Raveena Tandon pens open letter ahead of Maatr release: 'Let's stop objectifying women'

(Editor’s note: Ahead of her film, Maatr’s release, Raveena Tandon writes out against objectification of women, about how young girls and boys have a responsibility towards fighting against any sort of discrimination, and most importantly, for a safer tomorrow.) [caption id=“attachment_3360148” align=“alignnone” width=“825”]  The poster of Maatr.[/caption] Crimes in India have been on a constant rise of late. As a mother, this really scares me. Sometimes, we read about horrifying incidents in the newspapers or watch these gruesome acts being discussed on television; during such times, my worst fears begin to haunt me. As a mother, a person’s thoughts are a lot different than how they would have been otherwise. As of today, more than 34,000 rape cases are lodged every year, which is just a miniscule fraction of incidents that have actually occurred. Because of this, I am always on my guard. My blood boils when I read about people being harmed, about young boys and girls and their helpless parents. Dear young boys, all I can tell you is STOP. Stop objectifying women. Stop looking at them like they are some kind of commodity. Stop thinking that you’re automatically entitled to the women you see around you. Dear young girls, my heart goes out to you. When society fails to protect you, it is important for you to understand that it’s all in your hands now. It is time to learn to voice your grievances and fight back against the men who ogle at you, pass lewd comments, and even dare to touch you inappropriately. And lastly, I want to address parents. It is undoubtedly crucial to teach your daughters how to defend themselves, but it is imperative that you teach your sons not to attack in the first place. The day this happens will be the day our country is truly safe for women. India can be a haven for women only if everyone works together towards the cause. Having said this, I urge everyone – men, women and others alike – to raise their voices against such atrocities, and work towards a safer tomorrow. You wouldn’t want a nasty incident to happen to someone close to you, right? So, act today. Signed, A Worried Mother