Retail Plus
Hyderabad
An Assault on Dignity
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March 8 was Women’s Day. What do the city teenagers feel about eve teasing? Retail Plus finds out…
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Eve teasing has been a growing menace and with so many shocking incidents around the country in the recent past, it has been making headlines. Hyderabad, considered to be a ‘safe’ city in comparison to the other metros, faces such crimes on a large scale. Shockingly, every week witnesses many women being victimised and this number has been on the rise. “Eve teasing has been going unchecked because the victims are hesitant to speak to either their family or friends, let alone approach the police,” states Kamini Mathur, a 19-year-old history student.
Surprisingly, as many would suspect, it’s not only the younger men who indulge in eve teasing. It is the middle-aged men who make up a large portion of this anti-social sector. “It may be a few minutes of fun for the miscreants but it’s unending trauma for the woman who is subjected to it,” says 18-year-old Amrita Krishnaswamy who is actively involved in social issues.
But what do the ‘guys’ feel about this? “I really can’t understand what pleasure some men get out of such behaviour. It is simply inhuman and cruel. Such men should be severely punished,” insists Kishore, a 19-year-old engineering student. Moreover, travelling by the local buses is a nightmare! Almost everyday, ‘accidental’ touches and men ‘bumping’ into women are not a rare occurrence. Sadly, people around remain mute spectators to these incidents. “How many people rush to help the woman being victimised? In most of the cases, not even one person comes forward!” exclaims Vinay angrily.
On the contrary, it is the victim who is blamed. Most people feel that women who are victimised had ‘it coming to them’! Does the attire of the woman play a role in instigating such situations? “Not at all! Even if women are fully clothed, they are still jeered upon, nasty comments passed and wolf-whistles still follow. Then, where does the question of attire come in?” asks Preethi Shukla, a 16-year-old commerce student.
Though conscious efforts are being made by the lawmakers of our country to thwart eve teasing, it still continues to exist. “Stringent laws, stricter punishments and continuous support to the victim (rather than blaming her) would be a few ways to start with the process of ‘purifying’ society,” says 19-year-old Zohra.
Eve teasing is an assault on a woman’s dignity. Those indulging in it should be dealt with severely. After all, women are the pride of a nation.
TUBA RAQSHAN
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