From classroom to nationwide call: Rethinking 'boys will be boys' after Kolkata incident
sexual violence in Kolkata has sparked a nationwide debate about raising boys with a healthy respect for women to prevent future crimes. Experts emphasised the need for societal change, starting with education and parenting. The commonly heard phrase “boys will be boys” is criticised for perpetuating gender inequality and excusing inappropriate behavior.
Reflecting this ingrained mindset, an incident from a Class 7 classroom was mentioned in The Times of India report by Neha Bhayana. During a 15-items activity, a boy expressed disgust upon the mention of “bra” as a clothing item. Srividya Sivakumar, the English teacher, used this moment to highlight that a bra is just a garment and should not be associated with secrecy or shame. Later conversations revealed the students were aware of the Kolkata rape-murder incident involving a young trainee doctor.
Given the recent wave of sexual violence, there is growing support for the slogan “sirf beti mat bachao, bete ko sikhao” (don’t just save your daughters, teach your sons). This motto underlines the importance of raising boys correctly to prevent future crimes.
Rape prevention and rehabilitation specialist Vasu Primlani told ToI the need to address the root causes of such crimes. In her 2018 YouTube video on “Solutions to India’s Rape Crisis,” she noted that laws alone do not deter crime; rather, they punish criminals after the fact. Primlani asserts, “To cure anything, you need to first address the cause. So, we need to talk to our boys if we want to prevent the
