GENDER ISSUES
Victim victimised
|
Sexual harassment of women is increasing with seemingly no hope of getting justice. `Is there no way of making society safe for girls?' asks MARI MARCEL THEKAEKARA.
|
MOHAMMED YOUSUF
IN every other country in the world, it is called sexual molestation or harassment. Here, we trivialise it and dismiss it as silly boys' games and so "Eve teasing" is the term we use.
Another Women's Day has come and gone. The same trite phrases have been trotted out. Can we do something concrete for a change? Can't the Press Council ensure that slightly more politically correct language is introduced so that the media do not unwittingly collude in the trivialising of a serious issue?
The fact that things are getting worse — not better — goes unnoticed. Possibly as a result of "the boy meets girl by literally chasing her" films, coupled with easily available, unadulterated porn in cyber cafes. Occasionally — as when a diplomat was raped in Delhi — a storm is raised. But for the average woman facing sexual harassment, justice is rare. Getting people to take a complaint seriously is not the easiest task. The victim becomes victimised a second time when she complains.
Last August in Mysore, a group of British women students went to see a Kannada film. While waiting in queue to buy their tickets, they were mobbed by local men, who manhandled them, pushed them into a corner, pressed against them and felt them up. Finally, the authorities managed to herd them out of the crowd. The women were stunned and traumatised by the incident. But there was no police case because no one wanted trouble. And there lies the tragedy.
A few months ago, on the bus from Ooty to Gudalur, there was a similar incident. This time, the victims were two NRI girls. It was the last bus, and it was packed. Yet, in full view of the passengers and crew, a group of men surrounded the girls and pressed against them, ran their hands over them. One girl used a safety pin to keep her attackers at bay. The other openly wept, but no one intervened. Again, no police complaint was registered. The reason? Too much trouble. No one wants to go to the police. Lack of time. No one will be punished in any case. End of matter.
It was safer for a woman to travel alone by bus or train 30 years ago. Women who travel alone now are routinely harassed. The huge difference now is that people sit passively, refusing to get involved.
Girls are given advice worthy of Uma Bharati — "Do not wear jeans, Dress in salwars or sari." The logical progression of that line of thought is move into purdah.
Dalit women are raped in our villages every day. But they rarely wear anything other than a sari. What other fault can we then attribute to them? As long as our society continues to treat the victim as though she is at fault, women will continue to opt for silence. A girl who approaches a police station is not treated sympathetically. She is advised to forget about it as the offence is difficult to prove. Rape is not taken seriously. What kind of punishment would be meted out to a "mere eve-teaser"?
As a State, Kerala has one of the worst reputations in the south. Buses, trains and streets are just not safe for women. Lewd remarks are the order of the day. It is a chauvinistic, male-dominated society. In spite of the most highly educated female population, the situation for women who work and must travel is pathetic. Any Keralite woman will tell you they hate going back even during holidays, because of the attitude of the men.
Sensitising the police — both men and women — on gender issues should be a priority issue. As International Women's Day 2004 goes by, we should increase the number of stations policed by women. But having women police is not enough. They should be specially trained to handle women's issues. Professional trainers who ensure that every cop feels passionately about justice for women must conduct the sessions.
An enduring image is a picture from the trouble in the Muthanga sanctuary, Wayanad, last year — an adivasi women shielding her infant from a police woman's lathi coming down on the child's head. That's not the kind of policing we need. How then, can women's groups work with the police to ensure justice for our girls and women? To make our streets, buses and trains safe once more?
It can be done if enough people work determinedly, intelligently and professionally for it. By creating brilliant campaigns involving students, young people, ad agencies and film stars. The people who create bad films should be involved in reversing the scenario. Will someone take up the challenge? Will someone make a start?
Printer friendly
page
Send this article to Friends by
E-Mail
Magazine
