The Grim Reality of Fighting Against Atrocities: Society Often Blames the Victim
Dr Santosh Kumar Mohapatra
In our society, both men and women face various forms of torture and exploitation. However, women are often the worst sufferers, particularly in their marital homes, because of gender discrimination, social stigma, physical vulnerability and the deeply entrenched patriarchal mindset.
A woman is often respected by society and her extended family as long as she silently tolerates every form of atrocity, maintains the appearance of happiness and projects the image that everything is normal.
Her silence is conveniently interpreted as evidence that all is well.
But the moment, after years of suffering and endurance, she decides to speak about her ordeal or seeks legal recourse, the attitude of many people changes. Instead of extending support and standing by her, they begin to question her intentions, blame her and sometimes even distance themselves from her. Many relatives and near and dear ones hesitate to support her publicly. Some even contribute to breaking relationships rather than helping her fight against injustice.
This exposes the hypocrisy and double standards of our society. We expect victims to remain silent to preserve family relationships, but rarely question those responsible for the atrocities. We preach justice, equality and human dignity, yet often deny these very values to women who dare to raise their voices against oppression.
The irony is that we expect to fight against evil and reactionary forces in society while continuing to tolerate patriarchal oppression within our own families. A society that blames victims instead of confronting injustice cannot genuinely claim to stand for equality, justice or human rights.
The real test of our commitment to justice is not whether we sympathise with victims when they remain silent, but whether we stand beside them when they find the courage to speak out.
