end.

The same people who have appreciated the art and illustrations have also questioned the hidden agendas. One particular Goodreads reviewer has nailed it with his words:

“The art and the idea behind the story is awesome. But, why ignore that some rapists are women and that there are men who survived rape?”

India seems to be an expert at producing excellent pieces of art with questionable agendas, for the same kind of questions arose after the public release of the movie, ‘Pink’. While the effort to bring into light the rights that women do not know they have is honorable, several critics and reviewers have looked down upon the movie, for the same reason as ‘Priya’s Shakti’ was down-notched.

“Why do we associate only women as victims of rape and molestation? Sexual harassment is not restricted to women, alone.” Says a Youth Ki Awaaz reporter, following a review where a woman claimed that audience had laughed and made rude comments at a scene with male domestic abuse, all the while empathizing with the women who were abused.

And to think, in the middle of this chaotic flow of thoughts, that the United Nations has announced Gender Equality as one of its 17 sustainable developmental goals! Where does equality begin and where does it end?

(Edited by Shruthi Subramanian)