A thread on the myth of 'safe spaces' in a caste society.
In a caste society, what people consider as a 'safe space' is primarily a caste endogamous space. Individuals feel safer in spaces that are populated by those belonging to their own caste or similar castes.
In a caste society, what people consider as a 'safe space' is primarily a caste endogamous space. Individuals feel safer in spaces that are populated by those belonging to their own caste or similar castes.
Which is exactly how most institutions are built in this country - on the basis of caste. And that includes these popular Chennai schools like PSBB.
The school positions itself as a Brahminical school meant for Brahmins.
The school positions itself as a Brahminical school meant for Brahmins.
By doing this, it deliberately keeps non-Brahmins out of its premises. But at the same time, Brahmins families feel safe and proud to send their kids to the school. The students too eventually grow up to become agents of Brahmanism.
And end up sending their own kids back to PSBB or similar such school.
In contrast, spaces which could be populated by those from other castes, mostly lower castes are considered as risky and dangerous. So the streets can be risky. The public parks are dangerous.
In contrast, spaces which could be populated by those from other castes, mostly lower castes are considered as risky and dangerous. So the streets can be risky. The public parks are dangerous.
In fact, any place that can be populated by 'others' are naturally deemed as unsafe.
Which is why everyone is shocked to read about PSBB or the other schools the past one week.
Which is why everyone is shocked to read about PSBB or the other schools the past one week.
They can't seem to comprehend how a Brahmin school turned out to be unsafe to its own Brahmin students. Because this challenges the very assumption of a caste society. That endogamous spaces are by default safe.
But if you think about it, the cases of sexual harassment at PSBB and the other schools prove yet again what worldwide studies have already told us. That most sexual violence are committed by someone who is known or close to the victim than a stranger.
The NCRB data says, in over 96% cases, the abuser is known to the victim. And this is when the cases of sexual abuses within family or known set up is grossly underreported.
You can read more about it here - who.int/.../publicatio…
You can read more about it here - who.int/.../publicatio…
Which means that in a country like India, most sexual violence actually occur in caste endogamous spaces. The same spaces that we often deem as safe.
In comparison, public spaces that people share with strangers from other castes must be relatively safer.
In comparison, public spaces that people share with strangers from other castes must be relatively safer.
Even if they are considered risky and dangerous in popular imagination.
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
