Marital rape.

As the government came up with new provision of 'marital rape' as a crime under the proposed new law for 'rape and sexual assault', women thought of themselves being securer. How ironical is the situation : the law safeguarding women from the same person who has been credited the title of her protector by the society.

Marital rape, also known as spousal rape, is a common form of domestic violence on women which nearly 75% of women go through. It is nothing but forcing a woman into sex without her consent by her husband. Earlier there were no laws to penalize such husbands for forced sex but very soon men may find themselves behind bars if their wives lodged a complaint. On one hand as the women section accepted this proposal of law with a brimming smile, there was a big NO from the male gentry. This difference of reactions clearly indicates the 'still orthodox' mentality of the male dominant society in India where no longer is a woman less than a man in any aspect. In the era of 'jaago re', not does only marital rape not exist as a crime in our legislation, it does not even exist as one in our imagination...it really compels one to say ' jaago re'. A woman has no legal recourse if she is raped by her husband : shameful...!!!!

What constitutes marital rape? (courtesy : aurangjeb haneef) It is always defined as marital rape when a husband forces his wife to have sex or perform sexual acts against her will. It is marital rape when a man tries to punish, humiliate, degrade and retaliate against his wife using sex as the tool of violence. It is still marital rape when the force may be more restrained, just enough to gain sexual access, but not enough to cause severe injury. The rape motivated by a desire to assert power, establish control, teach a lesson, show who is boss. It is still marital rape if a woman does not resist anymore. Many times, the woman has never considered that she had a right to say 'NO'. She is taught that she is not entitled to voice her desire or lack of it. She is taught to take abuse and accept force. To the extent that some women accept violence accompanying sex as the norm.

With changing society's thinking and ideology; with government coming with new protective measures and laws to check this and the most important of all, with women realizing their rights and powers, one can expect this crime to lessen and eventually come to an end in the near future. All women need to do is command respect and men, they just need to give their wives the respect they command.

RAPE IS RAPE...NO EXCUSE. HUSBANDS CANNOT HAVE IMMUNITY FOR THAT. STAND UP, BE STRONG...SUE FOR IT.