Is India Really Unsafe for Women? An Analysis

Every time a big, terrible case of violence against a woman happens, our whole country erupts in anger. We feel sad, we feel unsafe, and we demand justice. This reaction is understandable, and it shows that as a nation, we have a deep feeling that our women are not safe.

But is this feeling the whole story? This question has been on my mind. If you look at statistics for big crimes, India might not be the worst in the world. So why does this label of "unsafe" stick so strongly?

I have interacted with many women, and this feeling of being unsafe is very real. It’s not just an illusion. So, where is it coming from?

Is it the media? It is largely true that the media's 24/7 coverage of horrible incidents instills a lot of fear, making the world seem scarier than it might be.

What's also interesting is the other side of this. Many women in India feel the "West" is safer, but is that really true? Even in developed nations like the US, there are serious safety concerns. In many big cities, you can't go out alone on the streets after 6 PM. And if we look at other parts of the world, like the Middle East, the laws themselves are often designed against women. In some places, they can't even report a rape without facing legal trouble themselves, or they can't roam on the roads alone without a man's assistance.

So, this feeling of "unsafe" is complicated. It's not just about statistics, and our perception of other countries isn't always correct.

But, in this blog, I don't want to just blame the media or perceptions and end the discussion. That's an easy way out. The real purpose of asking this question is to introspect. If our women feel unsafe—regardless of what the statistics say—then as a nation, is there something we are missing? Is there a real, underlying problem (or problems) that we are not seeing, which causes this deep-rooted feeling?

Problem 1: The Big, Extreme Crimes These are the horrible cases of rape and murder, like the Nirbhaya incident, that get all the media attention. When we see mass protests, we are usually thinking about this problem.

Problem 2: The Daily, Constant Harassment In my opinion, this is the main reason women feel unsafe, but we talk about it less. This is the everyday eve-teasing, the body shaming, the inappropriate touching in buses, markets, or public places. While other countries also have big crimes, I think this daily harassment is a much bigger problem in India. This is what makes women feel scared just to walk on the street.

Problem 3: The Cultural Problems at Home This is about the unfair expectations placed on women. The idea that they are just "homemakers" or that they must do all the household duties. This creates a constant, low-level feeling of being oppressed and treated unequally, which adds to the overall unrest.

Why I Think We Are Solving the Wrong Problem

Here is the main point: We are mixing up our anger.

We feel the frustration from Problem 2 (daily teasing) and Problem 3 (home pressure) all the time. But when a big case from Problem 1 happens, all this built-up anger and frustration explodes.

This is where we go wrong. There is a line from a film song that explains our situation perfectly: "Kallu Unna Ee Kabodi Jaatini Nadipistundata Aavesam." It means a nation that has eyes is being led by pure emotion (aavesam), as if it were blind. We see the problem, but we are blind to the root cause.

We get excited and angry, but we don't do anything about the real problem. This high emotion is what politicians often use to misguide us. Instead of fixing the system, we are given emotional solutions.

And what is the biggest emotional solution we ask for? We channel all this anger into one simple, loud demand: Capital punishment (hanging) for rape.

But I strongly believe this is a flawed solution that doesn't fix the root cause. Here's why:

1. It can make things worse: If a criminal knows the punishment for rape is death, he might be more likely to kill the victim to leave no witness.

2. It can be misused: People can file false cases for revenge or money. If the punishment is so extreme, a false case can destroy an innocent person's life.

3. It doesn't solve the real issue.

So, what is the real root cause? The problem is not that the punishment is small. (A lifetime in jail is a very big punishment!).

The real problem is that criminals think they can get away with it.

They think this because our legal system is painfully slow. A case can go on for 10 years! The criminal is not scared of the punishment because he doesn't believe he will ever be caught or punished quickly. The root cause is the lack of certain and fast justice.

My View on the Real Solutions

If the root cause is the "I can get away with it" attitude, then our solutions must fix that. Instead of just shouting for capital punishment, I believe we should demand these practical, right things:

1. Stop Making Teasing Look "Heroic": Our movies and TV shows often show the hero teasing the heroine. This needs to stop, period. We must teach people that teasing and harassment are wrong, not "heroic."

2. Punish the "Small" Crimes (Problem 2): When someone is caught for teasing or inappropriate touching, they must face a quick and certain punishment. Not death, but not zero. A fine, a short jail term, or community service that happens fast will create real fear.

3. Demand Faster Justice (Problem 1): This is the most important thing we should be protesting for. We must demand more courts, more police, and better technology (like CCTVs) to make the justice system fast and efficient.

4. Be Patient with Cultural Change (Problem 3): The problems at home are slowly getting better as more women work. This change takes time, and we all (men and women) have to work on it together.

So, to answer the question: Is India unsafe for women? Yes, I think it is. But maybe not just because of the big crimes we see on TV. It's because of the thousand small cuts of daily harassment and inequality that make women feel unsafe, every single day.To fix this, we must fix the right problems.