If you have been active on social media lately, you would know how timelines are filled with desperate people trying to get leads on oxygen cylinders, plasma donors, and available hospital beds for their Covid-positive family members and friends. The second wave of the pandemic has hit the country hard, rendering most state healthcare facilities inadequate to deal with the massive surge in patients.
One such woman who had been searching for plasma donors after one of her family members fell ill is Mumbai’s Shasvathi Siva. According to News18, she had put out requests on social media and as a result, her contact number was being circulated online. She was reassured by her friends that having her contact out in the open would be easier for her to get leads.
What happened next was random men calling and harassing her. Many asked her if she was single and whether she could share pictures. Some complimented on her display picture and one man offered to help if she agreed to go out on a date with him. Shasvathi took to Twitter to narrate her ordeal.
Been looking for plasma donors, and my no has been around in some groups + stories. I've fielded calls from men asking me if I'm single, if I can share photos, my dp is nice etc, and 1 "friend" who said he'd help if 'at least now you go on a date with me'
Some men are DISGUSTING
— Shasvathi Siva (@shasvathi) April 15, 2021
However, the harassment didn’t end there. Her WhatsApp flooded with unknown men continuously video calling her. Some even went as far as to send her unsolicited pictures of their genitals.
“Even in a medical emergency, men think only with their genitals,” Shasvathi wrote.
I thought it wouldn't get worse, but since this morning, I've received (on whatsapp) 3 dick pics, and 7 men trying to video call me continuously. Even in a medical emergency, men think only with their genitals.
Women: NEVER, EVER let your number out in public forums. https://t.co/CAJJKiQmR6
— Shasvathi Siva (@shasvathi) April 16, 2021
After she had narrated her story, numerous men allegedly harassed her “even more”. Chants of “Not All Men” dominated her comment section and some went on to hate on her on their social media accounts.
Posted on instagram about the harrasment I faced from men when I put my number out for a Covid emergency. Not only have the "Not All Men" brigade arrived on the comments section, I'm getting harrassed even more.
And then you wonder why victims don't speak up.
MY HEAD HURTS. 😵 pic.twitter.com/sCfcHpru3e
— Shasvathi Siva (@shasvathi) April 21, 2021
People online have been left flabbergasted by this incident. Many condemned the actions of the men in question, calling them “disgusting” and “shameless”. Here is what some of them said:
I was working with people last year who were facing financial difficulties due to lockdown and/or Amphan cyclone. We were providing them with ration.
There were many cases of men asking me to show them my DP, talk on call chat more often. I literally had to block them. https://t.co/htTnBQt9ot
— Zo / #StandWithKashmir (@zo_StydiasJeep) April 16, 2021
Please shame these men publically. They deserve it. I’m sorry you have to go through this. That half of the human race didn’t really evolve beyond having a cock.
— Boss Baby (@penguinhowler) April 16, 2021
I am so sorry for this, Shavasthi. I literally have nothing more to add to how shamelessly disgusting men can be on an average day.
— richa singh (@richa_singh) April 16, 2021
Dark times with darker people make it the darkest night… Hoping times change and you are aple to get the help u needed for the medical emergency
— Sachi baat no Bakwas (@Saurabh170890) April 16, 2021
That’s so sick of those men to behave crisis or anytime. Take care 🙂
— Vijith Bhargav (@vijithbhargav) April 16, 2021
How pathetic are some people?? I can't even imagine this trauma. Please behave like a human and if you can't help, ignore the msgs asking help. https://t.co/gVEsEvZIvC
— Tapo🐝va (@iamtapo) April 21, 2021
… Sometimes I feel like the feminism of this era is a little passively aggressive and then I see shits like these. How can a woman feel safe in India? Each bit of influence they use unfairly sometimes is because of a vast minority of men doing every kind of shits possible. https://t.co/sUONgKzyms
— Ayush (@abasu0819) April 16, 2021
This is not only DIGUSTING, but this is also INHUMAN and CRIMINAL. Shows how mentally sick we have become…
— Imteyaz Siddiqui (@ImteyazNomad) April 16, 2021
Appalling to see the privacy of folks with noble intentions to help the distressed in a pandemic getting endangered. Does nothing better than strengthening the veracity of the adage "privacy is a myth". https://t.co/tRjJQduO5D
— Aditya Mohapatra (@goretzkistan) April 21, 2021
To be a woman and to think of facing continuous harassment in the face of a medical emergency is horrifying. Imagine desperately trying to seek help for a family member and getting d*ck pics in return – it is absolutely shameful.
Cover source: left.