How to Curfew Women: A Graphic Guide to Constraint, Fear and Abuse

Imprisonment 101: A graphic guide to caging the indomitable spirit of young women.

(Graphics: The Quint/Hardeep Singh)

A set of recent incidents involving gruesome rapes of women across the country has yet again raised several questions about Indian society and judiciary. We at The Quint believe that a rape survivor’s life doesn’t end when she is raped. And that even if our institutions - law, the judiciary, the hospitals - are failing a rape survivor, we as a society need to step up. And keep the fight going. We are publishing this article originally published on 29 April 2016 from The Quint’s archives as part of our #KeepFighting campaign.

University authorities don’t even make a secret of the fact that men and women in college hostels are subject to different rules. Men are not curfewed; hostels don’t make it their business to track their movements. Women, on the other hand, are under strict surveillance. They have to return to their hostels at a time fixed arbitrarily by the authorities and are only reluctantly granted leave from the hostel.

However valiantly they may try, college authorities haven’t managed to turn the women they are meant to subjugate into docile, fearful creatures who’ve forgotten how to speak their minds. In fact, if one were to be honest, they’ve failed abysmally.

We thought we’d help out the self-appointed guardians of women’s morality a little.

Catch Her Young

(Graphics: The Quint/Hardeep Singh)

Indoctrination begins early. Find a 17 or 18-year-old, bright-eyed woman with ambition. Remember, she has been told to look forward to this her entire life. She has flown the nest. She may have fought tooth and nail to even get to college. Take advantage of the fact that this might even be her moment of freedom from oppressive, often abusive structures at home.

Put the Fear of God in Her

(Graphics: The Quint/Hardeep Singh)

Tell her how dangerous the world outside her hostel gates is. Tell her that every man on the street is out to rape her. Explain to her that if she is out after 8, the city’s unforgiving night will consume her and spit her out. Make sure she knows that if she dares to venture into the big, bad world, what will be left of her is a morally dubious husk, because she would have invited assault. After all, rape is the woman’s fault.

Put This Docile, Fearful Creature in a Straightjacket

(Graphics: The Quint/Hardeep Singh)

Give her strict instructions on how to dress. No dates. No male visitors. To spite her, deny her an evening of fun. As far as possible, contain the sleepovers. Teach her that her place has historically been inside, not outside. She shouldn’t leave the hostel. If she does, she may have more fun than is good for her. If rules permit, rummage through her belongings. ‘Inspect’ her room; stamp out the first sign of moral depravity. If rules don’t permit the invasion of privacy, change them. You know you can.

Release Her Into the World

(Graphics: The Quint/Hardeep Singh)

On her graduation day, put her in a saree and celebrate her virtue. Pat yourself discreetly on the back; you have been instrumental in shaping the woman who stands in front of you. She is afraid of the night, has been told what to wear and how to behave. She doesn’t smoke, drink or do drugs. Congratulate yourself, for this is the woman you have created. She is docile, obsequious and lacks spunk. She no longer knows how to defend herself. She lacks the impetus to do so. Congratulations, you have successfully curfewed your woman.