It’s a sad truth that women in this country, actually all over the world have arguably faced some or the other form of sexual abuse in their life. This can any form of violence like exhibitionism or rape or assault and abuse.
Yesterday the story of a 20-year-old, Delhi University student came to the forefront. She shot a video of a man in a bus masturbating at her and shared it on social media.
She also went and filed an FIR against him in the Vasant Vihar police station. The video became instantly viral and was shared by angry and disgusted netizens.
The story was one of many that shook social media with other such instances happening last year in Mumbai as well especially aboard the local train.
However, Bangladeshi author in exile seems to differ from netizens and is of the opinion that masturbation is a “victim-less crime.” She took to Twitter and said that it is not that big a crime.
A man in a crowded Delhi bus masturbated. It should not be considered a big crime in the era of rape culture. Men should rather masturbate, than rape and murder. Is masturbating in public a crime? Well it is a victim-less crime.
— taslima nasreen (@taslimanasreen) February 12, 2018
She later tweeted saying that women are not safe anywhere or at any time and that it is men who perpetuate misogyny which makes half the population feel unsafe.
Bus not safe for women,train not safe, streets not safe,crowded place not safe, deserted place not.Night not safe for women,day also not safe. School not safe. office not. Even home not safe. Because of men. Men have to give up misogyny to let half of human species live safely.
— taslima nasreen (@taslimanasreen) February 13, 2018
Netizens presented their viewpoints on what the author said masturbation in public is a crime and the person doing it is harassing the viewer who is a victim.
1. It’s a public space, for God’s sake.
He should control. I have not said it is not a crime. I say it is not a BIG crime. It is a crime, but victimless crime.
— taslima nasreen (@taslimanasreen) February 12, 2018
2. Absolutely.
https://twitter.com/priya_ebooks/status/963322304154411009
3. A lot of women do feel victimised by the act.
This makes ‘mastrubating in public’ sound like a new form of social service. Maybe you enjoy the sight of random men mastrubating in front of you. A lot of women, though, feel victimised. To say that it is a victim-less crime is simply outrageous.
— Joy (@meninistin) February 13, 2018
4. Inside homes maybe?
Well we are becoming modern society but we are not become shameless society…so either it's masturbation ,sex or latrine it should be done in proper place
— Ex-Secular Yash Sinha (💯%FB) (@Er_Yash_Sinha) February 13, 2018
5. Spot on.
https://twitter.com/raaghav_s/status/963005278386929665
6. That’s a lawyer talking.
https://twitter.com/tlawsofindia/status/963118338246365187
7. This is one user’s opinion.
But one as to agree the degree of discomfort caused to the person next to him. How is it victimless if there's a girl he's looking at. Pretty sure he wouldn't do that if there was a guy next to him. It's not like he's looking at some magazine. He's looking at her.
— Deb D (@Kanteism) February 13, 2018
8. It’s about a mindset.
This is sick..that you even consider this as a doable thing.
— Extremist काफ़िर (@_MrPr0_) February 12, 2018
9. All of this comes under sexual harassment.
What do you even mean??? Was the girl sitting next to him was not the victim??? Will you consider only physical abuse as a crime??
— Farah Imam (@imamfarah) February 13, 2018
10. User, Dev shared his view on the matter.
Are victims made only out of rapes and violence? I don't think so. Public Masturbation in isolation might not be criminal. But it's mostly directed towards someone or even a group of people. Which is definitely a crime with a victim.
— Dev Kulkarni (@DevK93) February 12, 2018
Kudos to the girl who recorded the video. It isn’t always easy to muster courage and stand up to the person harassing you. Because that’s what it is, sexual harassment and it is traumatic for many.
Taslima Nasreen says, “Men should rather masturbate, than rape and murder.” No one is stopping them from masturbating, but no woman likes to be nullified and be reduced to an object of appeasement especially on a public transport.