If you are a woman, chances are that there are several things you think about before doing even the most basic activities. Take, for example, travelling via a public bus – you often check who is standing behind you, you sometimes hold your bag near your chest, and you may even skip sitting on an empty seat in the general compartment. All this is to prevent yourself from getting sexually harassed.
Things are worse for many female journalists. Aishwarya Iyer, a journalist, recently took to Twitter to express her utter disappointment at men who keep touching their crotches and make vulgar gestures in public and crowd female reporters on duty.
1/4 Reporting on the field.
Men need to STOP touching their crotch every time a girl is around. And in the event she points it out (like I did at the Kisan Mahapanchayat), they smile and laugh. Then shamelessly stand 2 meters away and do the same damn thing again.
— Aishwarya S Iyer (@iyersaishwarya) September 6, 2021
I was interviewing a man from the Balyan Khap & a young man came out of nowhere & started eating ice cream. I told him to move, so I could get on with work, & he said, “But I’m eating ice cream.” When I walked away to speak to other farmers, he followed me with his ice cream.
2/2— Aishwarya S Iyer (@iyersaishwarya) September 6, 2021
Just to ensure the men are at a distance, she had to pull out a selfie stick.
To enter the grounds, you had to enter a gate. When I got there too many men were coming in/out. I stood and waited. Didn’t expect anyone to help, but definitely didn’t expect men to crowd behind me the moment I decided to step in. I pulled my selfie stick to ensure distance.
3/4— Aishwarya S Iyer (@iyersaishwarya) September 6, 2021
This is something most women can relate to – constantly checking if anyone is trying to graze their hands on your body.
It wasn’t an ideal reporting day.
I learnt a lot, I challenged myself, but I wish I didn’t have to constantly look behind and ahead and 360 degrees to see what hand, gaze or body was creepily moving towards me.
4/4— Aishwarya S Iyer (@iyersaishwarya) September 6, 2021
Several people online could associate with what she was saying. While some revealed that the same is the case with women across the world, others hoped for men to change their behavior.
So bottom line is sadly ALL women’s work is fraught with occupational hazards like encountering perverts & creeps & abusers. We just have to be careful. So Keep doing your work & call out people who make u feel uncomfortable.
— Radhika (@Radhika_7_10) September 6, 2021
I am sorry you had to go through this. I feel your pain, it’s never easy for women especially on the field. Use those elbows and knees. Take care, keep fighting and continue good work.
— Meghana Sastry (@MeghanaSastry) September 7, 2021
This isn’t Ltd to India or Delhi I just read a thread fm NY & was horrified with the descriptions & d fright girls go through while normally walking around & few men with long hair shared their ordeals of cat calling & harassment. Appalling that Girls have to undergo such ordeal
— Ravi R Saigal (@RaviRSaigal1) September 7, 2021
These are real issues facing our society. More than anything else, it’s the unconscious bias that most Indian men have. They don’t even know the problem. Thanks for highlighting this issue. It’ll probably take couple of generations to bring a real change … sad!
— Jeevant (@Jeevant) September 7, 2021
Disturbs. There is so much as women we carry, there is so much that remains unvoiced. You don't see any significant signs of change either for today or tomorrow. https://t.co/Cp3idcosPs
— lata (@Lata_G_Nair) September 7, 2021
Indian men have a long way to go in learning civic sense, they touch their crotches, urinate at every corner, stand too close to women to make them uncomfortable, basically seems they have no control over their penis, balls, or limbs.
Glad you call this out loud @iyersaishwarya! https://t.co/SFKqNOmGaU— Pooja Priyamvada (She/Her) (@SoulVersified) September 7, 2021
I have seen this ugly gesture by few men whenever they are near women. Never ignore these signs. If no one is around he might be a potential creepy/ even a r@pist. https://t.co/393zNTu6Kh
— Farhan (@farhan_abul) September 7, 2021
Unfortunately it’s an every day thing for a lot of women who chooses public transport, goes out to the market, or go out anywhere to work. You just cannot stop being cautious about your body. https://t.co/FGYj7rMJJs
— Ipsita Bharali (@IpsitaBharali) September 7, 2021
Don’t you think men, from all sections of society, should be taught basic public decency and civic sense?