Rethinking Violence: Focus on the Crime, Not the Gender

In recent times, India has seen a renewed public discourse on violence involving female perpetrators, rare yet sensationalized by the media. These isolated incidents should be scrutinized like any other crime, but not at the cost of overshadowing the systemic and deeply entrenched violence that women face in India every day.

The focus must remain on the act of crime, not the gender of the criminal. Misplaced emphasis distorts public understanding and invisibilizes the real crisis: the widespread, persistent, and patriarchal violence faced by women.

A History of Patriarchal Violence in India

Violence against women is not a new phenomenon-it is a historical and structural problem rooted in centuries of patriarchy.

Female infanticide and foeticide reflect a societal preference for sons, beginning violence even before birth.
Dowry-related deaths continue, where brides are killed or driven to suicide over dowry demands.
Sexual harassment, assault, acid attacks, and domestic abuse are everyday occurrences.
Women are routinely blamed for their own victimization with questions like, “What was she wearing?” or “Why was she out late?”

According to The Guardian, globally, 736 million women—nearly 1 in 3—have faced physical or sexual violence in their lifetime. In India, a woman is raped every 16 minutes, and 80% of such cases go unreported (The Guardian).

Hard Data: Violence Against Women in India (2022, NCRB)

Top Crime Categories:

Cruelty by husband or relatives: 31.45%
Kidnapping and abduction: 19.16%
Assault to outrage modesty: 18.71%
Rape: 7.08%
Dowry deaths: 4.48%
Abetment to suicide: 1.11%

the percentages represent the share of each type of crime in the total number of reported crimes against women in India for that year.

Selected Statistics:

31,516 rapes reported in 2022 — ~86 every day (Reuters)
89% of rape survivors knew their assailants (TOI)
6,450 dowry deaths, mostly bride burnings (Wikipedia)
83,344 molestation cases registered
62,095 child sexual abuse cases under POCSO (PMC)
4,963 cases of abetment to suicide of women

Regional Breakdown:

Uttar Pradesh: 65,743 cases (15% of national total)
Delhi: Highest per capita rate – 186.9 per lakh women (3x the national average of 66.4)

Domestic Violence:

NFHS‑5 data shows 1 in 3 married women face spousal violence
- Rural: 32%
- Urban: 24%

⚠️ Gang Rape & Rape-Murder: Ongoing Horror

Notable Cases:

2022 Hyderabad: 17-year-old gang-raped by six; case in fast-track court (Wikipedia)
2025 Varanasi: 19-year-old drugged and gang-raped by 23 men (Wikipedia)
2024 Kolkata Hospital: Doctor raped and murdered on duty (AP News)

Rape-Murders:

248 rape-murder cases in 2022
- Uttar Pradesh: 62
- Madhya Pradesh: 41 (The Print)

Media Misfocus: Rare Cases, Wrong Lessons

While women can and do commit crimes- and must be held accountable- the media frenzy around female perpetrators distorts public discourse. It shifts focus from the dominant reality where women are overwhelmingly the victims, not the aggressors.

Why This Matters:

It fuels misogynistic tropes of “false cases” and “feminist hypocrisy.”
It weakens public pressure for justice in real crises affecting millions of women.
It delegitimizes the lived trauma of survivors who already battle stigma.

Women Still Fight and Rise

Despite systemic barriers, women continue to excel in all fields:

From leading startups to scientific breakthroughs, from winning Olympic medals to serving in the army.
Grassroots movements like #StandWithHer and Nirbhaya Jyoti Trust have sparked change.

Yet, they still walk in fear. Every step forward is haunted by the threat of gender-based violence.

❗Our Focus Must Be Just

Crimes must be punished regardless of gender—but without agenda-driven distortion.
Violence against women must remain a top national priority.
Media should stop sensationalizing outlier cases; focus on majority patterns.
Legal systems must be strengthened—implement POSH, POCSO, DV, and Dowry Acts with teeth.
Police & Judiciary must be trained in gender sensitivity and survivor support.

See the Crime, Not the Gender

Yes, men can be victims. Yes, female perpetrators exist. But the scale, frequency, and impunity of violence against women demands urgent, undivided attention. Let us not weaponize isolated incidents to undermine centuries of injustice that women continue to endure.

Let’s treat every crime seriously, while ensuring the conversation around gender-based violence is grounded in truth, data, and empathy.