Men see no harm in travelling via public transport at any time of the day. However, being a woman in the same situation is different. She will feel unsafe if she doesn’t get a seat in the ladies compartment. She will feel unsafe if there is a man walking behind her in the same direction as her. She will feel unsafe if she spots a guy making eyes at her for a long time. And most men don’t get this constant fear.
A woman took to Twitter to share an incident she called “small” but it really isn’t. Is it “common”? Yes, way more than you think. While travelling via a metro, she found two men constantly staring at her.
Small thread on a small, common incident.
Noticed half way in the metro journey this evening that 2 men, sitting diagonally opposite me, kept staring at me. I looked away + looked back a few times to check, and they were still looking.
— Tanishka Sodhi (@tanishka_s2) March 23, 2022
As they continued to stare, she adjusted her hair to cover more of herself (only ladies will know this), switched off the music she was hearing and became more alert.
Opened my hair to cover more of my body, and held my press card tight in my hand – both to feel slightly more secure. Put my music off, so that I could be fully alert.
— Tanishka Sodhi (@tanishka_s2) March 23, 2022
After she got down at her station, she found the men getting down there too. It was like they were following her.
I got out at my station and unsurprisingly, they got off there too, behind me. I raced down, but they were not far behind. Instead of heading towards my exit, I just stood in a corner, waiting for them to go.
— Tanishka Sodhi (@tanishka_s2) March 23, 2022
Ladies, this bit is concerning, isn’t it?
When they reached the point that you have to punch in the metro card, they looked around, presumably for me. After they crossed the point, they spotted me, whispered, walked a little ahead and stood there, staring, waiting.
— Tanishka Sodhi (@tanishka_s2) March 23, 2022
Doing the right thing, she alerted a cop who was nearby. Another woman spotted her and revealed she was feeling unsafe because of the same 2 men.
I stopped a metro policeman who was passing by and told him about them. Immediately, a woman who was earlier in the same compartment as me, approached us and asked if we were speaking about the 2 men.
— Tanishka Sodhi (@tanishka_s2) March 23, 2022
She said that she had changed compartments in the metro because of how inappropriately they were looking at her. And that as soon as she saw me talk to the police, she figured it would be the same reason.
— Tanishka Sodhi (@tanishka_s2) March 23, 2022
The cop told them that they should have alerted an official in the metro the moment they felt unsafe.
The cop, though sweet and helpful, asked us why we didn’t alert an official in the metro about them. Well. Sure. Let’s alert officials everytime a man makes us feel unsafe. Lol.
— Tanishka Sodhi (@tanishka_s2) March 23, 2022
However, the cop accompanied the woman to the exit. The men had disappeared.
Anyway, he walked with me to the exit and walked down with me too. The men had disappeared by then. Cop told me I’m like his sister but I should speak up as soon as something happens, next time.
— Tanishka Sodhi (@tanishka_s2) March 23, 2022
People online responded to the eye-opening thread by sympathizing with the woman and expressing their own worries. There were men worried about their own daughters, women sharing similar experiences, and guys revealing how they never knew women go through so much on a daily basis.
As a father of two little girls it worries me a lot😐. Can’t women even claim the right to public spaces? Not sure what needs to change in the society, but something must. Extremely disturbing incident.
— Subhash Rout (@subby78) March 23, 2022
Happens in Mumbai too all the time. Late 90s in a bus in Thane, someone followed me from train to the bus. Sat next to me. I finally spotted a guy from my building in the bus, called him loudly and sat next to him. I was 17. It was 9 PM after tuitions. I still shudder thinking
— Shilpa (@shilpakolte) March 24, 2022
This is not a small insignificant issue !
This is the point where maximum attention & emphasis should be given by policy makers & state & central govt, implementing it thru police..
Every law of this country is made on post crime..
Where is the pre-crime deterent measures?!— Saadiya ahmed (@Saadiya89) March 23, 2022
At Mumbai you can confront them – Delhi you get worried – I remember an incident – Delhi -was taking some early morning photos outside my guest house ,was subjected to Eve teasing & catcalls from a group of men in some high end car- my guesthouse manager asked me to rush inside !
— Lavanya (@lavs03) March 24, 2022
Agonising to hear the stress one can go through living a normal day. Should worry ‘real Dilliwalas’ to know how people ‘feel’ about #Delhi!
But i’ve spent years going to/being there.. hailed cabs odd hours, took autos, metros, even cycle rick. Was OK.
Stay alert; but strong too!— Vijaya Moorthy (@vmoorthynow) March 23, 2022
What measures do you think authorities should take to ensure women’s safety in public?
Cover image: source.