Indian teenagers think wife beating is justified

Indian men allegedly raping a Swiss tourist in front of her husband March. 15. set off a firestorm worldwide.

The police are adding to the horror of it because of their inconsistency in statement.

The first statement said, “The five suspects admitted to their crime” but said later that “some 20 suspects are under investigation but there is nothing conclusive,” BBC reported March. 17.

Reported rape cases last year totaled 24,000, soaring by 25 percent over the previous year.

The Times Of India and OneIndia news reported that New Delhi suffered 560 rape cases last year alone retaining “India’s Rape Capital” title.

Some experts argue India’s sex crimes against women stem from their low social status.

Hindu culture, which many Indians identify as their religion, dictates that women be subservient to men.

Indian tradition of women being responsible for dowries was allegedly abolished 1961, but it still goes on.

So does Sati, another tradition of women being buried alive with her dead husband.

It is almost a cultural norm that men beating women is nothing appalling or even new.

According to UNICEF report last year, of 15 to 19 year-olds in India, 57 percent of the boys and 53 percent of the girls said “wife beating is justified.”

Washington Post report attested to the already prevalent sexism in the country.

Many female fetuses get aborted in India, resulting in askew men-to-women sex ratio: 1000 to 914, reported the paper.

Prof. Lee Ok-soon, an expert on India, said, “Half the seats for women in congress is a name-only policy. Sexism is still prevalent in India”

A lack of social security and crippled law system is to blame.

There are only 15 judges designated for a million people.

The trial process is slow and complicated. The conviction rate of the offenders is only 26 percent.