3 ms·
I'm not sure pepper spray gets to the heart of the issue. We're talking about something much more ingrained in the culture than simple predators lurking in some
by binaryorganic 14y ago
I'm not sure pepper spray gets to the heart of the issue. We're talking about something much more ingrained in the culture than simple predators lurking in some alley, no? Do you have any idea what could happen to a woman that pepper sprays the wrong man in some parts of the world? We're talking about a place that still has thousands of cases of bride burning each year (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bride_burning#In_India http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bride_burning#In_India). Not sure how pepper spray is the first step here.
- tesmar2 14y agoExactly, this feels like a bandaid on a gaping wound. If we are going to spend our energies, it should be for education/legal change....or getting at the hearts/minds of the Indian people. The international Justice mission is a great team of lawyers who fight for such change. http://www.ijm.org/ http://www.ijm.org/
- mcgwiz 14y agoIndia is a huge country, and I would assume that cultural norms vary throughout. In my view, the heart of the issue is a lack of attention to the problem by those with power, creating an environment with no consequences for this type of behavior. Self-defense can both attract attention and effect consequences (both directly and indirectly through the attention brought). Generally speaking, cultural norms rarely change overnight or through some collective and conscious agreement or referendum. Among other things, the combined effect of individual actions can spark cultural change. I don't know if the link is legit or the most efficient organization to do this, but pepper spray can certainly be a single vector among many to effect wider change.