Women’s modesty and characters have been a topic of discussion since ages unknown. We have questioned, attacked and punished them for being too “sexy” or “promiscuous”. We have subjugated them for having sexual desires, for not abiding by men’s sexual desires, for being victims of rape and character assassination, for being responsible to uphold the family name, for bearing children or for the inability to deliver an heir to the family and so on.
In other words, women have faced the brunt of patriarchy and a male-dominated society like ours silently, obediently and submissively through the years.
But times are changing now. Women are fighting for their rights, for equality in all walks of life. And yes, we definitely have come a long way from where we started. We have broken many records, destroyed taboos and glass ceilings, embraced our sexuality and excelled at whatever we put our minds to.
Unfortunately, we still hear stores of molestation, sexual assault and rape from all parts of the country. Even infants and school kids are not spared the horror. It’s been 5 years since the soul-shattering case of Nirbhaya occurred and there is still no sign of things looking any better today.
To fight against these monstrous men who think a woman’s body is theirs to use and abuse, a 19-year-old Indian girl, Seenu Kumari from Uttar Pradesh, has developed a ‘rape-proof’ underwear.
https://twitter.com/SizinHaberiniz/status/951035638840610818
Anti-rape clothing is not a completely new idea. There are brands that have made clothes that make a woman feel safer and more equipped to avoid getting raped. But ‘rape-proof’ clothing? That’s a first. How can an underwear be rape-proof, you ask? Well, here’s how.
According to The Daily Mail, Seenu explained the details of the device as below.
“I have put a smart lock that won’t open till you key in the password. I have also installed an electronic device that is equipped with a GPS and calling facility. When somebody tries to molest a woman, this device will send out messages to relatives of the woman and also to the police.”
She further added that she has also installed a video camera to record the culprit’s photo identity. The material is also bulletproof and cannot be cut using a knife. Moreover, she says women need not wear it all the time, just when they are travelling alone or feel unsafe going somewhere with someone.
National Innovation Foundation in Allahabad has received the prototype for the underwear for patenting. The current prototype was made with a budget within £60 (INR 5180). It looks something like this.
Who is Seenu Kumari ? Bio , Wiki (Founder Of Underwear With Lock And GPS Alert) – Pictures https://t.co/O27PtSJywW pic.twitter.com/GzKZxoFXTI
— Viviangist Fans (@ViviangistFans) January 9, 2018
Seenu believes that the product could really help women everywhere and protect them from “evil men” like rapists. She added,
“If we use better quality of clothes and equipment, it will be ready to be used and sold in the market.”
While I am in no way undermining her efforts to come up with a solution to rape, I cannot help but wonder WHY do we feel the need for WOMEN to wear a chastity-belt-like underwear to STOP MEN from raping? I don’t know, like do you see the problem glaring right at us?
We have campaigns that encourage raising boys differently rather than asking girls to cover themselves and be responsible for their safety. On the other hand, our girls STILL feel the need to take matters into their own hands because ‘men will be men’.
I am extremely proud of Seenu Kumari for trying to contribute towards women’s safety because until I do not get answers to the questions racing through my mind, and we resolve the society’s faulty mindset, her development will help me and every other woman to protect our ‘modesty’.