Eve Teasing not about women as temptresses- it's all about power and control
A common scenario women experience in public spaces is depicted in this clip- eve teasing
So I have learned a new term used here to describe the public sexual harassment of women in India. Eve-teasing is an Indian specific definition for behaviors like ogling, teasing, whistling, making obscene comments, touching, groping, or touching women. The name references biblical Eve's portrayal as a temptresses who provokes men through sexual titillation. You often see eve- teasing in Bollywood films where it is used in the storyline to open the door to courtship between the hero and heroine (note I did not say dating!). But in real life, women don't have to hold out an apple to be victims of eve- teasing. In fact, the video above accurately shows how insidious and common it is.
[As an aside, I can’t ignore the caste and class dynamics occurring in this video. The voyeur is clearly darker skin, and appears less wealthy than the “hero” and victim. I doubt this would have been filmed with the male actors in opposite roles. This is similar to the portrayals of rapists in Western media as unattractive, sociopathic strangers- when most rapes are perpetrated by people we know and who often seem the most likeable.]
With the significant increase in the number of women going to school and work on their own, this means they are no longer accompanied by a male escort. One study found that 98% of Indian women report that sexual harassment on roads has affected their personal or academic development in some or the other. And it happens in everyday situations when women least expect it.
This video clearly illustrates why women in many parts of India have to be vigilant about "their" (rather perceived) expressions of sexuality- even when they are not intending to do anything. Anyone living where public transportation is part of the city functioning has probably experienced or witnessed something like this. But the various Indian cultural rules about sexuality and displaying the body often mean that the targeted women will face consequences for “her” behavior.
One of the women with our project was chastised when she was the victim of eve- teasing on a train last year. Coming home from a long day, she fell asleep with her body leaning to the side. Her dupatta had fallen over a little, and young men standing over her were attempting to look down her shirt. When she awoke and realized what happened she was so embarrassed. But worse, a fellow male passenger told her that she should be more careful, making her feel even more humiliated.
Another colleague described being accosted on a train ride home from a long trip with her family. She was dozing off, surrounded by her family, with her husband seated across from her. But in her semi slumber thought felt someone reaching to touch the side of her sari. She woke up a little confused, thinking it was not real. She decided to pretend to continue to sleep. Sure enough, a hand was touching her side. She turned to her sister- in- law and asked for her sari pin (basically a large, sturdy safety pin), and when he reached again, she stuck him hard. The man screamed in pain, attracting everyone’s attention. But here is the kicker- everyone turned to question her about why she would do such a thing.
Finally, another colleague’s sister was riding the bus with their father when she felt a man slipping his hand between the seats to rub along her waist. She stuck him with her hair pin and screamed. The father took off his shoe and began to beat the man. In this case, the other passengers also started yelling at the offender.
These last two cases are not the norm- these women were surrounded by supportive people, particularly men, who would stand up for them as it happened. This made responding easier. Often it is another person- as in the case of the video- that is needed to make sure eve- teasing is challenged.
But for women travelling alone, speaking up is not as easy. Apparently, college going women taking public transportation in Delhi often carry sari or hair pins, pen knives, and even daggers to deter would be eve teasers. The unfortunate reality is, however, that most women stay silent because it is safer in the short term due to social stigmas, fears of public humiliations, and combined societal and family pressures to conform to certain roles. For these reasons, women are forced to take ownership for protecting themselves from eve- teasing (note: protecting, not stopping). It adds to my understanding of why women often walk in groups everywhere, and insist on wearing the dupattas to cover their breast area (BTW, I thought these were just long hair wraps when I got it with my kurtas sets; they are so uncomfortable and get in your way). And although they are often expected to wear saris that allow for the flesh view of their back sides and stomachs, the sari warp must always fully cover the already blouse covered breasts or it is like you sexually teasing men.
Fortunately, eve- teasing is being considered a serious problem here in India, so much so that there are specific laws enacted to address it. Still it is difficult to catch people and even more difficult to prosecute. It is estimated that only about 1 in 10000 eve teasing occurrences are reported to the police. Eve- teasing is particularly rampant where large crowds gather. In fact, two weeks ago the Mumbai police’s Anti-Eve-Teasing squads (yes, there are squads for this!) booked 573 people in non-cognizable cases for eve-teasing and 16 others in cognizable cases during Ganeshotsav, the Hindu festival celebrated in honor of the god Ganesha.
Although the general feeling I get is that the men should be admonished for eve- teasing, it still seems like people know that there is little they can do about it beyond protecting themselves. It is treated often as “boys being boys”. And the laws and policies that exist are useless unless it is regularly and consistently enforced. One police office agreed it was wrong, but indicated that it was no different than playing hooky, and did not necessitate pursing actions against perpetrators saying, “In a day at least three boys get thrashed by parents in the police station as they are caught smoking and indulging in eve-teasing. One slap from the parent in front of policemen is a lesson for these boys.” But little is known what is said to them beyond “don’t do it”. And as they age, men seem to be held less and less responsible for their actions- unless there is a media uproar.
For example, the video on the left does attempt to raise men’s awareness about the implications of eve- teasing by forcing them to reflect on their behaviors. But viewer responses to the video illustrate that there is still a long way to go. Just go through the comments from the readers on this page discussing this anti- eve teasing campaign commercial. Many comments posted here hold the women responsible for the eve- teasing shown!
Maybe it would help to do expand the Chappal Marungi campaign created by college students in Mumbai. This movement encourages girls and women to reclaim their right to dignity and safety by beating up their molesters, quite literally, with their footwear. Using shoes as a symbol of female empowerment, the students had put a five-foot cutout of a slipper with anti-sexual harassment messages at Wilson College. Beside it they put a box full of shoes and sandals with the sign, “In case of eve teasing, use one of these.” Better yet- check out the woman at the end of the Indian Version of the What Would You Do show I added to My Videos Page- CLASSIC RESPONSE!
