WOMEN SAFETY IN INDIA: IS IT STILL A MYTH?

Even after 78 years of Independence, It is really very heartbreaking to hear that, women are still not safe in India. We keep hearing the news of sexual harassment every single day. When it comes to the women safety in India, we cannot talk about a single incident. Women face catcalling, domestic violence sexual harassment which still means that women have not got their freedom yet in India.

"True freedom is when a lady with jewels can walk in the midnight" - Mahatma Gandhi

But now there is no problem about the jewels, people who harass are not even concerned about the age, being a woman is enough is get harassed. The freedom is only for those who do illegal activities and as so many years have passed after getting the freedom, the problem of women safety still remains unsolved.

People holding the Indian flag

Are Women Really safe in India?

Today marks the 78th Independence day of India and yet there is nothing called women safety!

You all would have heard about the heartbreaking rape case of the Kolkata doctor and how reckless people even tried to change it into a suicide attempt!

It really breaks my heart to hear all these "Who told her to be alone in the seminar hall?" "She must have asked for it" , "She must have been drunk", "Her dress would have been in appropriate" What are all these?

Why should a women be shamed even if she is the victim? It really feels awful to tell that India has been an independent Nation for 78 years. Only people who commit crimes live independently and happily here.

Who is wrong here? 

Is it the man who makes a mistake or the woman who is the victim? Victim shaming is such an awful thing which could happen in this entire world! This is like a loop, someone gets raped, people protest, nothing happens and people forget it, so easily! When is this actually going to end?

A hand silencing a woman, symbolizing lack of women safety

How to Break this cycle of Women harassment in India?

Inorder to break this cycle, we have to start changing everything, right from the education system, simply teaching girls self-protection is not going to help, Its very important to teach boys to respect girls. Even today there are many schools that skip certain topics such as menstruation, women’s health, and gender-related matters. As a result of which we are growing up boys who think that girls are just objects are they have no real problems in life. 

Schools as well as parents should engage in more open conversations about these issues. Boys must know the physical and emotional challenges that women face. They should be taught that women are not mere objects or possessions but unique individuals deserving respect and honour always. By teaching these values in boys early on, we will definitely see a positive change in the society. Respect for women should not be a lesson learned only after a tragedy strikes; rather, it should be an intrinsic value carried throughout their lives.

Transforming societal mindsets is undoubtedly challenging, but it is essential, if we want progress. This transformation needs collective action from parents, schools, communities, and even governmental entities to ensure that boys grow up knowing that women deserve equal respect and rights as men. We must stop blaming victims and focus on changing the harmful attitudes and actions that hurt women.

A woman who has faced a harassment due to the lack of women safety

Conclusion:

Every individual plays a part in this transformation process. We should speak up when we hear people blaming the victim instead of the person who did something wrong. We need to make sure people in charge are held responsible for their actions and work to improve our laws and the educational system.

The time has come for tangible change not only for ourselves but also for future generations so that India can genuinely achieve independence where every individual can live freely without fear regardless of gender identity. Though the journey ahead may be long, it is one we must embark on to forge a brighter future a safer world for all.