Sexual Harassment

Sexual harassment is an unwelcome and unwanted behavior which causes mental stress and embarrassment to a person. Passing cheap comments, pinching, leering, whistling, displaying sexual pictures or forwarding sexual jokes are all sexual harassment.

Even if you are harassed verbally with foul language in the form of emails, messaging, and phone calls it is sexual harassment.

Everybody wants to take the advantage of rush hours to touch a woman. It is an everyday battle for a woman who has to go out due to work or education. For example: A cabbie trying to adjust his rearview to focus at you, road side Romeo trying to brush past you or an oldie wanting to stand close to you, is a daily affair.

Men who indulge in such activities are mentally sick. They consider woman as an object or play thing. Teasing a woman gives them a feeling of power and control over a woman.

Repressive society, lack of education and awareness are also responsible for such behavior. Researchers say that eve teasing is a learned behavior. If a boy grows up in an environment where women are respected he will naturally respect women.

All women are not alike. Some are strong and don’t let it effect them but generally it is degrading and humiliating for them. Don’t ignore the situation as it gives the impression that it is acceptable to you. Be calm and confident, though lashing out on a harasser on every day basis can be frustrating but you have the right to take an action. You need to tell the person that his behavior is offensive. Such men usually get scared when confronted but if ignored the harasser does not feel accountable for his actions.

However, you are the only person who can decide how your situation is to be handled because there is no one right way to tackle such situations. Sometimes it is best to ignore and at others you need a make as criminal complaint.