‘BOIS LOCKER ROOM’: A REFLECTION OF INDIA’S RAPE CULTURE

Ritu Yadav.
Even in 21st century we witness how patriarchy embraces misogyny, sexism and how subtlety it produces gender inequality and it’s deeply rooted in our society.
This incident is no different we are well aware about these “bois locker rooms” and their constant objectification of women’s body but you all must be wondering why?
How these minors have the audacity to talk about leaking the nudes/morphed images of girls who outed them?
These minors are glorifying gang rapes and swapping nudes without the consent of the underage girls?
This incident is enough to question the society what’s wrong?
But this is not the first time we witness toxic masculinity among juveniles in our society.
An Instagram group called “Bois Locker Room” consisting of a group of Delhi boys from class 11th and 12th shared photos of underage women without their consent and went on objectifying their bodies followed by lewd remarks; glorifying gang rape and normalizing rape culture have gone viral among the netizens.
A similar incident took place in December last year; eight students from one of Mumbai’s top-ranked schools were suspended for the obscene content of their WhatsApp chats that included conversations raping their classmates.

राहुल संग संवाद में बोले अभिजीत बनर्जी, लोगों के हाथ में पैसे देने से पटरी पर आएगी अर्थव्यवस्था
On Sunday, screenshots from an instagram group called “Bois Locker Room was shared by social media users.
The screenshots reveals chats between the group of schoolboys from class 11th and 12th who shared nude/morphed photographs of the underage girls.
According to reports, the group consists of 16-18 year old boys from elite schools of South Delhi and the minors as we call them were involved in the sharing of morphed/nude images of underage girls followed by objectification and passing on lewd comments.
The chats revealed the boys discussing as well as rating them on the basis of beauty vs. their breast size. A screenshot also revealed that they had made statements such as: “We can rape her easily” and “I will come whenever you say. We will gang rape her”. However, the members of the group deny making such statements.
The leaked screenshots went viral among the netizens and it paved way for an outrage, many of the users of the group allegedly deactivated their social media profiles and also allegedly threatened to leak nude photos and hack accounts of the women who had revealed the identity of the boys involved in the obscene act.
When the screenshots went viral, many female friends of the group members came forward in their support and alleged that the women who had spoken up about the incident had falsely accused their friends.

India after the end of coronavirus pandemic
Some of the boys involved also did was intimidate the women involved—by saying statements such as “I will fuck her up” and threatening to “leak their nude photos”.
“Bhai jitni bhi ladkiyon ne stories daali hai na sabki nudes leak kar dete hain. Kuch ki hai mere paas…now they’ll know yeh sab expletive karne ka kya natija hota hai…ab muh band rakhengi yeh expletive…bada feminist banna hai Na sabko…kahin muh dikhane ke layak nahi rahengi. Let’s post nude photos of all girls who posted stories about us. I have photos of some of them. Now they will know the result of these shenanigans. They will shut their mouth. They want to be feminists na. They will not be able to show their face in public’’ the message reads.
After the “Bois Locker Room’’ incident went viral on social media. Many boys messaged the girls about being ‘inactive in the group’, defending themselves. Some boys made a new group chat ‘Jai ka skirt skrt gang’ to discuss ways of getting out of the mess.
Shubham Singh, a cyber-cell investigator, then found the contact information of some of the members and admins of the group.
The boys have also, allegedly, been booked under Section 66E of IT Act for Cyber bullying. Swati Maliwal, the Chairperson of the Delhi Commission For Women (DCW), posted saying that the DCW has issued notice to Instagram and Delhi Police regarding the incident.
The objectification and sexualization of girls on media is surprising not new but it contributes to harmful gender stereotypes that normalize violence against women.