An Instagram chat group that comprised of several young boys studying in some of the best schools in Delhi has taken the internet by the storm. The topic of discussion in that chat group was slut-shaming, gangrape and female objectification, rues Enakshi. An exclusive for Different Truths.

This year is proving out to be a nightmare for everyone. The recent news of #Boislockerroom has given the parents sleepless nights and umpteen hours of anxiety. An Instagram chat group that comprised of several young boys studying in some of the best schools in Delhi has taken the internet by the storm. The topic of discussion in that chat group was slut-shaming, gangrape and female objectification. Sadly, the girls being spoken about in the group were the school mates of those boys. The controversy flared up when a new joiner in the group shared the screenshot of the chat messages with some of the girls. Shattered by what was cooking in that group, some Bravehearts decided to go public and posted those pictures.

Knowing that rape-culture is perpetuated in our society as well as our culture, it is disheartening to know that young school-going children are becoming a victim of this mindset. This news is obviously a shocker for the parents.

The boys are said to be class 11 and 12 students, who shared pictures of teenage girls without their consent and invited comments from other participants of the group. Those comments are too unrefined to be reproduced. Knowing that rape-culture is perpetuated in our society as well as our culture, it is disheartening to know that young school-going children are becoming a victim of this mindset. This news is obviously a shocker for the parents. Now that schools are shut and online teaching is the only way that can prevent the delay in learning, parents have to rely on technology for the sake of their children. This news, however, will make the parents think twice before allowing their children to access the internet.

For a long time, viewing women as an object, disrespecting them and abusing them (in any form, be it physical, emotional, mental or verbal) has been taken casually by our society. Women are often found struggling against the thinly disguised misogyny. Male transgression has been ignored for ages now. It is believed that the behaviour of the menfolk is inevitable and hence, the unsaid freedom that comes along with this belief is the root cause of all the injustice happening to women. It is said that if a mistake is done twice, it no longer remains a mistake and that is exactly what we, as a society, are going to do next. When Nirbhaya case happened in 2012, the juvenile assailant escaped capital punishment. The country stood together in an attempt to bring justice to the rape victim. As a result, The Juvenile Care and Protection of Children Act was passed, in 2015, according to which juveniles in the age group of 16–18, involved in heinous offences, could be tried as adults. Today, we stand at the same juncture where a large group of young boys are planing gang rapes, morphing pictures and threatening girls.

If a change has to be brought, men have to stop skirting around such topics of discussion. Instead of laughing it off, the parents should teach them when they are young. All boys should be taught to respect women and should be kept away from the toxic masculinity in society. Our country was ranked the most dangerous country for women in 2018 owing to the rise in sexual violence.

If a change has to be brought, men have to stop skirting around such topics of discussion. Instead of laughing it off, the parents should teach them when they are young. All boys should be taught to respect women and should be kept away from the toxic masculinity in society. Our country was ranked the most dangerous country for women in 2018 owing to the rise in sexual violence. Well, that doesn’t come as a surprise, does it? A country where rape jokes, sexist attitude and patriarchal mindset are all considered to be a part of the lifestyle will be dangerous for women for obvious reasons. #Boislockerroom has, once again, proved how weak the foundation on which we lay our beliefs and notions is. This is not the first time that children have indulged in such obnoxious activities. In December 2019, eight 13-14-year-old boys were arrested in Mumbai for passing sexually explicit remarks on their classmate (a girl, of course). If we still don’t understand the severity of this issue, then nothing else can teach us better. It is time to talk sense into the young boys, make them aware of what consent means, explaining them the aftermath of exaggerated machismo and taking the lesson from #boislockerroom chat and throwing light on India’s rape culture and how it starts so young!

It is the need of the hour to realise as parents and as people that the toxic mindset is being passed onto the younger generation now. With more exposure to technology, advancement in knowledge and more awareness, one cannot contain the spread of negative ideas. What one can do is nip the matter in the bud before it becomes worse.

Photo from the Internet