My must read of the day is, "Indian PM urges an end to violence against women," in the Associated Press:
NEW DELHI (AP) — Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Friday that India had been shamed by a spate of rapes and attacks against women, and called on parents in this deeply misogynistic country to treat their sons and daughters equally in his first speech marking the country's independence from colonial rule.
"The law will do its job and do it strictly but as a society every parent also has a responsibility to teach their sons the difference between right and wrong," Modi said as he addressed the nation from the Red Fort, the sprawling 17th century fortress that was once home to India's medieval Mughal rulers. [...]
A fatal gang rape on board a moving bus in the Indian capital in December 2012 enraged a country long inured to sexual violence against women. Amid scores of public protests new and tougher legislation was enacted doubling prison terms for rapists to 20 years and criminalizing voyeurism, stalking and the trafficking of women.
I always find it interesting, peculiar, and rather sad that the women's movement in America doesn't spend much time talking about the oppression and misogyny women routinely experience in countries outside of the United States. It seems to be a missed opportunity to not draw more attention to it, and instead focus on trivial concerns such as the cost of birth control or the slight wage gap.
The fact that this prime minister even gave this speech should be big news among the women's movement, but I don't expect to hear all that much about it. Rape and systemic misogyny in India is not as trendy as slamming those old religious white guys at Hobby Lobby who don't want anyone to have birth control. Unless it’s going to garner attention amongst the chic, Hollywood crowd why bother, right?
The real war on women is happening everyday in other countries. Our women's movement can be pro-choice and outspoken about American issues, but why wouldn't the problems women face in places like India take precedent? The fact that they don't is something I will never understand.