A case for women’s rights

Anurupa Sen

In her second year of college, Columbia University student Emma Sulkowicz was sexually assaulted in her dorm by a classmate. She says she was initially too traumatised to report the incident, but lodged a complaint after she met two other women who had been assaulted by the same person. Sulkowicz , a visual arts major, decided to protest — by carrying a mattress, like the one on which she was sexually assaulted, on the campus “for as long as I attend the same school as my rapist.” Several students have joined her protest and are staging demonstrations by dragging mattresses with them with slogans like “Stand With Survivors” and “Carry That Weight” written on them. Education Plus spoke to college students for their take on the incident.

Anurupa Sen, I year, M.A. English, Delhi University, Delhi

Having an environment where everyone, irrespective of his/her gender, feels comfortable and secure is essential for learning. After the incident in Columbia University it was very unsettling for me to picture myself in the victim's position in a country like India, where the sense of protest by or for a woman's right for justice against her sexual offenders, if not in large numbers, is overlooked. A community must do more to make the schools and colleges safe from violence. We must change the culture here.

Kimberly Rowe, II year, B.A. English, St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai

The incident is one which is not limited to Emma Sulkowicz or Columbia University. Similar incidents occur but remain underground.

It is important for the victim to come to terms with the fact that she/he is a victim, that only she/he can stand up to such injustice, and that only she/he can assert her/his rights. The situation is one wherein the victim needs understanding and support from legal authorities and society at large — the community needs to be the driving force for justice to prevail.

Bharathy Menon, I year, M.A. Economics, Loyola College, Chennai

I admire the courage Sulkowicz has shown to “carry that weight” in public rather than hiding it in her own conscience. The best way to teach the rapist a lesson is to come out and protest.

Smruti M, I year, B.Sc. Physics, Women’s Christian College, Chennai

I think there’s usually stigma attached to such situations. They are rated as taboo in our society. I feel that women don’t speak up about the harassment they suffer in their daily lives. So, I admire the girl’s courage to speak up and bring this issue to light. I think it’s a really brave step that she has taken.