Iconic feminist author Gloria Steinem today spoke about the necessity of "raising our daughters like our sons," to end the prevailing global culture of violence against women.
"If we want to make the world free of violence against women, it's time we start raising our sons like daughters and our daughters like we raise over sons," Steinem said at a session at the Jaipur Literature Festival here.
The nearly 80-year-old author, was in the forefront of the women's liberation movement in the 1960s and 1970s and has since then campaigned for a variety of causes. She voiced her support for abortion rights and equal rights for women as well as denounced others like human trafficking.
The American author activist said that while India has been dealing with cases of exploitation and violence against women, the situation has not been much different across the world as well.
Denouncing the "dominating nature of males" existing worldwide, she said, "The problem starts with the men, because the dominating nature of males is something which exists everywhere and is the root of all crimes against women."
"Why have campaigns? Why have feminists? Why do we need streets safe for women, why can't we have a situation when we will need streets safe from women," Steinem said.
The author also launched a scathing attack on the mindset of men.
"Men do not feel like men if they do not dominate women. Why do rape cases involve the usage of foreign objects...? It is because men feel great with that cruelty. It is in their nature," she said.
