Women hit back at India’s rape culture

A self-defence group in Lucknow have a simple message to the men who make their lives a misery –
stop it, or else…

2. Analysis: Analyse how Chamberlain portrays the Red Brigade. Take into consideration the quotes
he uses, his choice of language and his personal comments

The Article “Women hit back at India’s rape culture” by Gethin Chamberlain was published by the
Newspaper “The Observer” on the 6th April in 2013. In this Article Chamberlain presents a group of
women from India who fight physically against men who abuse or taunt women.

In Indian society, women are traditionally discriminated against and excluded from political and
family related decisions. Despite the large amount of work women must do on a daily basis to
support their families, their opinions are rarely acknowledged and their rights are limited. India is the
world's most dangerous nation for women due to the high risk of sexual violence and regressive
traditions. Due to these aware raising Facts the author focuses on the topic of India´s rape culture.
The group he is presenting in his Article is named for their bright red outfits “The Red Brigade”. It was
formed in November 2011 as a self-defence group for young women suffering sexual abuse in the
northern Indian city of Lucknow. Their leader is the 25-year-old teacher Usha Vishwakarma.

The author is using various stylistic devices to represent and inform many people about the Red
Brigade. Chamberlains way of presenting the group, gives rise to the presumption that he has a
positive attitude towards them.

Throughout the following Analyses and I will especially highlight on how the author portrays the Red
Brigade, his choice of language and on the quotes he uses.

First off, his positive attitude towards them becomes clear through the use of many positive adjective
when describing them. For example he used:”...Intelligent and sassy” in line 15 or described them in
line 71-72 as “…young and tough women...” wich have a positive association. He also shows it, by
playing down their way of taking action, which could be seen as extreme by saying in line 44 that the
women are just making their opinion clear. The thesis is also confirmed by the fact that Chamberlain
simply wrote and published a whole article about them to help them become better known
worldwide and to gain confidence.

In his article he is mainly using quotes and statements from girls who are victims of attempted rape
and of the leader Usha Vishwakarma. For example there is a quote of the Leader from line 29 to 31
and in line 67 you can find a quote from 16-year-old girl Simpi Diwari. By using such Quotes he makes
it easy for the reader to imagine what they would be feeling if they were in that kind of situation. It
reminds the reader once again that the people Chamberlain quotes are actually real life people and
that these situations described actually had happened in the past but also is happening today.
Through the use of Quotes he reaches to the reader in an emotional way and makes them feel even
more connected to the members of the Red Brigade.

He uses an effective and precise language that conveys information not just in a functional way, but
also to enlighten the reader. The sentences are mainly held short and simple. By avoiding technical
terms it is easy to follow and the reader thereby has no difficulties to understand individual words.
The author makes use of certain Images so that the reader is able to picture every situation very
clearly. By dividing the Article into smaller paragraphs the audience can understand the subject more
clearly. It also has the purpose to signal shifts in thinking and give readers a rest. The use of statistical
data in line 45 to 47:”… reports of molestation in Delhi are up 590%....” makes the reader feel more
convinced of what he is reading. In the last line Gethin Chamberlain is comparing Men with wolves
which has the purpose to increase the audience’s understanding of the behavior that man are having
when seeing women.

In conclusion, the author represents the situation of Women in India in a clear way. By the Way
Chamberlain presented them it initially leads to the assumption that he supports the Red Brigade.
The Structure is also thoroughly planned and enables the reader to draw their own conclusions.