The Hindu : New Delhi News : Eve-teasing still rampant

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Sep 04, 2004

New Delhi

New Delhi

Eve-teasing still rampant

That the menace of "eve-teasing" is still rampant in the Capital has once again been proved by the data generated during a fortnight-long drive launched by the East Delhi police this past August. While more such studies are needed to create the correct profile of an eve-teaser and do away with the stereotypes, a more responsible behaviour from society has to be an important component in creating effective deterrents against this particular crime.

To begin with, the analysis of the case under discussion revealed that most of the eve-teasers were school dropouts, unemployed and in their mid-20s. And yet there is evidence to suggest that the educated, employed and more "mature" persons were not far behind. While, for instance, 124 of the 224 men arrested were unemployed, the remaining 100 were either engaged in private jobs or were self-employed.

In terms of age, those in their mid and late 20s accounted for the maximum number of eve-teasers. While 145 were around 25 years old, 48 were aged between 26 and 30. At least 30 of them were between 31 and 35. Only 50 accused had passed higher secondary level.

The most vulnerable place for the women, as per the analysis, was the roadside compared to marketplaces, bus stands, schools and colleges. At bus stands, which are usually fairly crowded, only 16 incidents were reported.

Contrast this to the study done earlier on the North Campus of Delhi University in 2002. Most of the culprits were found to be from the middle class, aged between 30 and 50, and even beyond, and also educated.

Therefore, taking these two samples together, it might be said that men from all sorts of background indulge in eve-teasing. A woman standing alone was mostly the target of eve-teasers.

In terms of prevention, the self-defence programmes launched by the Crime Against Women Cell of the Delhi police, which has trained well over a thousand girls, seem to have been a good deterrent. Police officers claim that eve-teasing near colleges where the girls have been trained in self-defence has come down. However, the same cannot be said about the teasing and unnecessary jostling which the women face every day in buses or other crowded places.

While measures like self-defence training are welcome, there is also a need to look at the role of society. It seems that, apart from weak legal provisions that are invoked in such crimes, the use of the term "eve-teasing" itself takes away the gravity which such situations deserve. Somehow an impression is created that there was nothing sinister about the act and that there was no victim as such. It is being argued that "eve-teasing" is a euphemism for sexual harassment and, perhaps, a more direct reference may help in conveying the seriousness of the offence.

It is also said that eve-teasing is one of the by-products of the clash of cultural values which people migrating to the Capital encounter. But evidence suggests that anonymity and lack of fear of repercussions are reasons enough for anybody to indulge in eve-teasing.

Therefore, apart from having stronger legal provisions, better and effective implementation of the same and various platforms for grievance redress, it is also important that society accepts its responsibility. The portrayal of women in popular forms of entertainment is one area where restraint is required urgently. Of course, at another level, the young and the impressionable will have to be told why and how to respect the women folk.

But, these are times when popular media has, probably, more influence on the youngsters than their parents or teachers can ever afford. And that is why it needs to restrain itself from constant portrayal of women as mere commodities.

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