You stay CLASSY, Deputy Director of Tourism Pamela Mascarhenascase (Goa, India)...

[Amerigo Vespucci]

Topic: Violence Against Women
Thursday, Feb 4, 2010 14:05 EST
Broadsheet
Blame it on the bikini
So says a Goa tourism official in response to a recent crime spree against women and girls
By Tracy Clark-Flory



http://www.salon.com/life/violence_against_women/index.html?story=/mwt/broadsheet/feature/2010/02/04/goa_rape_bikinis

There are many reasonable ways for a tourism official to respond to the news of a 9-year-old girl being raped last month while vacationing on a beach in Goa, India. You know ... issue a public statement condemning her alleged attacker or reassure prospective vacationers that the state is taking serious steps to protect foreigners, and residents alike, against sexual violence. The latter would be a particularly appropriate approach, given there has been recent string of attacks on female tourists. Instead, Deputy Director of Tourism Pamela Mascarhenascase took the following tack: "You can't blame the locals; they have never seen such women. Foreign tourists must maintain a certain degree of modesty in their clothing. Walking on the beaches half-naked is bound to titillate the senses."

Er, OK, lady. Unfortunately, Mascarhenascase could not be reached for comment, due to a most inconvenient time difference, so I'm left to dissect her bizarre commentary on my own. It sounds as though she is either suggesting that the 9-year-old girl's beachwear provoked her alleged attacker or that the general abundance of scantily clad foreigners caused her accused rapist to snap. Neither interpretation expresses even a hint of basic, human empathy: At blame is either an adolescent girl's body or the culturally insensitive tramps who have descended upon the state for some fun in the sun.

Lest you think Ms. Mascarhenascase's views are not representative of Goa's tourism department, check out what her higher up, Director Swapnil Naik had to say in response to her comments: "I think that sentiment has also been echoed by our minister in one or two statements. There is a degree of cultural shock for our native population when they see certain type of dressing." Absolutely. I am a total believer in cultural sensitivity (although, for the record, I'm not hot on draconian enforcement of cultural conformity) -- but what does that have to do with sexual assault? Rape is a violent crime, but wearing a bikini is not.

Well, at least not yet. Several news outlets have reported that Goa is pushing for a bikini ban, but the government has denied the claims. Instead, in response to the recent crimes against female foreigners, the state is outlawing all skimpy bathing suit shots from tourism ads. They don't want to give visitors the wrong idea. So, I guess the "right" idea is that women better cover up to protect themselves?

[Ignis]

1. What an absolutely reprehensible response.

:puke: :puke: :puke:

I predict heads will (eventually) roll over this response, but things move verrrry slowly through India's bureaucracy.

[YOY]

2. News flash Mrs. Mascarjenascase...even a nude 9 near old is not "titalating"

n.t.

[Chulanowa]

3. She sounds like a lot of Americans

"When you come here you MUST assimilate to us perfectly! If you don't there will be hell to pay and you can only blame yourself for not conforming!"

Difference is, Americans get all offended when someone applies this idiocy (and it IS idiocy) to Americans.

The woman's statements are indefensible, stupid, wrongheaded, and she should be beaten with a live chicken and fired for them. But it's certainly no stupider than what I often hear out of mainstream America.

[cali]

5. huh? Americans do say a lot of crap like that about immigrants, but about tourists?

please post all those stories that back up your claim.

gad, the knee jerk but-americans-are-as-bad-or-worse response to anything critical of another culture, is just so ridiculous.

[Chulanowa]

9. Well, I could link you to lots of stories about "Flying While Muslim"

But somehow I get the notion you would shift the goalpost more.

At any rate, it doesn't matter if the person is an immigrant or tourist, the "CONFORM TO WHAT I DEMAND OR ELSE!" mentality is sick and perverted. It's also commonplace in America. So I find it just a bit strange that Americans get up in arms if someone says it back to them.

The woman in question is unquestionably wrong, as I said. I'm just noting the hypocrisy involved.

[pleah]

4. Jeebus Grisle!

:banghead:

I really hate stupid women.

[spooky3]

6. being 9 years old is not "adolescent" - she's a child

[Kitty Herder]

7. That's some disgusting victim blaming right there.

:mad: :puke:

[hfojvt]

8. I cannot believe Mascara-hen-case is a real name.

Perhaps the problem is really just seductive eye make-up. On female chickens.

I rest my case.

What kind of a name is Popinjay?