Vaidehi Kachhawa
Eve teasing a word commonly used by girls and very frequently practiced by some men.
Unfortunately, this word find its origin in India, one won’t find it in most of the dictionaries.
Native speakers of English do not use it.
What is Eve Teasing?
Public sexual harassment, verbal or physical abuse or molestation of woman by man is called Eve Teasing.
I know that I may be sounding aggressive but I can’t help it. I being a girl, know what this means and how deeply it can harm. The fact is 98 percent of the women have stated that sexual harassment on roads has affected their personal or academic development in some or the other.(source)
It can sometime result in severe consequences like acid throwing, rapes and suicides.
Eve teasing can be seen on roads, beaches, and public transport and sadly even in educational institution and work places. This proves that even our educated masses feel that it is correct to tease, whistle and pass obscene comment on women.
Myths associated with eve teasing says, women who dress in a seductive way are subject to eve teasing, they even say that women should not go out of their houses after it is dark to avoid incidents of rapes, sexual harassment and eve teasing. All these imply that the victim is to be blamed for eve teasing, rapes etc. This is a proof of our deep rooted principles of patriarchal society. Every pointing finger will find a woman to blame whether it is eve teasing or rapes or regarding women as witches or dowry. Cases of eve teasing rapes and sexual harassment are not a result of lust or desire but a sheer consequence of male ego and power.
As more and more women go out to study and work independently, this means they are no longer accompanied by a male escort.
This was not accepted by our traditional society and the problem saw an alarming increase. It is then when the government and the police came into action. Many social organizations and NGO’s have been set up and are working in this field.
But it is estimated that 80 percent of the sexual crimes go unreported. This is mainly because of the social stigmas, fear of a public negligence and humility and societal and family pressure etc.
It is quite obvious that the fairer sex is facing a lot of difficulties right from birth to death or even before birth like female feticide, infanticide, eve teasing, rapes, sexual harassment, dowry deaths etc. a lot has been talked and written about it already, but the impact is nowhere to be seen.
Why women are suppose to suffer? This question must be ringing in minds of almost all women folk. But the answer is not yet found. Strict laws and stricter implementation and complete social reformation are the need of the hour.
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I agree, this problem is everywhere. Talking in the context of Udaipur, from Fatah Sagar to Garbas, from schools to colleges, it is everywhere. And it is not like it is not happening in front of us. We have just closed our eyes. I think we give a damn until it comes to us.
Well those who eve-tease are not actually man and those who let eve-tease in front of them are either.
“Just waiting for police to do some action” sounds so unmanly.
why always women expect men to protect them? why this ill mentality is promoted that women is a weaker gender and they need to be protected? why cant they help themselves?
They are capable enough to save themselves dont.
god help those who help themselves
Well, women do protect themselves, but they have some physical limitations. Also, it is a social responsibility of all of us to behave well and protect.
Leave women, tell me, how would you protect yourself from 3 strong men !!! Can you fight them ???
I think it’s not only about protecting women… why someone does something wrong..?? they tease others for their fun and entertainment… do you think is it right?
Nice story Vaidehi. But thing is that we are in 21′st century now,ok… women should increase there confidence level.This is not a time of 20 or 30 years ago… this is the time in which women power is continuously rising and they are showing that they are not alone ,they have big power…
now , you are saying that sexual crime is big problem for india and whats the solution for this ? now , i waanna ask to you that , if all woman thinks that they are not in any rastrictions , they can make there own decisions then all problems should be close or not ?
i know you people are doing great job for women power . i wish ,you will success in your work !!!
thanks….
Regards :-
Satya Prakash Ameta
Student , 3′rd year
ARYACOLLEGE,JAIPUR
hello satya prakash ameta..i feel sorry for ur thoughts..u wrote that it is 21st century..being in 21st century doesnt mean that women shud start enjoyin these kind of activities..nxt thing u wrote is women shud increase their confidence level..well tell me how u will react to the situations like if anything of this sort happened with ur near or dear one..where ur confidence level will go..
u said that it is not the time of 20 or 30 years ago..so for ur knowledge pls chk with 20 yrs ago data n compare with current data..i believe u will be shocked to see the increase of these unmanly activities..
hey u also asked something like “if all women think that they are not in any restrictions” this is sumthing which is rule of nature..bcoz god made women like they will also be under the influence of men..so here if the women are rising so we shud be glad of dat..nd dat is sumthing wich has nothin to do wid eve teasing..
and yes u r right that women power is continuously rising…
A women will be empowered only when there will be healthy environment.
And if you think that increase in eve-teasing is because of women think they are free, then definitely, I completely disagree with your thoughts.
As a male you may would not understand this. But how would react to if your sister/mother/gf told you that a male put shoved his fingers up my skirt/sari in public transport? Waiting for your ansswer.
Eve Teasing is a learned behaviour which uses the just world theory excuse on women’s dress. Women don’t ask for it.
This is the most publicly visible male chauvinism act and so these pervert men can easily be caught if some sort of trap operation be done by undercover police agents.
Sometimes police should be proactive rather than reactive.
Also these types of guys should be sensitised.
being in police i can say that there are good enough law that can help u to get rid of these anti social elements.. all u need to do is find the right person to contact to or understand the law which might help u on every given situation..
hope this might help please read:-
The law on eve-teasing
In the Indian Penal Code, the word ‘eve-teasing’ does not exist. Eve teasing is an attitude, a mindset, a set of behaviours that is construed as an insult and an act of humiliation of the female sex.
However, victims of eve teasing could take recourse to certain sections of the IPC. Section 298 (A) and (B) of the Indian Penal Code sentences a man found guilty of making a girl or woman the target of obscene gestures, remarks, songs or recitation for a maximum tenure of three months.
Section 292 of the IPC clearly spells out that showing pornographic or obscene pictures, books or slips to a woman or girl draws a fine of Rs.2000 with two years of rigorous imprisonment for first offenders. In case of repeated offence, when and if proved, the offender will be slapped with a fine of Rs.5000 with five years imprisonment.
Under Section 509 of the IPC, obscene gestures, indecent body language and acidic comments directed at any woman or girl carries a penalty of rigorous imprisonment for one year or a fine or both.
Thanks Pradeep for sharing this useful information.
From a female perspective, I can say that girls are becoming more confident about dealing with these episodes.. .. BUT there is a definite lack of support from onlookers.. most of them stand and have fun at the vulnerability of the girl in such situations.. mostly male in Udaipur!!
I can recall an incident may be 3 years back when me and my friend were going through Fatehsagar road on a hero Puch. Two College boys on a bicycle(!) circled around us in a clear attempt to slow us down and/ or imbalance us. Despite attempts to evade them by slowing down and not trying to bump into any vehicle/ bicycle, we ended up stopping . Because we stopped abruptly, the guys bicycle hit our hero puch and broke the rear mirror . Me and my friend chastised the two boys for trying to tease us and deliberately causing the damage to vehicle. They were unashamedly smiling and grinning at all the rebukement clearly enjoying the whole interaction cheesily!
By this time, a crowd had gathered of the onlookers, who were there out of curiosity. I still get angry when I remember their faces, grinning and smiling. These were boys from good houses probably(?) and even the onlookers seemed to be not of the Slums variety. None of the gentlemen there came forward to help us or even ask if we were hurt in anyway.
Sensing our vulnerable position and lack of support from anybody we hastened our exit. As we fled, the genteel crowd whistled!!!!!
No wonder India is unsafe for women. Both the perperators and the observors are in the same league of men …. with repressed energies!
I hope at least educated people reading this article on Udaipur times come forward in such situations and support females who are confident to take on eve teasers. Social support is a way of empowering women to fight against injustice.