Mamtha Mohandas, in a recent interview with The Times Of India, said that women who get into trouble are ‘responsible’ for it and that pretty women are more susceptible to attacks.
Mohandas explained: “I don’t know if I should be saying this, but if a woman gets into trouble, then somehow she is responsible for it. Because if I have gotten into any sort of trouble where I have felt that someone has spoken to me with disrespect or in this situation, a sexual assault or sexual abuse or anything indicative towards that manner, I feel I would have entertained some part of it.”
She also believes that pretty women get attacked more as society likes ‘challenging their strength’. “We do become victims of certain unfair things. I think average looking women have it easier these days – in all aspects of life, from relationships to professions. They actually do better.”
The actor was also asked about her decision to stay away from the Women in Cinema Collective. She said that she did not understand the need for a body comprising of just women and that a separate organisation to spearhead women’s issues in cinema was not required.
She observed that the whole issue about the kidnapping and sexual assault of the South Indian actor became sensationalised, which was very disappointing for the industry.
“There’s an actress involved as well as a big actor. It’s like you are cutting the industry’s heart open. You are dividing it based on gender.”
In a Facebook post, Rima Kallingal criticised Mohandas for her comments and said that victims should not be held responsible for their assaults.
She wrote:
“Dear Mamtha Mohandas and my sisters and brothers and LGBTQ community out there who have been through harassment and assaults and molestations and rapes in life, you are not responsible when you get troubled, cat-called, assaulted, molested, abused, harassed, violated, attacked, kidnapped or raped.
The molestor, assaulter, aggressor, violater, kidnapper or the rapist is responsible. A society that normalises these wrongs is responsible. A world that protects the wrong-doer is responsible.”
Kallingal said that the society that normalises assault and rape should be held accountable, not the victim. “Please don’t feel guilty for another person’s act. Continue to speak out and stand up for each other. Let’s break that wall of silence and ignorance. Love and strength to all,” she added.
