Thanks for your empathy. I can't possibly speak to why these particular men acted the way they did or why Westerner men and women continued the shitty behavior by doubting and casting aspersions. ¯_(ツ)_/¯ There's a documentary out there called "India's Daughter" that is specifically about a high profile rape but generally delves into how Indian people are conditioned to believe women are lesser, rape is the woman's fault, etc. and there's also a short book of journalism I read when I was struggling with all this shit that has some insight. Police, in general, kinda suck at dealing with this stuff. I've had police in Chicago excuse men mastrubating "at" me on the train and blame me. Shit happens everywhere. Probably worse in India but... like... Daniel Holtzclaw was American... I have been to many, many places as a solo woman. North, South, East & West Africa. Most of Asia. South Asia (Indian subcontinent) is definitely the worst for this shit that I've been to. At least in Saudi Arabia, its socially acceptable to cover completely. Nowhere is free from it. Do with that what you will but please don't be one of those people who responds to women from your own country complaining with "women other places have it so much worse." Its so eye roll.
Damn that was a good book. If you liked that, may I suggest: * Crimes Against Women: Three Tragedies and the Call for Reform in India by The Staff of The Wall Street Journal (very short read) https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00CO4GO9G/ * The documentary India's Daughter https://vimeo.com/ondemand/indiasdaughter
I spend a lot of time in India so the Indian perspective on these issues is of interest to me. I also find there is also a greater willingness to directly face and discuss some of the realities of rape culture there. For example, acting like rape is women's fault, encourages rape and that treating stalking and ignoring a women's wishes as a cute romcom narrative encourages rape.