Breeders of machismo culture

The rape and murder case of Nirmala Pant has shocked the entire nation. As news
unfolded that local authorities had tampered with evidence crucial to the case, the
public, media and women activists took to the streets demanding proper investigation
and justice. Social media was inundated with overwhelming, agonised reactions. In
the wake of such acts of negligence by government officers, the public demanded the
resignations of the heads of the home ministry and the government.

On the issue, in one of her recent interviews, the National Human Right Commission
(NHRC) spokesperson, Mohana Ansari, remarked that a lack of seriousness on the
officers’ part, in collecting and preserving evidence, has led to the delay in finding the
perpetuator(s) in Nirmala’s case. This is not the first time that the NHRC has flagged
up concerns regarding the State’s lack of interest in taking serious action in cases
related to violence against women (VAW). NHRC has been highlighting concern that
rampant impunity of criminals is contributing to an increase in the number of VAW
cases.

The government’s lack of seriousness in handling VAW cases is one of the primary
causes of Nepal having such a high number of VAW incidences, which is sadly
increasing by the day.

Trigger points

According to Nepal Peace Monitoring Project data, 680 gender violence incidents
across Nepal were documented last year alone. Authorities of the project remarked
that the actual numbers are much higher than reported, as many such cases are
settled between the victim and perpetrators’ family members. Of the total number of
documented cases, more than 25 percent of the primary perpetrators are either
relatives or immediate family members of the victims.

Experts claim that violence based on gender or sexuality has much to do with power
structures that reinforce principles of masculinity or femininity. Domestic violence is
generally perpetrated by men who are often family members that occupying
respected positions and power in familial structures, such as fathers, uncles, etc.

Psychiatrists, on the other hand, bring interesting views to the table on this issue.
They argue that the negative pattern of thoughts and fantasy bond are the two
emotional elements that trigger violence against women. Often times, male abusers
entertain egoistic and destructive thoughts in their minds like: “I am capable of
handling that lady and know how to tame her. If I am a macho man, I should show my
masculine characteristics. I can be forceful, violent and audacious.” Such thoughts
come so often that it almost becomes their inner voice and provokes them to abuse
their partners or someone whom they want to prove that they are powerful.
Feminist scholars have associated machismo with negative characteristics such as
misogyny, sexism and masculinity. Macho men are usually characterised as violent
and controlling, and this type of attitude and behaviour is common in patriarchal
cultures.

Fantasy bond, on the other hand, provides a sense that someone else is responsible for
one’s happiness. In this case, denial of anything that is being demanded will spark off
actions of revenge in perpetrators. As a result, perpetrators end up doing heinous acts,
such as, throwing acid, raping women, and many other forms of violence. This type of
belief system gets breeding ground when perpetrators are protected either by the
political system or by society at large.

Breaking the vicious cycle

Nepal has a good bunch of regional and international not-for profit organisations
affiliated to the Social Welfare Council so far. Many of these organisations proclaim
that they deal with gender-based violence, with primary focus on women and girls.
However, often times, these organisations, instead of fighting for the victim’s right to
justice, highlight the victim’s problems, and state that the victim faced the
consequences of ignoring a perpetuator’s crimes.

At home, children in our society grow up seeing their mothers get beaten up by
fathers, who are them justified and socially accepted. Our patriarchal culture is one
that accepts such behaviour that subjugates women, at times even encourages it. And
such behaviour starts from home. Recent data say that more than 25 percent of
abusers are family members. Educating our families and society regarding such issues
plays a key role in curbing VAW.

In order to break this vicious belief system, the government as well as society has to
put serious efforts at multiple levels. Only the formulation of gender-friendly policies
and laws will not be effective, they need to be enforced on time and complemented
with instilling family values, dignity and integrity in growing boys and girls. I believe
legislation in itself is not sufficient to tackle this problem when the problem is
ingrained in our culture. Our social life begins at home and school with a patriarchal
belief system that reinforces unequal power relations between growing boys and girls.
We have to address this severe underlying issue before we go on to do anything else.