This is an interesting approach to punishing and trying to prevent street harassment!
“The Chief Minister of the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh has announced that anyone indulged in eve-teasing will be denied passport, driving license and other government facilities.
Chauhan was demonstrating the state’s resolve to combat eve-teasing, an euphemism for sexual bullying or harassment on the streets directed at young women.
Eve teasing in a crime according to India’s criminal laws, but people are hesitant to take the matter to the police, especially due to the social repercussions and also the fact that bullies usually get away with the offence.
He added that a database of eve-teasers and those indulging in similar offences would be prepared and appropriate action would be taken against them.
“A toll free telephone number for registering complaints about eve-teasing and misbehaviour would also become operational soon,” the Chief Minister announced.
As of now, this announcement awaits implementation but first step will be setting up of a toll free number where women or girls can register their complaints.”
Thoughts?
Kim says
I pass by one particular apartment building everyday to and from work. The security guard would cat call me almost daily with, “Hey, baby,” and “Hey cutie.” I always ignored him because I never saw him as a good guy so I just ignored him but sometimes I would work late and would be passing by after midnight. One night when he had enough of being ignored, he followed behing me and said, “Next time, I’m a make you talk to me.” I was scared. The next morning I went to the apartment building and told the security guard on the morning shift what happened. I asked for the manager’s name and phone number plus the guy’s name that was working last night. I called the manager and explained to him everything that had happened. He said, “I am so sorry that this happened to you. I’ll talk to him. I’ll take care of it.” I hadn’t seen him since and assumed that he had been terminated. The guy hired to take his place was a younger man with a certain polish. I felt safe at first because I thought this guy is young and I’m sure has no problem getting a women so he won’t feel the need to harass anyone. I was wrong. He would stand outside and just hit on women for hours and would get upset when ignored. He would say things like, “I didn’t really want you anyway,” or “stuck up,” to women. He had been losing his temper with me for a few days in a row and was saying things like, “you’re just ignoring me,” and “what you just gonna ignore me like you don’t see me?” when I finally said, “The reason I don’t talk to you is I don’t like your energy.” He called me a crazy b*tch, so I called the manager again and explained the situation with his new security guard and that guy was terminated too. The guys that have been security guards have been professional and I’ve had no problems with them. I am so grateful that I can now walk past this building in peace. This happened a few years ago and it taught me the power of complaining to an employer. Always complain when there is sexual harassment.
Kim says
I’m also sick and tired of when I’m running down the street because I’m late for the subway, a number of guys will yell to me as I pass, “Run, baby, run,” or “slow down baby,” or “don’t fall.” I just want to be ignored as I run by.