So our great Indian government is at it again. Not satisfied with trying to tell bloggers what they can’t blog about, we’re now being moralized to and being told not to watch porn. Of course, this is nothing new and is an old argument. Our netas have a rich history of trying to block porn sites, but what I really find interesting about this latest attempt is the language being used to justify it.
It’s called the “Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Amendment Bill.” A phrase I find ridiculously pompous and arrogant. After all, a pornstar is a business woman choosing to do whatever she wants. So this is not about protecting women at all, but controlling them. It assumes that somehow the nation’s morals are linked to the way women behave. As if when a woman chooses to do something contrary to what people find acceptable, the whole country is corrupted.
Hmm…where have I heard that before? Oh yeah, sounds like the khaps all over again! Why does the burden of maintaining morals always falls on the woman? If a man poses nude, it’s just him. No one links it to all men or to the dignity of the nation. When a woman does the same, all of India is up in arms!
There’s a difference between real respect for a woman by accepting who she is, and fake respect by controlling her thoughts and making sure she doesn’t “disgrace” herself. The latter is actually the complete opposite of respect! If your feelings are hurt by what someone else does, that’s just control and oppression.
The reality is betrayed whenever someone says “What if it was your mother/sister?” We’ve all heard this argument. Well…what if it is? Do you own your mother or sister? Do you treat them as objects whose only purpose in life is to make sure you retain your petty honor? Do you have no respect for what they want?
With ICANN approving the “xxx” domain for Internet porn sites, things are set to become interesting. Will India block the “xxx” domain entirely as they say they will? And will the courts uphold the right of Indians to watch porn? I don’t know. But a statement from the ministry of IT is pretty interesting:
“India along with many other countries from the Middle East and Indonesia opposed the grant of the domain in the first place, and we would proceed to block the whole domain, as it goes against the IT Act and Indian laws”
So now we’re actually proud to stand side by side with countries from the middle east when it comes to freedom of the Internet and freedom of expression! It really seems to me that for every step we take forward, someone from somewhere comes to try and screw things up. As of now, watching porn in India over the Internet is not a crime. I’m not sure whether or not this new law (if implemented) will change that.
I don’t like the government trying to be an entire nation’s parents. But from what I read (only a sentence or two) – this was to protect those women from blackmail and exploitation, whose MMS or photos might be taken and circulated. Strict punishment might discourage those who do this.
One class XII student from DPS RKPuram school was a victim. Her boyfriend circulated her MMS to his friends and it reached ebay it seems.Have you seen Dev D? It was based on this case… you’ll get an idea of how harmful this can be if you watch this movie.
In another case a group of boys had photographs of girls and the girls were being blackmailed. This was in Jalgaon, Maharashtra.
In reply to Indian Homemaker
I agree. Such cases need to be dealt with severely. But surely we can do that by strengthening existing laws on violation of privacy and libel for example? And what is the obsession with women? Is it somehow less of a crime if the person is male rather than female?
@IHM
I read about the MMS scandal. I think in this case, we should have more stringent laws for property rights violation. As in, no one can circulate some one else’s photos without their consent or even photograph / videograph them without their consent in the first place. Making porn illegal is an unjust overreaction.
@Bhagwad
Totally agree with you on the respect for women part. Respect is not control. It reminds me of another case in Karnataka where night shift workers who were female were bring harassed while returning from their work. So our brilliant politicians came up with the solution of proposing a ban on women working night shift!
And also, if they say porn is debasing to Indian women, are we allowed to watch porn with foreign actors of non Indian descent? Just asking…..
In reply to Clueless
Yeah, I heard that one about the ban on women working night shifts too! I had written about that case a couple of years ago. No idea how it went…
I agree clueless. I remember the Karnataka case too. You are right, respect is not control.
“…if they say porn is debasing to Indian women, are we allowed to watch porn with foreign actors of non Indian descent? Just asking…..” Good question :)
If they’re really interested in protecting women, banning porn isn’t the way to go to. As for your question about why morality always falls on the woman…ohhh boy there’s a whole area of feminist theory dedicated to exploring that. :)
As for the question about watching porn with foreign, didn’t you know Bhagwad, those foreign women are sluts. ;)
…and will porn with Indian men be allowed? Indian men with white girls – every Indian man’s dream…
have you ever heard of “Ted Bundy”. Go and read something before writing something on such issues and atleast read his last sentence to Court.use internet for gaining knowledge not for watching porn and stop being self-proclaimed liberal pregressive
Yes it is like that. Look at any society, the society is reflected by its women folk.
In reply to The Mindset
Since when does one data point constitute proof? There are thousands of serial killers and rapists who weren’t porn addicts! Your analysis isn’t logical.
Can you give me an example of a society which is reflected by women folk? And why do you feel that women’s behavior is more important than say men’s?
Most of the rapists are sex-porn addicts. Is there any confusion about that. No one becomes a rapist sitting at home.
As for women behaviour look and compare any 2 societies , the difference between them is the diffrence their women folk.
And I didn’t say “men’s behaviour is more important than women”
I said women’s behaviour is refection of the socirty.
In reply to The Mindset
Do you have any stats backing your claim? Besides, you don’t have watch porn to become a rapist, because whether you want to believe it or not rape has nothing to do with sex. Lots of people watch porn and they don’t become rapists.
In reply to The Mindset
Any evidence to back up your claim?
In reply to The Mindset
Are you seriously trying to claim that watching more porn increases the chances of rape?
That’s an immensely stupid claim because:
1. Rape is more about power than sex; and
2. Porn helps to satisfy natural sexual urges and therefore makes you LESS likely to rape someone.
Rape was known long before pornography was even conceived of, so I suppose yeah, you can become a rapist without watching porn.
The countries with the most liberal attitudes towards sexuality have some of the lowest rates of rape in the world. Having lived in Bergen for a couple of years, I can personally attest to the fact that Norway has one of the happiest, most equitable societies in the world. But somehow, I don’t think you’d approve of the behaviour of Norwegian “womenfolk”.
Indian society has a strange world-view towards women. It is one of the sickest.
http://mitukhurana.wordpress.com/2011/04/01/%E2%80%98indians-want-women-as-deities-and-wives-but-not-as-daughters%E2%80%99/
Hi all
I fully support the fact that raping is the crime but also agree with the fact that watching porn is a crime over crime
I am not saying that the person who do not watch porn can not be a rapist , he can be but pornography destroy the mind general thinking .
If the person is good in nature respect females and always think good for them
there education , their values for our society and if he suddenly watch the porn video , then his mind gets disturbed and may be his mind can not tolerate and you know why this happen
Because we have GOOD picture of Indian women in our mind and which become bad if we watch porn things …
In ancient time also the all sexual activities was done in dark so that nobody can see other naked . and the respect remain same
SO government think nice of banning the pornography in INDIA and they should take this step immediately as soon as possible
In reply to amit
Any evidence for porn destroying minds? There’s no need to always “think good of females.” That sort of attitude only tries to suppress people’s natural urges. Women are not some asexual creatures.
Also, women are far more respected in societies which allow porn to flourish. Women were never respected in India.