This kind of abuse is not only confined to public transport but also extends to stalking in crowded and isolated streets and alleys which can be described as not only limited to eveteasing but inflicting serious physical and mental torture on the victim. [break]
Such abuses range from light body contact to severe physical molestation.
In all such cases, many suffer silently whereas only a few retaliate.
“I had closed my eyes while traveling on a Nepal Yatayat bus since I was tired. Suddenly I got a rude shock to realize an elite-looking middle-aged man started to caress my thigh,” said Merina Gurung, 18, adding, “I stared at him with both disgust and surprise and he consciously got up and left.”
Similarly, Pratistha Koirala shares her own experiences.
“It was 6 pm and I was in a hurry to reach home. Unlike other days, I had no time to wait for an empty bus. So I struggled to hang myself in the door of the crowded bus to Bhaktapur from Gaushala. When we were about to reach Sinamangal, I could feel hands on my back. I turned to see a middle-aged man responsible for it. Since the bus was crowded, I thought it was not by intention. So I asked him to mind his hands. But after sometime, his hands were rolling on my neck. Then I realized I was being sexually harassed. I yelled while slapping him. The crowd in the bus gave a surprised look. I, therefore, explained why I did what I did and asked the driver to stop the bus. The man was denying what he had done and instead was trying to blame me. A few women in the bus helped me get rid of the man out of the bus.”
If supported by people around or when with a friend, a victim can stand up for herself and also take action against the culprit.
“I’ve encountered many such people while walking in crowds as well as in public transports. I and my friend stick our elbows out and hit such people or stamp foot on them, pretending that it happened by mistake, just as they touch us by being pretentiously innocent,” affirms Tanya Singh, 18.
She added, “We have also insulted them sarcastically out loud. We’ve said nasty things to them such as ‘Uncle, don’t you get satisfaction from your wife?’ or ‘Has she sent you out to get satisfaction by touching any girl that you find on the streets?’”
But many such incidents happen in quiet alleys when darkness prevails.
“I was walking home to Samakhusi from my office in Thamel. A man suddenly appeared in front of me and grabbed my breast. I was dismayed, and before I could even notice his face, he ran away,” described Bina Shrestha, 22.
Perverts view women not as humans but as creatures meant for bodily pleasures for what they possess on their chest or between their thighs. The core reason and the level of satisfaction that such people derive from committing such act are unknown.
“People who are engaged in such sly acts are mere cowards who can’t approach women in a friendly manner. Therefore, one shouldn’t be scared of them,” stresses Ruchira Koirala, psychology teacher and counselor.
There are hyped ways such as pepper spray and alarms that make loud noise like a siren to strike back at such people but many victims are afraid of the consequences. However, public humiliation seems to be the method which many girls and women have been opting to deal with such people.
Koirala adds, “Being eve-teased may be ignored but when it comes to physical harassment, such matters can’t be taken lightly. Girls should be brave and turn around to slap such people. To those who are shy or scared, my personal advice to them is to go to gym and get that strength to protect themselves.”
“Media, especially visual media, can play a huge role in encouraging females to be bold and also to support other females who are victims of sexual harassment by amplifying such issues,” opines Tripti Thapa, A-Level sociology teacher.
Bimala Thapa, Deputy Inspector General of Police, says, “We’ve been trying to raise awareness about the laws and female rights through various programs on radio and also via dramas. We do have laws that are implemented against sexual harassments but very few women come forward and report to us.”
Although there are laws, a sense of sisterhood among women to support each other and from males, too, will come a long way to stand up for the victims.
The major challenge is to overcome shyness and be brave enough to act at that particular moment.
This is very important to enhance a girl’s self-esteem as well as to give an unpleasant memory to such perverts so that they won’t dare to commit such acts again.
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