Victim shaming is not something new at all. “Your Outfit was asking for it” is the answer many rapists give and the worst part is, we still do hear them.
Remember the Delhi woman’s video which went viral recently for claiming that ‘girls wearing short dresses should be raped’. Strangely, there were people supporting the woman. They said: “Shorter the length, the more likely she is to get raped”.
Taking this woman’s idea as an “inspiration”, a group of young people have come up with the “Super Sanskari Saree”, an answer to all the people who claim women get raped because of their clothes.
Tanvi Tandon, a Boston based content writer is the co-founded a mockery website inspired by the Delhi Woman’s speech and the perceptions about women’s safety and clothing through the lens of sharp satire. The four-member team behind the website includes Anish, a copywriter at BBDO Chicago, Miklas Manneke, Senior Art Director and James Barkley, who is an Associate Creative Director.
“We thought satire was the best way to make this conversation accessible while also highlighting the absurdity of victim blaming and shaming. It adds humour to that mentality, not to the seriousness of sexual assault itself,” says Tandon.
As per the product’s description on the website, the Super Sanskari Sarees “are made with anti-rape technology and, according to some Indians, will make women invisible to rapists. Protect yourself from prying eyes and unwelcome penises with this ultra-modest collection. Because when there’s nothing to see, there’s nothing to rape”.
(of course, these sarees cannot fight rape just like how the skirt don’t “invite” rape)
In case, if people buy the sarees, the proceeds will go to a foundation named Sayfty, which educates and empowers Indian women and girls against violence.
In fact, the price of the sarees suggests donation amounts.
“Channeling the donations through the platform also helped us open up this campaign to a global audience and we’ve even received donations from outside India,” Tandon adds.
You must check out the collection tab especially which is even better.
There is “Ambitious Naari Office Saree”, the Sanskari Item-Number Saree, the ‘Sun-skari Beachwear Saree’, that suggests that instead of “a two-piece bikini, opt for this one-long-ass-piece yellow ‘biki-nahi.’”
Even if you do not belong to the age group which can wear this sarees, there’s “protective” gear for everyone. Because there’s no age bar for the rape.
“Some of the outfits were directly inspired by comments made by the woman in the video, like the young woman who questioned whether babies and grandmothers also get raped because of what they wear,” shares Tandon.
There’s the ‘Loungewear Saree’ which emphasizes on the fact that ‘Just because you’re an auntyji now, doesn’t mean you’re un-rapeable!’ and the Acchi Bacchi’ Saree for Kids priced, which points out something important (and dark) – “The worst that your little bundle of joy should invite is dowry, not sexual abuse. Make sure she knows that her body doesn’t belong to her from a young age with this red saree.”
If the content on the website feels disturbing, it’s because it brings to light the harsh culture of victim shaming in India.
