Eve teasing refers to public sexual harassment of women by men. It ranges from sexually suggestive remarks, brushing in public places and catcalls, to groping. Some people suggest women to not attract men by wearing conservative cloths. Sexual harassment involves nonverbal, verbal, physical, or visual sexual attention, intimidation, or coercion that is unwelcome and unwanted and often has a negative impact on the psychosocial health of the victim. Eve teasing is a common form of sexual harassment.

DEPICTIONS IN POPULAR CULTURE

This issue is depicted in television soaps like Savdhaan India and Crime Patrol. Indian cinema has been depicting eve teasing because of which its rate has increased. They show eve 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. In some movies it has been shown that when a girl is teased in this way, the hero will come and beat the guy up.

FORMS OF EVE TEASING

• Passing vulgar comments
• Touching
• Pushing
• Shoving
• Vulgar stare
• Winking
• A sly whistle
• An opportune clap
• Collision
• Despicable gestures

CAUSES OF EVE TEASING

• Natural attraction to each other
• Lack of religious education
• Unmindful about religions
• Unfair dress
• Open sky culture
• Alcoholism and drug addiction
• Unemployment
• Lack of social bondage
• Absence of family educations
• Computer, mobile etc.
• Political patronize
• Cultural aggression
• Obscene cinema, drama and song
• Absence of law
• Environment

CONSEQUENCES OF EVE TEASING

• Suicide
• Mental disease
• Family trouble
• Blocking education
• Killing and oppression
• Child marriage

WAYS TO PREVENT EVE TEASING

• Keep alert
• Raise the alarm
• Strong body language
• Do not assume traditional clothing will keep you safe
• Do not pay too much attention to strangers
• Family education
• Both the victim of this social evil and offender need to be counseled
• Victims must come forward and register a complaint
• Giving stringent punishment to the offender
• Implementation of Regulations

NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR WOMEN

Mission-To strive towards enabling women to achieve equality and equal participation in all spheres of life by securing her due rights and entitlements through suitable policy formulation, legislative measures, effective enforcement of laws, implementation of schemes/policies and devising strategies for solution of specific problems/situations arising out of discrimination and atrocities against women.

Vision-The Indian Woman, secure in her home and outside, fully empowered to access all her rights and entitlements, with opportunity to contribute equally in all walks of life.

LEGAL PROVISIONS PERTAINING TO EVE TEASING IN INDIAN PENAL CODE

• Section 294: liable to punishment
• Section 354: imprisonment for a term of 1-5 years
• Section 354 A: imprisonment for a term of up to 3 years
• Section 354 D: fine and imprisonment for a term of three years
• Section 509: imprisonment for a period up to three years

AS A CHILD SHE FEARED THAT THERE WAS A MONSTER HIDING IN HER CLOSET. YEARS LATER SHE REALIZED; MONSTERS DON’T HIDE RATHER THEY ROAMED FREELY ON THE STREETS.