Watching Lipstick Under My Burkha in a theatre made me realize most men don't understand the difference between rape and consensual sex

I was surprised to see men in the theatre laughing at a marital rape scene in Lipstick Under My Burkha.

Sarwat Fatima
जुलाई 24, 2017

Lipstick Under My Burkha has something important to say about marital rape. But, are men willing to listen? Photo Courtesy: YouTube/ PrakashJhaProductions

So, yesterday I decided to go and watch Lipstick Under My Burkha. Needless to say, after all the controversy the film had courted in past, it sure tempted audience like to me see what the hullabaloo was all about. FYI, it's a great film. But, I will not bombard you with another raving review. I would like to tell you about something really disturbing that I witnessed while watching Lipstick Under My Burkha.

Konkona Sen Sharma As A Trapped Housewife

I will not give any spoilers in case you are planning on catching a show soon. However, it would be safe to assume that by now you know a little something about all the characters in the film. For instance, Konkona Sen Sharma plays the role of Shirin Aslam, a woman who has to keep her professional life under wraps from her repressive husband played by Sushant Singh. But, that's not the only sad part. It's nauseating to see the entitled husband demanding sex without paying much heed to Shirin's consent.

Men Will Be Men. And It's Unfortunate

Now, while all women in the theatre clicked their tongues in disgust when Shireen's husband parted her legs and forced himself upon her to establish his masculinity and control over her--a few men at this posh cinema went all LOL. Yup, they actually guffawed at a scene portraying marital rape.

To my utter disappointment, the collective laugh kept getting louder with every thrust they saw on the silver screen. I turned around to take a good look at this bunch of men, only to discover that they actually looked well-dressed and educated enough to understand the difference between rape and consensual sex.

To come to think of it, it's not just a matter of few men laughing their asses off at a rape scene. Photo Courtesy: YouTube/ PrakashJhaProductions

The Difference Between Rape And Consensual Sex

Honestly, I was a little taken aback by their sheer insensitivity. Who in their right mind would laugh at such a graphic scene depicting rape? And it was then when I had an epiphany. Perhaps, for these men sex and rape were not two different things. Maybe by the virtue of the act alone, they amalgamated into one single activity. So, to them it looked like a disgruntled husband having sex with his wife, who dared to surpass his authority. A lesson, they think, women should be taught if they try to overstep their boundaries.

This Mass Mentality Needs To Change

To come to think of it, it's not just a matter of few men laughing their asses off at a rape scene. The mentality penetrates the society deep. For starters, most men fail to understand that marital rape is not sex. In fact, any kind of sex with the consent of a woman is RAPE. It really doesn't matter if the woman is the love of your life or your wife. If she is unwilling to indulge in any form of sexual intimacy, then it's best to back off.

Also, some men might find rape as a tool to assert their male authority funny, but it really isn't. It's downright disgusting. And until this mass mentality undergoes a proper cleansing, fact and fiction will stay tangled.