Priya Shakti Anti Rape Superhero

White Tara · Feb 11, 2015

So much Awesome.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/02/10/priya-shakti_n_6647464.html

After a harrowing New Delhi gang rape in 2012, a police officer told Ram Devineni that "no good girl walks home at night." In that moment, the Indian-American filmmaker vowed to find a way to shake authorities, and other indifferent members of society, into fighting back against such rampant violence against women.

"[He was] implying that she probably deserved it, or at least provoked the attack," Devineni told The Huffington Post in an email. "I knew then that the problem of sexual violence in India was not a legal issue; rather it was a cultural problem."
After consulting with a number of rape survivors in India and researching Hindu mythology, Devineni realized he could craft a relatable comic book character who could speak to the victims’ horrific experiences, and voice their overwhelming need for justice. In December, at the Mumbai Film and Comic Convention, Devineni and his team unveiled Priya’s Shakti -- a superhero gang rape survivor who fights against sexual violence and pushes for women’s rights.
The comic book creators also launched the #StandwithPriya campaign to encourage supporters to get involved with the movement on social media.
Priya’s Shakti was quickly met with much fanfare across India and the world. U.N. Women recently named Devineni, who's involved with the group's HeForShe mission, a gender equality champion.

To make the comic books more readily available, the creators launched an Indiegogo campaign in order to distribute them for free to schools in India. The money will go to the team's nonprofit partner, Apne Aap Women Worldwide, which works to empower marginalized women and end human trafficking.

While Devineni hopes the comic book medium is what draws readers in, he wants the overarching message of gender equality to keep them engaged.
"Priya is not your typical 'superhero,' Devineni said. "Although she rides a tiger, she has no powers. An idea is much more powerful than Superman’s strength or Wonder Woman’s magic lasso."

More at link;
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/02/10/priya-shakti_n_6647464.html

CarterUSP · Feb 11, 2015

Awesome.
So deeply, deeply tragic that something like this is needed. Anything that humanises the victims, validates their cause and vilifies abusers is awesome.

Disambiguation · Feb 11, 2015

Wonderful awesomeness. How smart!

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Priya Shakti Anti Rape Superhero

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