Parveen Sultana
The
Bangalore Incident that happened on 31st December, 2016, where women
who came out to celebrate New Year were sexually harassed by a large crowd of
men, reminds us that public spaces continue to be unsafe for women. While Delhi has become infamous
as a haven of crime against women, other cities are also not doing very well on
this front. Women who grew up in Bangalore recall that even a few decades back women faced
harassment on the streets of Bangalore.
Over the years, the scenario has not changed much.
Bangalore Incident that happened on 31st December, 2016, where women
who came out to celebrate New Year were sexually harassed by a large crowd of
men, reminds us that public spaces continue to be unsafe for women. While Delhi has become infamous
as a haven of crime against women, other cities are also not doing very well on
this front. Women who grew up in Bangalore recall that even a few decades back women faced
harassment on the streets of Bangalore.
Over the years, the scenario has not changed much.
Public
space continues to be the dominant arena of men. Due to a continued
public/private divide, men feel entitled to public spaces. This has, over the
period of time, created a gendered nature of public space. Women entering this
space are seen as entering a forbidden zone. Their very presence in this space
is seen as a deviation from the norm. Even after entering the public space
women are guided by certain rules. A move away from these allows men to teach
these ‘unruly’ women a lesson.
space continues to be the dominant arena of men. Due to a continued
public/private divide, men feel entitled to public spaces. This has, over the
period of time, created a gendered nature of public space. Women entering this
space are seen as entering a forbidden zone. Their very presence in this space
is seen as a deviation from the norm. Even after entering the public space
women are guided by certain rules. A move away from these allows men to teach
these ‘unruly’ women a lesson.
Sexual
abuse and criminal assault of women is no more specific to any particular
place. Such crimes have happened all over the country and it continues
unabated. In Mangalore where women in pub are beaten up by self appointed moral
police, in Guwahati where a young girl is harassed for wearing a skirt and
visiting a pub at night, in Delhi
where a woman’s body is violated in the most gruesome way, in Kolkata where a
rape survivor was slut shamed, the picture is similar. Often westernization and
modernization are held responsible for such incidents. However rural India is not at
all insulated from such crimes. The picture of two young girls hanged from a
tree in Badaun after being raped reminds us that sexual violence against Dalit
women, tribal women, women from minorities is used periodically to further
marginalize these groups which are already languishing in the periphery.
abuse and criminal assault of women is no more specific to any particular
place. Such crimes have happened all over the country and it continues
unabated. In Mangalore where women in pub are beaten up by self appointed moral
police, in Guwahati where a young girl is harassed for wearing a skirt and
visiting a pub at night, in Delhi
where a woman’s body is violated in the most gruesome way, in Kolkata where a
rape survivor was slut shamed, the picture is similar. Often westernization and
modernization are held responsible for such incidents. However rural India is not at
all insulated from such crimes. The picture of two young girls hanged from a
tree in Badaun after being raped reminds us that sexual violence against Dalit
women, tribal women, women from minorities is used periodically to further
marginalize these groups which are already languishing in the periphery.
The
Bangalore
incident and the various responses that followed, have again raised certain
issues. After the incident, some videos surfaced and one of them was showing
two men grabbing a woman, assaulting her and when she resisted throwing her
hard on the road. Such videos raised the question of safety or absence of it in
the streets of Bangalore.
Ministers were too quick to dismiss the gravity of the situation. For the Home
Minister of Karnataka, such incidents of mass molestation happen once in a
while. For him the problem is that celebration of ‘western’ festivals like New
Year, Christmas leads to gathering of young people in large number and such
incidents happen. It assumes that sexual assault and abuse does not happen at
home or in more traditional settings. The large number of child sexual abuse
proves it otherwise. Families and traditions re-entrench gender biases –
something which we should overlook at our own peril.
Bangalore
incident and the various responses that followed, have again raised certain
issues. After the incident, some videos surfaced and one of them was showing
two men grabbing a woman, assaulting her and when she resisted throwing her
hard on the road. Such videos raised the question of safety or absence of it in
the streets of Bangalore.
Ministers were too quick to dismiss the gravity of the situation. For the Home
Minister of Karnataka, such incidents of mass molestation happen once in a
while. For him the problem is that celebration of ‘western’ festivals like New
Year, Christmas leads to gathering of young people in large number and such
incidents happen. It assumes that sexual assault and abuse does not happen at
home or in more traditional settings. The large number of child sexual abuse
proves it otherwise. Families and traditions re-entrench gender biases –
something which we should overlook at our own peril.
The
local residents conveniently blamed the presence of a large number of
‘outsiders’. By outsiders they meant
both foreign nationals and migrant workers. However, Shilpa Phadke of TISS who
worked on gendered public spaces and made a case of inculcating the culture of
ensuring the right to loiter for women, is of the view that the presence of
lower class men and women in large number in public spaces in fact makes it
safer. Studies also show the decrease in participation of women in labour force
has also rendered public spaces unsafe.
local residents conveniently blamed the presence of a large number of
‘outsiders’. By outsiders they meant
both foreign nationals and migrant workers. However, Shilpa Phadke of TISS who
worked on gendered public spaces and made a case of inculcating the culture of
ensuring the right to loiter for women, is of the view that the presence of
lower class men and women in large number in public spaces in fact makes it
safer. Studies also show the decrease in participation of women in labour force
has also rendered public spaces unsafe.
While
some were dismissive, others went on to victim blaming and accusing women that
they were responsible for what happened. In a very expected way, blames were
labeled on dresses worn by the women, the late party timing and the western
festivals of New Year. The fact that the administration, despite knowing the
possibility of an unruly mob, was not well prepared is overlooked. Police was
largely outnumbered.
some were dismissive, others went on to victim blaming and accusing women that
they were responsible for what happened. In a very expected way, blames were
labeled on dresses worn by the women, the late party timing and the western
festivals of New Year. The fact that the administration, despite knowing the
possibility of an unruly mob, was not well prepared is overlooked. Police was
largely outnumbered.
Social
media responded to the incident in a mixed way. While the hashtag #Notallmen
made a case that based on the activities of few men it should be generalized
that all men are potential sexual abusers, the hashtag #Yesallwomen reasserted
the fact that women across the board – from different class, caste and communal
backgrounds run the risk of facing sexual abuse. It is this constant threat
which binds them. Many men condemned the incident and rightly pointed out that
while all men do not endorse or indulge in violence against women, it is the
responsibility of one and all to acknowledge the unequal power equation between
men and women. Some rightly pointed out that while media focused on the Bangalore incident, its
concern for TRP made it bypass the rapes of tribal women in Bastar. Media
choosing metro cities’ news over peripheral areas (both geographically and
psychologically) is nothing new. However, being dismissive of molestation
because it is not as grave as rape, is also problematic.
media responded to the incident in a mixed way. While the hashtag #Notallmen
made a case that based on the activities of few men it should be generalized
that all men are potential sexual abusers, the hashtag #Yesallwomen reasserted
the fact that women across the board – from different class, caste and communal
backgrounds run the risk of facing sexual abuse. It is this constant threat
which binds them. Many men condemned the incident and rightly pointed out that
while all men do not endorse or indulge in violence against women, it is the
responsibility of one and all to acknowledge the unequal power equation between
men and women. Some rightly pointed out that while media focused on the Bangalore incident, its
concern for TRP made it bypass the rapes of tribal women in Bastar. Media
choosing metro cities’ news over peripheral areas (both geographically and
psychologically) is nothing new. However, being dismissive of molestation
because it is not as grave as rape, is also problematic.
Every
time such an incident happens, call for stricter laws and better implementation
is echoed from every corner. Absence of strict laws, indifferent and
insensitive police officials, the terribly low conviction rate continues to be
obstacles on the road to a gender just society. Another big problem is lack of
women friendly infrastructure. The dwindling of public transport and the
mushrooming of private cab services have further limited women’s mobility. Our
cities and towns are planned in such a way that it discourages the presence of
women in public spaces after a particular time. Be it poorly lit roads, lack of
security cameras and transport facilities, women’s access to public space and
mobility is greatly curtailed.
time such an incident happens, call for stricter laws and better implementation
is echoed from every corner. Absence of strict laws, indifferent and
insensitive police officials, the terribly low conviction rate continues to be
obstacles on the road to a gender just society. Another big problem is lack of
women friendly infrastructure. The dwindling of public transport and the
mushrooming of private cab services have further limited women’s mobility. Our
cities and towns are planned in such a way that it discourages the presence of
women in public spaces after a particular time. Be it poorly lit roads, lack of
security cameras and transport facilities, women’s access to public space and
mobility is greatly curtailed.
However, we should not stop at the demand for stricter laws alone.
Along with an institutional mechanism to stop sexual abuse and gender violence,
there is a need to change the larger attitude. Perpetrators of gender violence
must not feel that they can get away with it. Beliefs like “men will be men”
put the onus to be safe, on women. Till the time such attitude persists, we
will have to witness incidents like the Bangalore
case.
Along with an institutional mechanism to stop sexual abuse and gender violence,
there is a need to change the larger attitude. Perpetrators of gender violence
must not feel that they can get away with it. Beliefs like “men will be men”
put the onus to be safe, on women. Till the time such attitude persists, we
will have to witness incidents like the Bangalore
case.
Sexual
abuse and rapes are rarely about sex and always about power. The culture of
asserting one’s right by violating the privacy of another with a belief that
one can get away with it, fuels such power play. The need of the hour is a
change in our fundamental understanding of equality. Inculcating gender just
values in children through academic institutions and other public institutions
is a crucial step towards building an inclusive and safe society. There is no
short and easy step to achieve gender justice overnight. The long road to
gender equality has to be traversed. Safe public spaces must be recognized as
women’s right and their freedom to move cannot be curtailed in the name of
keeping them safe. A multi-pronged strategy with planning safer cities,
improving public transport, sensitizing administration along with working on
the overall patriarchal mindset should be put in place. Only then a gender just
society and safer public spaces for all will become a reality.
abuse and rapes are rarely about sex and always about power. The culture of
asserting one’s right by violating the privacy of another with a belief that
one can get away with it, fuels such power play. The need of the hour is a
change in our fundamental understanding of equality. Inculcating gender just
values in children through academic institutions and other public institutions
is a crucial step towards building an inclusive and safe society. There is no
short and easy step to achieve gender justice overnight. The long road to
gender equality has to be traversed. Safe public spaces must be recognized as
women’s right and their freedom to move cannot be curtailed in the name of
keeping them safe. A multi-pronged strategy with planning safer cities,
improving public transport, sensitizing administration along with working on
the overall patriarchal mindset should be put in place. Only then a gender just
society and safer public spaces for all will become a reality.
The Author is Assistant Professor of Political Science at P.B College, Assam
