It's 2013. A new year filled with new hopes, new aspirations, new goals and of course resolutions which we tend to break at the drop of a hat. However, this year is different.
The brutal gang rape and murder of the innocent 23 year old girl in Delhi reflects our society's actual state. Sexual assault on women at workplace, schools, private vehicles, public transports, roads and almost all possible places shows the carelessness of not just our Government but of us as well. Most of the time a woman has to deal with eve-teasers all by herself as we merely spectate the whole scenario without uttering a word in her support.
What do we, as the responsible members of this society, do when we watch a woman being sexually harassed in a public transport? Do we stand up for her or leave her on her own as if we do not care? What if back home our sister or mother or wife or daughter narrate a painfully helpless situation to us about the kind of humiliation and assault they were subjected to by their co-worker or a roadside romeo? How would we feel if we happen to know that absolutely no one raised their voice against this shameful act? I don't see a reason for us to feel bad as we din't raise our voice either when someone else's sister/mother/wife/daughter was being eve-teased.
I happen to recall an incident which happened a few months ago wherein some bastard on a bicycle hit my Mom hard on her bum as he rode away. My Mom shouted at the top of her voice running behind him and asking people to catch hold of him. No one did anything and that jerk, despite being on a bicycle, escaped. Such is our society. And so are we. We love being spectators.
Instead of taking resolutions like quitting smoking or drinking or any such resolution which we know we will never follow, let's take an oath to raise our voice against any offense that we witness. Let's promise to safeguard a woman's self respect by being by her side even if she's a stranger. Let's resolute to stand up for a woman in need and object any kind of obscene behavior and lewd comments passed at her.
Let's not let some insane sadists take away a woman's innocence and self respect and leave her only to be humiliated by the society till she lives.
Is this hard to do?
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The brutal gang rape and murder of the innocent 23 year old girl in Delhi reflects our society's actual state. Sexual assault on women at workplace, schools, private vehicles, public transports, roads and almost all possible places shows the carelessness of not just our Government but of us as well. Most of the time a woman has to deal with eve-teasers all by herself as we merely spectate the whole scenario without uttering a word in her support.
What do we, as the responsible members of this society, do when we watch a woman being sexually harassed in a public transport? Do we stand up for her or leave her on her own as if we do not care? What if back home our sister or mother or wife or daughter narrate a painfully helpless situation to us about the kind of humiliation and assault they were subjected to by their co-worker or a roadside romeo? How would we feel if we happen to know that absolutely no one raised their voice against this shameful act? I don't see a reason for us to feel bad as we din't raise our voice either when someone else's sister/mother/wife/daughter was being eve-teased.
I happen to recall an incident which happened a few months ago wherein some bastard on a bicycle hit my Mom hard on her bum as he rode away. My Mom shouted at the top of her voice running behind him and asking people to catch hold of him. No one did anything and that jerk, despite being on a bicycle, escaped. Such is our society. And so are we. We love being spectators.
Instead of taking resolutions like quitting smoking or drinking or any such resolution which we know we will never follow, let's take an oath to raise our voice against any offense that we witness. Let's promise to safeguard a woman's self respect by being by her side even if she's a stranger. Let's resolute to stand up for a woman in need and object any kind of obscene behavior and lewd comments passed at her.
Let's not let some insane sadists take away a woman's innocence and self respect and leave her only to be humiliated by the society till she lives.
Is this hard to do?
Let's start by ditching needless euphemisms like 'eve teasing' and call it for what it is - sexual harassment.
ReplyDeleteYou are right. The word eve-teasing should be chucked.
DeleteUntil a man's thinking towards the women, until respect for every human being is done,and until govt takes harsh steps, we as a human being have lost the dignity and kindness in being an human. It's essential to behave properly and give utmost respect to every individuals..
ReplyDeleteMutual respect is the first thing as a child we should be taught. It's sad that some sections of our society don't incorporate this in their children.
DeleteAgree with Krishna... Let's also not say that such men 'take away a woman's innocence and self respect'... the woman has done nothing wrong to lose her innocence or self respect... if anyone should deserve to lose respect and be punished, it is the men who harass.
ReplyDeleteThe kind of humiliation a woman faces post being sexually harassed is so bad that she tends to lose her self respect. Yes indeed it is the men who should feel humiliated when they harass a woman but our society somehow behaves improperly towards a sexually abused women.
DeleteSome did that to your mom and nobody came, Shame on our society. We are mere spectators or dummies if you ask me. We have to stand tall, not for ourselves but for others as well. This is how we will make a better society.
ReplyDeleteYou are right, we need to take some action...
It is indeed Sad Saru. My Mom is strong so she could handle it. Not every woman is strong :(
Deleteshame in Indian dictionary they call sexual harassment as eve teasing :-(
ReplyDelete