India’s Politicians Blame Rape on Chinese Food, Cell Phones, Jeans

What do noodles, condoms, and the West have in common?

All are painfully absurd reasons that a number of Indian leaders have pointed to as explanations for why rape remains such a problem in their country, which became infamous in the world’s eyes after a fatal gang rape in December 2012. Indian authorities seem willing to blame just about anything–except for rapists themselves–for the rising rates of sexual violence.

Here are eight of the more offensively ridiculous reasons they’ve cited.

Condom advertisements

The latest scapegoat for supposedly encouraging immorality and rape is ex-porn star Sunny Leone. A Canadian-Indian by origin, Leone has a massive fan following in India, and has shot to (publicly accepted) fame after appearing in mainstream movies and reality shows in the country. This past week, however, she offended the former chairperson of Delhi Commission for Women Barkha Shukla Singh, who wants a condom advertisement featuring Leone that recently reappeared on Indian television to be banned.

“The shabby, ugly or immoral way the actress seduces or sexually provokes a man in the advertisement to use condoms is nothing but serving immorality and bad practice,” said Singh.

A member of the Communist Party of India took it a step further–blaming the advertisement for inciting men–causing outrage on social media. “It is such a dirty and disgusting advertisement. It develops sexuality, and destroys your sensibility,” said Atul Anjan, claiming that such advertising will provoke harassment and rape.

Meat, Chinese food and phones

When men eat meat, strange things–awful things–can happen. At least that is what Vinay Bihari, a state minister, believes. “People who eat more non-vegetarian food like chicken and fish are inclined towards carrying out molestation and rape,” said Bihari last year, claiming that meat leads to a hot temper.

A local leader from the infamous “khap panchayats”–self-declared unconstitutional caste councils which police morality and call for honor killings–had a similar view. “To my understanding, consumption of fast food contributes to [rape],” said Jitender Chhatar, expressing a special prejudice against Chinese food. “Chowmein leads to hormonal imbalance evoking an urge to indulge in such acts.”

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Western influences and urbanization

Victim-blaming is a classic tactic around the world, but some Indian leaders like to add a special “cultural” twist. Traditional Indian clothes will not incite rape of women, they say, but jeans will.

“Horrific incidents [like the Delhi gang-rape] don’t happen all of a sudden. They happen when the thin line of culture and values are crossed in the name of civilization and development,” said Nischalananda Saraswati, a Hindu religious leader. He blamed the adoption of Western morals and fashion in the country for a change in attitudes towards women.

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