As perPerception

This topic interested me when I read a story on newspaper about a father who raped his daughter for several years, then the story headed to history of such cases in India, some critics on judiciary system of our nation and finally to compare different rape (raped by relatives) laws in different countries. I remember few films, talk shows, debates and reality shows which say sexual abuse by relative is very common in few societies. In few part of our land it’s not even considered to be a punishable offence. But not only here, in many part of other countries and cultures it is not considered as a punishable offence. And most of time the girls are minor. Still society or family remains quiet.

The discussion triggered me to know, what is culture? But before the word culture there is another word which could be main culprit, called perception. How do we perceive a crime differs from situation to situation. A society with different culture will perceive it as a different scenario, in fact sometime the same group of people (or society) can take the same instance in two different approaches. For example some countries do not allow capital punishment to their citizens under any circumstances but while few countries do allow that like India. Because different societies perceive the same situation in a different ways.

I can easily relate this to my personal experience, like most of my friends, who are 7-8 years elder to me, are still not allowed to be out till late night while most of my entries to my house is in wee hours! (thanks dad, okay, sorry dad.) Another example is of my few friends who sit with their dad sometimes for drink while I would not prefer for the same, not even with my elder brothers. Though my family would not mind but still I will be not comfortable. Isn’t it a difference of perception? I guess same with society and its culture.

Sometimes our actions are so habitual that we don’t even give a second thought to it while a next person would not dare to do so, depending on our perception. For example, I hate pumpkin, but I hardly know how it tastes. Even before tasting it my perception claims it has to be bad so it is bad. Though it’s really bad! We are so rigid or accustomed to our beliefs that sometimes we even overruled the reality or the right deed!

It really surprise me sometime how things are related!