FIFTH COLUMN

Mental castration

By Sushma

Shocked and hurt deeply by the state of the women in the shelter homes for victims of trafficking and domestic violence, a distraught lady said that if we were to castrate all men at birth, that would be the end to all these problems. Castrating would mean that they would not be able to perform sexually. When they are not able to perform sexually, there would be no need for them to visit brothels, and when there is no demand, there would be no supply. That would mean an end to the trafficking trade.

How we wish things would be as simple as that! A couple of years back in the West, a judge declared that a rapist should be castrated. A hue and cry was raised over the issue and some researchers after investigating on the issue medically concluded that castration would not solve the problem as it is the mental problems that makes a person act as a rapist and makes them prone to violence. Like sex, it is all in the brain.

Again, castration of all men would mean an end to reproduction. Though that may be a welcome idea in the present situation, it would mean an end to human race in the long run. And let us not forget the natural needs of the female race too. Though castration of certain criminals would perhaps assauge the agony of the victims partially, castration of all men is not a good idea. And men would gladly vouch for that.

The way men and women are socialised after their birth form their attitude. This attitude directs the way they think and behave. So the men learn to think that it is their birthright to indulge in any way they like to appease their physical and mental passions and the society accepts the behaviour. They learn to assert their power over the females in many horrendous forms like rape, domestic violence, mental torture, etc., and find ways and means to further subjugate the women and drive them to extremes; like suicide, prostitution, begging and even murder.

Women in turn learn to think that they are the weaker sex and they are supposed to tolerate any treatment that comes from the males, where ever they are, whoever they are. Needless to add, poverty and illiteracy further exacerbate the problem. Trafficking and domestic violence have its roots deep in the psyches of the people. It transcends all barriers of race, creed, colour, social status, etc. Wives are beaten and put through untold mental and physical agony as much as in rich, educated classes as they are in poor and illiterate classes.

What we need today is the mental castration of all the wrong ideas that have been deeply ingrained into our psyches. We need to learn that god meant both sexes to be equal and co-exist peacefully. The negative feedback regarding women must be erased forever. Give equality a chance, at homes first.