The Silent War on Women
"The men we work with, the men we pray with, the men we eat with and the men we sleep with."
Since 2020, the gender divide within online spaces has deepened significantly. The "red pill community" believes that women's empowerment has come at the expense of men, fueling intense debates. Women, on the other hand, argue that they don’t want a war—they simply want the boot of patriarchy lifted from their throats. Many women have shared examples of gender-based violence, including a horrific incident in India where four men gang-raped and ate a monitor lizard at the Sahyadri Tiger Reserve. Women have pointed out that it would be safer to face a bear in the woods than their male counterparts, asking, "If men can do this to a lizard, where is the limit?"
Recent reports have become even more disturbing. On August 9th, 2024, a 31-year-old female doctor in India was found dead at her hospital after a long day of meetings and caring for patients. Initially, her death was believed to be a suicide. However, after an autopsy, authorities discovered severe strangulation and bleeding from her private parts, concluding she had been brutally raped and murdered at her workplace. Rumors on social media suggested additional injuries, including a broken collarbone and shattered pelvis, though these details remain unconfirmed. Naturally, her family is devastated, and women are outraged.
Another notable case involves a married couple in France. A 71-year-old man named Dominique Pelicot was reported for secretly photographing women by placing his phone under their skirts. During the investigation, police uncovered something far worse—video footage of Dominique raping his wife, Gisele Pelicot, along with 74 other men. There were 92 acts of rape reported, and Gisele claimed to have no memory of them. Her husband admitted to drugging her with powerful tranquilizers for nearly a decade. The most terrifying part? None of the 74 men who assaulted her stepped forward to stop the abuse.
It’s important to remember that these are just the reported incidents. Personally, I have never reported my sexual assaults to the police, though I have reported physical abuse. There's a sense of shame and humiliation associated with it, and some men seem to derive pleasure from that. Some abusers aren’t as obvious or deliberate. They break you down slowly, making passive-aggressive comments or giving a look of disgust that erodes your self-esteem. These men might be the ones you pass by in a grocery store, shake hands with at church, or eat lunch with at work—seemingly reputable, but hiding their true nature. Abuse can take the form of gaslighting, manipulation, and verbal degradation, which I explore in a short story I wrote. You can read it here.
Are men sexually depraved? Why did none of the 74 men who raped Gisele Pelicot speak out? One of these men was someone she recognized from a bakery she visited weekly, completely unsuspecting. This shows that it can be the men we work with, pray with, eat with, and even sleep next to.
If you or anyone you know is experiencing abuse from any gender, please call the police. If you’re dealing with physical and emotional issues due to abuse, please call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-4673.