Summary / Analysis: “Is Delhi so different from Steubenville?” The death of a 23-year old student who was viciously gang raped on a moving bus in Delhi has shocked and sparked controversy across the world. Nicholas D. Kristof, a writer for the New York Times, has a written a strong editorial titled “Is Delhi so different from Steubenville?” that makes the case that across the world gender violence is one of the most common human rights abuses and how the United States can change how the world confronts this epidemic. Throughout the editorial Kristof uses strong evidence, statistics, personal experience and a counter argument to support his case. Kristof starts his editorial by using concrete evidence that details three different acts of gender violence in three different parts of the world. The first one takes place in Delhi, a young woman is viciously gang raped by six individuals on a moving bus. The second one describes how a group rescued a 10-year-old orphan who had been trading oral sex for clean water to survive. The third one takes place in Steubenville, Ohio; a 16-year-old girl was repeatedly raped by a group of high school football players. All three of these acts help prove that across the world gender violence is one the most common human rights abuses. Kristof also points out that our congress show no concern to the growing epidemic because they have failed to renew the Violence Against Women Act. The Act provides $1.6 billion toward investigation and prosecution of violent crimes against women, imposes automatic and mandatory restitution on those convicted, and allows civil redress in cases prosecutors chose to leave unprosecuted. Kristof states, “Women worldwide ages 15 through 44 are more likely to die or be maimed because of male violence than because of cancer, malaria, war and traffic accidents combined.” This strong statistics helps prove gender violence is one of the world’s most common human rights abuses. He also says, “in some places, rape is endemic”, meaning that rape is common and “normal”. According to Kristof, “in South Africa, a survey found that 37 percent of men reported that they had raped a woman”, this statistic points out its “normality” in South Africa. In Delhi of the 635 rape cases reported only one ended in a conviction. Rapist will continue to rape unless more perpetrators are convicted. Clearly rape needs to be a priority across the world to help fight the violence. Kristof describes his personal experience to help support his case. While tagging along on a raid on a brothel in Kolkata, he came across a young woman in the brothel who was forced to have sex with customers and was beaten if she protested. This young woman was not paid nor was she allowed to go outside she was a “modern slave”. He was amazed on how police and prosecutors were not alarmed over the situation. Kristof is very judgmental of our congress and calls them “pathetic” for not passing the Violence Against Women Act and the International Violence Against Women Act, that would name and shame foreign countries that tolerate gender violence. According to Kristof, “the United States could help change the way the world confronts these issues” by making “modern slavery” a high priority. He believes that United States must lead the way in raising awareness for gender violence by convicting more rapists and offering assistance to rape victims who are scared of coming forward. Some might say that sexual violence is ingrained into our brain, therefore making the problem hopeless. According to Kristof sexual violence is not hopeless because modern American history shows a rising status of women and substantial drops in rates of reported rape and domestic violence. Americans have made progress to a future with less gender violence but we must help the rest of the world stop gender violence. Throughout the editorial Kristof used strong evidence, statistics, personal experience and a counter argument to support his case. He was able to paint a clear picture of why awareness for gender violence is much needed and how the United States can help the rest of the world by passing laws that will convict more rapist and making gender violence a top priority. The battle against gender violence is everyone’s battle. Work Cited

Kristoff, Nicholas D. "Is Delhi so Different from Steubenville?" New York Times Newspaper. N.p., 12 Jan. 2013. Web. 11 Feb. 2013.