Frequently Asked Questions
Understand the Issue
3. Is harassment only done by some kinds of people?
4. How is sexual harassment different from rape?
5. Does wearing certain kinds of clothes lead to more sexual harassment?
6. Do men ever get sexually harassed? Is such an incident called “adam teasing”?
Deal with Sexual Harassment
1. What do I do when I get sexually harassed on the road?
2. What if there is more than one person or harassment is by a group?
3. What should I do when people around do not support, say, in a bus or on the road?
4. What can I do when I see someone else getting sexually harassed?
5. Is there any law against sexual harassment?
6. How is an incident of sexual harassment proved? On what basis is a case filed?
7. How does one involve men in the process of sensitisation?
Understand the Issue
1. What is sexual harassment?
Sexual harassment is any unwelcome, unsolicited behaviour of a sexual nature including staring, gesticulating, touching, passing comments, sexual assault.
But it must be emphasized that it is not only an issue of sexuality, but also of power. People only harass those over whom they feel they have power. In our patriarchal societies, men are seen to have more power than women. This is why most sexual harassment is done by men against women.
2. What is eve teasing?
Eve teasing is a term that is generally used to refer to sexual harassment. But the word “teasing” trivializes the issue. Referring to women as “eve” carries overtones of temptation and “teasing” is too mild a term for unwelcome humiliating behavior.
3. Is harassment only done by some kinds of people?
This is a commonly held perception. The issue is not of one’s class but of one’s mindset, which allows one to harass women believing that women are easy targets
4. How is sexual harassment different from rape?
Rape is an extreme form of sexual harassment. Sexual harassment is any act that is unwelcome, unsolicited and causes hurt, trauma and pain. Anything right from staring, gesticulating, commenting to touching constitutes sexual harassment. There are separate laws for sexual harassment and rape.
5. Does wearing certain kinds of clothes lead to more sexual harassment?
This is a myth. Several studies done around the world show that women of all ages and wearing all kinds of clothes are vulnerable to harassment.
A study done by NIPPCID for Delhi Police showed that 82% of the women who were part of the survey were wearing everyday, non-provocative clothes when they were harassed (salwar kameez, trouser –top, saree)
6. Do men ever get sexually harassed? Is such an incident called “adam teasing”?
Men also get harassed but it is not termed as “adam teasing”. Men who do not conform to the conditions of masculinity and are perceived to be effeminate are often “teased”. But one must remember that the term “teasing” trivializes the issue. A man teased for not being man enough is an incident of sexual harassment because it is a direct comment on his sexuality.
Deal with Sexual Harassment
1. What do I do when I get sexually harassed on the road?
It is not possible to have one single strategy to address this. It is important to make a judgment on the spot depending on the context. But there are a few principles that one must keep in mind:
Learn to say ‘NO’ loudly and clearly. Prepare a stock sentence (like “Stop staring at me”) and practise saying it to yourself until it becomes a reflex. If you are harassed, repeat it again and again - the “broken record” technique is very effective.
Learn to communicate confidence in yourself. Look straight at people who accost you and speak clearly and calmly in response. Show others that you are aware of your rights and where you are. Click here to read about strategies that have worked for other women.
2. What if there is more than one person or harassment is by a group?
As mentioned earlier, your strategy must depend on the situation. Thus if it is dark or there are no other people around, it might make best sense to get away as fast as possible. But if there is a crowd or a police van nearby, you might want to complain loudly. Click here to read about strategies that have worked for other women.
3. What should I do when people around do not support, say, in a bus or on the road?
Calling out loudly for help is itself a deterrent to most harassers. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Often people don’t want to get involved because they are not sure if you need help. Calling the Police on 100 or 1091 has proven useful in many cases as well.
4. What can I do when I see someone else getting sexually harassed?
Speak up. It is important for more people to raise their voice in public against sexual harassment. If the public gets aware and involved, then this will certainly act as a deterrent. Many men harass because they know they can “get away with it”. It is important to change this.
5. Is there any law against sexual harassment?
Yes, there are laws against sexual harassment.
Indian Penal Code 509, which punishes the “intent to insult the modesty of any woman by use of words, sounds, gestures, or the exhibition of any object in such a way as to intrude upon the privacy of a woman”.
Indian Penal Code 354, which punishes the assault or use of criminal force with any woman with the intention or knowledge that her “modesty will be outraged”.
Click here to read about the laws in detail
6. How is an incident of sexual harassment proved? On what basis is a case filed?
It is indeed very difficult to prove an incident of sexual harassment, especially if it is visual harassment. But one must learn to recognise harassment. Anything that makes you feel ashamed, humiliated or frightened is harassment. If you feel harassed, you have the right to protest. You may choose to deal with it at the incident or you may choose to approach the police.
7. How does one involve men in the process of sensitisation?
All men are not harassers, there are men who speak against harassment. One could begin with families, friends and then move onto schools, colleges, men in public spaces etc. It is important to encourage men to talk about these issues, to challenge notions of certain type of masculinity.
As a part of the Safe Delhi Campaign, JAGORI is doing workshops on this issue with college students, both men and women. In case you want us to conduct such a session in your college or community please write to us at safedelhi@jagori.org.