It’s not been a good week for Myanmar ladies. First, the head of a top political party dubbed the entire gender “fucking useless”.
Now, a high-ranking official with the Yangon police has blamed rape on women and the way they dress.
In an interview with a reporter from the Myanmar Times who asked about sexual violence in the city, Police Captain Win Bo said: “Women should be aware of their dressing style and behavior. They shouldn’t encourage sexual attraction.”
As anyone who has been a woman knows, if a man’s going to harass you, he’s likely to do it whether you’re wearing a leotard, a longyi or a raincoat.
About 73 cases of rape were reported in Yangon from January to June this year, but activists say the real number is likely to be much higher as crimes go unreported.
Daw May Sabe Phyu, a women’s rights activist, told the Times that as both public and the police often blame the victim, many lose hope in the justice system.
Now whose turn is it to be useless?
