Assam’s Silchar Medical College and Hospital (SMCH) has come under criticism for issuing an advisory in the wake of the Kolkata rape-murder incident.
The advisory suggests that female doctors avoid poorly lit and isolated areas, adhere to hostel norms, and, while on duty, be well-composed emotionally, remain alert to their surroundings, and interact graciously with the public to avoid attracting “unnecessary attention”. The Junior Doctors Association condemned the advisory for targeting female doctors and failing to address core safety issues.
The advisory is troubling for its victim-shaming tone. By suggesting that doctors on duty should behave in a way that doesn’t “attract unnecessary attention,” it shifts the responsibility from ensuring their safety to policing their conduct. This not only deflects from addressing critical workplace safety issues but also institutionalizes victim-blaming, reinforcing harmful stereotypes that place the burden of preventing violence on potential victims rather than focusing on systemic changes needed to protect them. Such an approach is counterproductive and undermines efforts to create a truly safe and supportive environment for all professionals.
