The ABCs of Sexual Abuse

Sexual abuse is as ubiquitous as the alphabet today.

(Photo: Erum Gour / The Quint)

From Nirbhaya to the woman who was brutally raped and murdered in Hyderabad, to acid attack survivor Malti, to the thousands who stood up to say MeToo, to the millions of women who survive abuse every day of their lives; sexual abuse has become the norm, one that women have come to expect as part of their lives. Abuse that takes many forms, and the abusers can be anybody; family, friends, co-workers, self-styled Gurus, powerful politicians or even the man on the street.

Here then, are the ABCs of sexual abuse. They speak about all of the above in a sentence, or a word. Or an alphabet.

Abuse your position of power.

Blame the survivor.

Call it a conspiracy.

Deny.

Extort.

Falsify.

Guilt-trip.

Harass.

Imply.

'Juice'

Know your crony.

Love.

'Main Bhee'

Nudes, morphed, shared.

Offer compensation.

Politicise.

Question motives, timing.

Reveal.

Slut shame.

Test her patience.

Use her fears.

'Video'

Work the system.

X-ray.

Yesterday.

Zilch.