Eve teasing is a euphemism used throughout South Asia, which includes (but is not limited to) India,[1][2] Pakistan,[3] Bangladesh[4] and Nepal,[5] for public sexual harassment or sexual assault of women by men. The name "Eve" alludes to the Bible's creation story concerning Adam and Eve.[6] Considered a problem related to delinquency in youth,[7] it is a form of sexual aggression that ranges in severity from sexually suggestive remarks, brushing in public places and catcalls, to groping.[8][9][10] The Indian National Commission for Women has suggested that the expression be replaced by a more appropriate term.[11] According to them, considering the semantic roots of the term in Indian English, Eve teasing refers to the temptress nature of Eve, placing responsibility on the woman as a tease.[12] Teasing the girls, passing comment on them, harassing them, and troubling them purposely is called 'eve teasing.'
As with most forms of harassment, sexual harassment is notoriously difficult to prove as perpetrators often devise discreet ways to harass women, although Eve teasing usually occurs in public spaces and streets and on public transport.[13] Some guidebooks to the region warn female tourists to avoid attracting the attention of these kinds of men by wearing conservative clothing.[14][15] However, this form of harassment has been reported by both Indian and foreign women in conservative dress.[16]
History Edit
The problem first received public and media attention in the 1970s.[17][18] In the following decades, more and more women started attending college and working independently, meaning that they were often no longer accompanied by a male escort as had been the norm in traditional society. In response, the problem grew to alarming proportions, despite this not being the case in other cultures where women go and come as they please.[19] Soon the Indian government had to take remedial measures, both judicial and law enforcement, to curb the practice. Efforts were made to sensitise the police about the issue, and police started to round up Eve teasers. The deployment of plain-clothed female police officers for the purpose has been particularly effective.[20] Other measures taken in various states by the police were setting up of dedicated women's helplines in various cities, police stations staffed by women, and special police cells.[21]
Also seen during this period was a marked rise in the number of women coming forward to report cases of sexual harassment, due to changing public opinion against this practice. In addition, the severity of these incidents grew as well, in some cases leading to acid throwing, which in turn led to states like Tamil Nadu making it a non-bailable offense. The number of women's organisations and those working for women's rights also increased, and during this period reports of bride burning increased.[22] The increase in the number of violent incidents involving women meant previously lackadaisical attitudes towards women's rights had to be revised and supported by law. In the coming years, certain organisations played a key role in lobbying for the passing of legislation designed to protect women from aggressive behaviour from strangers, including 'The Delhi Prohibition of Eve-teasing Bill 1984'.[19]
The death of a female student, Sarika Shah, in Chennai in 1998,[23] resulted in some tough laws to counter the problem in South India.[24] After murder charges were brought, about a half-dozen reports of suicide have been attributed to pressures caused by this behaviour.[19] In February 2009, female students from Maharaja Sayajirao University (MSU) in Vadodara assaulted four young men near the family and community sciences faculty, after the men made lewd comments about a girl student staying in SD Hall hostel.[25]
Many other cases go unreported for fear of reprisals and exposure to public shame. In some cases police let the offenders go, after public humiliation through the murga punishment.[26] In 2008, a Delhi court ordered a 19-year-old youth caught making lewd remarks to passing females to distribute 500 handbills to youngsters outside schools and colleges detailing the consequences of indecent conduct.[27]
Depiction in popular culture Edit
Some depictions in Indian cinema shows mild teasing as a part of flirtatious beginnings of a courtship, along with the usual accompaniment of song and dance routines, which invariably results in the heroine submitting to the hero's advances towards the end of the song. Young men tend to emulate the example depicted so flawlessly on screen; the term roadside Romeos[13] even made it to film in Roadside Romeo (2007).
It also has been popularly depicted that when a girl is teased in this way, the hero will come and beat the guy up, such as in the Telugu films Madhumasam, Magadheeraand Eega. and also the Hindi film Wanted. Nowadays, this issue is also featured in Indian television soaps like Savdhaan India and Crime Patrol.
Legal redress
