Dehradun, Jan. 20 -- A television reporter recently suffered a meltdown when a leader of the Samajwadi Party blamed internet content for predatory acts by youths. The reporter interpreted it as similar to the 'boys will be boys' comment once made by the late SP leader Mulayam Singh. However, the two statements are not the same. While the latter assumes that it is in the nature of young men to harass women (and they should be excused for this), the other statement attributing pornography and other misogynistic content for contaminating minds is quite accurate.
It is a fact that the traditional cultural programming of young men sought to instill in them not just respect for women, but also a sense of duty to protect them when necessary. This...