Sexual Harassment in New Delhi.
Sexual harassment has been recognized as the most intimidating, degrading and violating form of violence against women, according to PRIA's Campaign Against Sexual Harassment in New Delhi. Even though sexual harassment is a violation of a woman's human rights it happens every day in one form or another, and I've been told that Indian women are rather used to it because of it's frequency. It's unfortunately a part of a woman's every day life in New Delhi.
People stare, and by that I mean, men stare. But they don't only stare, they talk, touch and follow.
One evening me and another girl were riding in an auto when a white car with a man came up on the side of the auto. He stared and stared, and suddenly disappeared, to then only seconds after come up on the other side of the auto staring at us. After the car had uncomfortably and intimidatingly followed and stared us for quite some time, the auto-rickshaw driver did what he had in his power trying to block the white car away. On our way home that every same evening, another car did the same thing, but instead tried to pressure our auto- rickshaw into the curbside of the road, again thanks to the auto-rickshaw driver the situation ended up with just high heartbeats and and feeling of powerlessness. I must say that feeling of powerlessness is uncomfortable, and I'm learning ways to maintain my power and standing up for myself when situations of intimidation by men occur.
The other day, it was still light out and I was traveling home from work. The auto I was in was standing waiting for the green light, when a group of men my own age stared at me and started calling at me "ooohoooohoooohooo", sounding like a pack of dogs or wolfs. Ignoring them, I thought to myself "No, I don't want to join your wolf-pack".
Having men stare, randomly come talk to me cos they want to practice their English, or poking me with tennis racks on my breast has become something that I'm sadly not surprised about anymore..
So, now I've caught back to my Norwegian roots of not smiling much to strangers - well, not smiling at men at all rather looking at them with a evil look or a "I'm strong and independent, btw my husband also lives in Delhi" kind of look. This small little lie along with my pepper spray helps me feel safer.
As one of the strategies to combat sexual harassment in Delhi, there is a separate compartment for women in the impressive and modern metro. This is a safe heaven, but it another case that this separate compartment is an actual and serious need to keep women safe from daily sexual harassment.
It must be said that not all Indian men stare and sexual harassment does not only happen in New Delhi, India - it is an issue women face everywhere in the world. Stop harassment of women!
Sexual harassment has been recognized as the most intimidating, degrading and violating form of violence against women, according to PRIA's Campaign Against Sexual Harassment in New Delhi. Even though sexual harassment is a violation of a woman's human rights it happens every day in one form or another, and I've been told that Indian women are rather used to it because of it's frequency. It's unfortunately a part of a woman's every day life in New Delhi.
People stare, and by that I mean, men stare. But they don't only stare, they talk, touch and follow.
One evening me and another girl were riding in an auto when a white car with a man came up on the side of the auto. He stared and stared, and suddenly disappeared, to then only seconds after come up on the other side of the auto staring at us. After the car had uncomfortably and intimidatingly followed and stared us for quite some time, the auto-rickshaw driver did what he had in his power trying to block the white car away. On our way home that every same evening, another car did the same thing, but instead tried to pressure our auto- rickshaw into the curbside of the road, again thanks to the auto-rickshaw driver the situation ended up with just high heartbeats and and feeling of powerlessness. I must say that feeling of powerlessness is uncomfortable, and I'm learning ways to maintain my power and standing up for myself when situations of intimidation by men occur.
The other day, it was still light out and I was traveling home from work. The auto I was in was standing waiting for the green light, when a group of men my own age stared at me and started calling at me "ooohoooohoooohooo", sounding like a pack of dogs or wolfs. Ignoring them, I thought to myself "No, I don't want to join your wolf-pack".
Having men stare, randomly come talk to me cos they want to practice their English, or poking me with tennis racks on my breast has become something that I'm sadly not surprised about anymore..
So, now I've caught back to my Norwegian roots of not smiling much to strangers - well, not smiling at men at all rather looking at them with a evil look or a "I'm strong and independent, btw my husband also lives in Delhi" kind of look. This small little lie along with my pepper spray helps me feel safer.
As one of the strategies to combat sexual harassment in Delhi, there is a separate compartment for women in the impressive and modern metro. This is a safe heaven, but it another case that this separate compartment is an actual and serious need to keep women safe from daily sexual harassment.
It must be said that not all Indian men stare and sexual harassment does not only happen in New Delhi, India - it is an issue women face everywhere in the world. Stop harassment of women!
