Let us be clear: a woman’s attire is never an invitation for assault. Whether she is clad in traditional wear or casual clothing, her outfit is not and never will be, a license for someone to violate her dignity or safety.
It is heartbreaking and enraging that, even in 2025, survivors of sexual harassment and assault are often met with questions like “What was she wearing?” instead of “Why did someone think they had the right to touch her without consent?”
நிமிர்ந்த நன்னடை நேர்கொண்ட பார்வையும்,
நிலத்தில் யார்க்கும் அஞ்சாத நெறிகளும்,
திமிர்ந்த ஞானச் செருக்கும் இருப்பதால்
செம்மை மாதர் திறம்புவ தில்லையாம்;
These lines translate to:
She who walks gracefully, her head held high and with a piercing stare
She whose values make her unafraid of anyone who walks this earth
She who is proud of her intellectual bravado and conviction
She is the modern woman who doesn't feel inferior to anyone
This societal mindset not only traumatizes survivors further but also enables perpetrators by shifting the focus away from the crime and onto the victim. Clothing doesn’t cause assault, the perpetrator’s mindset does.
Temples, schools, workplaces, public transport, no place is immune to such crimes, and the pattern is painfully clear: the common denominator is not a woman’s outfit, but a culture that refuses to hold perpetrators accountable.
Instead of policing women’s attire, society must:
- Teach consent from a young age
- Empower women to speak up without fear of shame
- Demand accountability and swift justice
- Stop normalizing or excusing predatory behaviour
Let us honour every survivor by rejecting victim-blaming and standing firm in the truth: the only person responsible for assault is the assaulter.
No woman regardless of what she wears, where she is, or what time it is, ever deserves to be assaulted. It's time we stop dressing up misogyny as morality. It is crucial to always prioritize and respect an individual's comfort and boundaries, as 'NO means NO' should always be upheld.
Image Credit : Maciolek Law Group
Tamil Verse : Subramaniya Bharathiyar