“Eve teasing” in India, Part 2

By guest author Darshini Shah

According to the “Indian Journal of Criminal and Criminalistics,” eve teasing can be identified in five areas: verbal, physical, psychological, sexual, and harassment through objects (Warrier, 2013).

Women's business, Pushkar, India
Women’s business, Pushkar, India. Photo by russavia, used under CC Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license.

While India does not have a uniform law for eve teasing, there are Indian Penal Codes that serve as a legal remedy. However, these transgressions are bailable; the fines often an insignificant amount; and the prohibitions are often not enforced (Pandey, 2011).

In one study of eve teasing in undergraduate students, Ghosh (2011) found that psycho-social factors such as internalized beliefs in patriarchy, poor socialization, the media, and lack of legal understanding contribute to sexual harassment.

Psychologists also note that many men are sexually repressed and invoke a range of power dynamics (e.g., emotional, psychological, and physical) to suppress assertiveness in women (Pandey, 2011).

One of the most tragic incidences of eve teasing occurred in 2012, when a female student was gang-raped on a public bus in Delhi, India, and eventually died (Wolf, 2013). While there are many cases that go unreported and under-reported, this case provoked a public outcry, protest, and discourse on women’s safety, rights, agency, violence, patriarchy, systemic and community awareness, political and social will, and equality.

A national and global consciousness awakened, and at present, certain solutions have been actualized, such:

  • A hotline to call-in for a transgression
  • Sensitization of police and law enforcement
  • Reforming laws
  • Educating and raising awareness in public spaces, such as an educational, community, and commercial (e.g., malls and theaters) settings (The Times of India, 2013).

A short film by Indian film director Anurag Kashyap addresses this social issue, particularly gender sensitization and equality (http://ibnlive.in.com/news/that-day-after-everyday-watch-anurag-kashyaps-short-film-on-sexual-harassment-of-women/431508-8-66.html ).

 Darshini Shah is a researcher and a yoga instructor who divides her time between India and the United States.

References

Ghosh, D.  (2011).  Eve teasing: Role of the patriarchal system of the society.  Journal of the Indian Academy of Applied Psychology, 37, p. 100-107.

New helpline to complain about eve-teasing, molestation. (2013, January 2).  The Times of India.  Retrieved from http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-01-02/jaipur/36110519_1_helpline-collectorate-register-complaints

That day after everyday: Watch anurag kashyap’s short film on sexual harassment of women. (2013, October 31). IBNLive.com. Retrieved from http://ibnlive.in.com/news/that-day-after-everyday-watch-anurag-kashyaps-short-film-on-sexual-harassment-of-women/431508-8-66.html

Warrier, V.S. (2013, October 4).   Eve teasing: A perennial problem in today’s society. Retrieved from https://www.facebook.com/notes/aware/eve-teasing-a-perennial-problem-in-todays-society/168773969993901

Wolf, N.  (2013, January 3).  Ending India’s rape culture.  Aljazeera.  Retrieved from http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2013/01/20131393027992335.html

Women rally against ‘eve teasing’ in south asia. (2011, March 1).  Dawn. Retrieved from http://beta.dawn.com/news/609882/women-rally-against-eve-teasing-in-south-asia

“Eve teasing” in India, Part 1

By guest author Darshini Shah

The seven mother goddesses flanked by Shiva-Virabhadra and Ganesha
The seven mother goddesses flanked by Shiva-Virabhadra and Ganesha. Image in public domain.

One central paradox in India is that while womanhood is elevated and symbolized in the forms of deity worship (namely Saraswati, Lakshmi, Parvati, Durga, and Kali) and political leadership (e.g., Former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and current President of the Indian Congress Party Sonia Gandhi), many Indian women struggle with inequality related to issues of gender, culture, patriarchy, economics, religion, caste, and class (“Abused goddesses,” 2013; Kumar, 1997; Tilak, 2013).

This conundrum has engendered a struggle for gender equality and identity in the Indian milieu that has led to a rise in violence against women. While India is not alone in gender violence, particularly toward women, this pattern of violence against many Indian women permeates the public and private spheres. It is often overlooked, invisible, and silenced (Tilak, 2013) (Wolf, 2013).

One of the most common violent manifestations in India is labeled “eve teasing” (Mohanty, 2013). Eve teasing is a local euphemism meaning public sexual harassment, which can include lewd comments, stalking, harassment, assault, and even rape.

The “eve teasing” term is not accepted by many human rights groups, activists, and feminists, despite extensive use of the phrase by some media and the police. Even some Indian movies encourage, invoke, and appropriate mythological and folk images in teasing and harassing women (Pauwels, 2010).

The reason for rejection of this phrase is that it minimizes the serious nature of the behavior and dismisses sexual and gender violence. Moreover, a survey by the Indian Centre for Research on Women found that 1,000 male teenagers in Mumbai, India, perceived “the practice of eve teasing as harmless and inoffensive.” (Dawn, 2011)

 Darshini Shah is a researcher and yoga instructor who divides her time between India and the United States. 

References

“Abused Goddesses” shows shocking images of Hindu deities for campaign against domestic violence in India. (2013, June 9).  Huffington Post.

Kumar Jaya, G. S.  (1997). Victimization of women coping with violence.  International Journal of Sociology and the Family, 27 (1), pp. 139-155.

Mohanty R. I.  (2013, April 21).  The term ‘eve teasing’ must die.  Wall Street Journal.  Retrieved from http://blogs.wsj.com/indiarealtime/2013/04/21/the-term-eve-teasing-must-die/

Pauwels, H.  (2010).  “The woman waylaid at the well” or panaghata-lila: an Indian folk theme appropriated in myth and movies.  Asian Ethnology, 67 (1), pp. 1-33.

Tilak, S.G. (2013, May 11).   Crimes against women increase in India.  Al Jazeera. Retrieved from http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2012/12/2012122991735307545.html

Wolf, N.  (2013, January 3).  Ending India’s rape culture.  Al Jazeera.  Retrieved from http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2013/01/20131393027992335.html

Women rally against ‘eve teasing’ in South Asia. (2011, March 1).  Dawn. Retrieved from http://beta.dawn.com/news/609882/women-rally-against-eve-teasing-in-south-asia