INDIAN AD TURNS THE MALE GAZE BACK ON ITSELF AND IT'S AWESOME

[BainsBane]

196. Did you alert on those juror comments?

Some of them have made clear they are not capable of serving as fair jurors.

Concern with objectification, degradation of women, and rape is not hate. Rather, insisting that there is something wrong with those concerns signals a profound lack of concern for the basic human rights of women to move through public space without fear of predation. Seabeyond's point is there being a sexual predator is not biologically inevitable in men. It is instead an aberration. That is made evident by the fact that the majority of men know how to behave appropriately.

The Indian film group has made this ad because the country has an epidemic of rape that KILLS women. They know that the behavior described in these ads is part of rape culture and in fact leads to the same hostile views of women that motivates rapists and killers. That anyone can watch this video and think it has anything to do with shared physical attraction among people is worrisome. This kind of hostile sexualized treatment of women in public is a clear effort to control public space and keep women in their place, as clearly demonstrated by the comments that women who don't want to be ogled and harassed should wear burkas or stay in their home. No man who has an interest in a relationship with a woman behaves accordingly. This film shows the behavior of sexual predators, not people interested in getting to know one another. That some can't can't recognize that basic fact is frightening.

So congratulations to those whose level of enlightenment on gender issues lags behind Indians. They seem to be quite proud of what they have made themselves into. More importantly, thank you to the majority of men in this country and in India who understand that women are equal human beings to be treated with value and respect. The now 74 recs compared to a few handful of complainers shows where the majority of members fall on this issue.