How Long Are Politicians Going To Blame Clothes For Crimes Against Women?

After Priyanka Gandhi's Bikini tweet on Karnataka hijab row, BJP MLA Renukacharya took a dig at her blaming women's clothes as the cause of increasing rapes. Priyanka Gandhi tweeted that a woman is free to wear a bikini, ghoonghat, jeans or hijab, as per the rights provided by the Indian Constitution. Condemning her remarks, the MLA mentioned that women should be fully clothed while attending colleges and it is because of their clothes that men get provoked. How long till we stop blaming women's choices for the crimes against them? How long are we going to blame women themselves for being victimised because of their clothes?

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi recently took to Twitter saying that a woman has a right to wear whatever she wants. The tweet mentioned referring to the Karnataka Hijab row, "Whether it is a bikini, a ghoonghat, a pair of jeans or a hijab, it is a woman’s right to decide what she wants to wear." However, Karnataka BJP MLA Renukacharya holds an opposite view and blamed women's clothes for the increasing rapes in the country.

Renukacharya mentioned that women's choice of clothes provoke men and that Gandhi had issued a 'low-level statement'.

BJP MLA Renukacharya on women's clothes, says women's clothes provoke men

Priyanka Gandhi in her tweet mentioned that the women have been guaranteed the right to wear what they want by the Indian Constitution. "Stop harassing women." She added referring to the hijab row in Karnataka where Muslim female students were dismissed from attending classes in many colleges.

BJP MLA Renukacharya refuted the statement made by Gandhi while speaking with India Today saying, "While studying in college, children should be fully clothed. Rapes today are increasing because of women’s clothes as men get provoked. It's not right."

Why are we making women's clothes such a big issue?

Why can't we wear what we want without being victimised or judged for our choices? Women have been called upon for what they wear since ages and beyond and it's high time we put an end to this hypocritical mentality.

The problem does not only lies with the fact that the length of a women's clothing 'speaks' for her character. Apparently shorter the clothes, less character. Recently, Deepika Padukone called out an influencer for his sexist comments on her short clothes during the promotions of her upcoming film Gehraiyaan. He mentioned in his post on Instagram that her clothes are ought to get 'tinier' as Gehraiyaan release date gets closer.

Women are judged by neighbourhood aunties, by politicians, by random people on the street. Spot a woman out with a dark lipstick and expect people will say 'she is asking for it.'

The problem lies within the mentality of those who believe that the level of clothing on a woman's body will determine how 'easy' she is and that her revealing or short clothes is an invitation. It is not. And we will say this again and again, till people get it.

"I can wear what I want and I am still not asking for it"

My clothes are not an invitation for you to judge my character or consider me as 'easy'. My clothes does not define my values or ideals, they are not a part of my character. My clothes are a choice I make while not asking to be taken advantage of.

Views expressed are author's own