From blaming hormonal imbalance caused by eating too much chowmein to snide and blatant remarks on the way women choose to dress, more often than not, the discussion on rape is divorced from anything that could help address it and put an end to it. These narratives surrounding rape is what Sohaila Abdulali closely examines and analyses in her new book, What We Talk About When We Talk About Rape, based on her interviews with survivors across five continents.

The Mumbai-born writer, who lives in New York and wrote a spine-chilling account of the day she was raped in Chembur 35 years ago, in a magazine, Abdulali is in town today for the release of her book. At the launch this evening, she will discuss the need to re-examine rape culture in a conversation with Bishakha Datta, executive director at Point of View, a Mumbai-based non-profit that works towards strengthening women's voices, and removing barriers to voice, speech and expression. The event is part of PoV's #MadeByWomen series, which makes space for feminist conversations in the city.
Edited excerpts from an interview with Abdulali.