BlankNoise Project:A fight against Sexual Harrasement

[gauri227]

hey guys, if anyone's seen today's paper, some 3 ppl died in navi mumbai in eve-teasing related violence. this is such scary stuff. i mean most of us think that raising an alarm will effectively protect us and that'll be the end of the matter. but clearly the mindset of the perpetrators in this case especially is very, very dangerous. i really hope that girl has security, cuz the incident's escalated into something of a war between the girl's colony residents and the eve-teasers' henchmen.
if there was ever any need for a strong stand by the establishment, it is now. cuz if this one incident's allowed to pass on without adequate exemplary redressal, we'll be heading for something of an anarchy, atleast related to women's security.

[gauri227]

any ideas on how to mobilise public opinion on the issue? i mean the blogosphere's teeming with a lot of anger and also suggestions thru the blanknoise project, but this incident's just happened so this would be the perfect time to crack down on the eve-teasers and send a msg to any other ppl with similar intent in a big way.
curfew's been imposed on the area so attention from all quarters, establishment as well as the public is sure to be focussed. this opportunity should not be missed if we want to make a point.
mumbaikars, being closer to the incident, plz let me know if i'm running away with my morcha ideas, but whatever i read horrified me. plz enlighten if i'm missing anything, or even if you just agree.

[miltond]

Originally Posted by gauri227

hey guys, if anyone's seen today's paper, some 3 ppl died in navi mumbai in eve-teasing related violence. this is such scary stuff. i mean most of us think that raising an alarm will effectively protect us and that'll be the end of the matter. but clearly the mindset of the perpetrators in this case especially is very, very dangerous. i really hope that girl has security, cuz the incident's escalated into something of a war between the girl's colony residents and the eve-teasers' henchmen.
if there was ever any need for a strong stand by the establishment, it is now. cuz if this one incident's allowed to pass on without adequate exemplary redressal, we'll be heading for something of an anarchy, atleast related to women's security.

Gauri,

I read about the same incident in 2 newspapers. Eve-teasing does not seem to be the primary reason why the riots broke out, existing group rivalries apparently was.

Holi generally makes it open season, vis a vis eve teasing. Which is why I was surprised at how diff people celebrate holi in pune (no bombs, no baloons thrown at you walking on the road) to holi in bombay (if you're awalking on the rd on holi day, wearing a raincoat is a smart idea)

BNP's primary purpose has been to raise the level of awareness vis a vis sexual harassment and to medystify myths surrounding it. Has that really happened yet?

The link below explores the British Government's efforts to raise the awareness of consensual sex/prevent martial rape

http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/7...2,00180007.htm

[gauri227]

@miltond

i understand that the eve-tesing incident just had a catalysing effect in what was essentially a spat waiting to happen. but having said that, isn't it still a good opportunity to book the perpetrators and send out a strong msg? cuz the way i see it, this one's allowed to die out, and then it's open season for all the lechs, cuz it exposes the spineless attitude of the administration as well as the public. won't it embolden the potential molester if these guys aren't booked?
what do you say?

[miltond]

Originally Posted by gauri227

@miltond

i understand that the eve-tesing incident just had a catalysing effect in what was essentially a spat waiting to happen. but having said that, isn't it still a good opportunity to book the perpetrators and send out a strong msg? cuz the way i see it, this one's allowed to die out, and then it's open season for all the lechs, cuz it exposes the spineless attitude of the administration as well as the public. won't it embolden the potential molester if these guys aren't booked?
what do you say?

Absolutely! In the best case scenario, every eve-teasing incident should result in punishment of varying degrees. However, that's theory. In practice, how many eve teasing incidents actually even get reported?

About this case in particular, the spineless attitude of the administration has already been exposed. If I'm right, they hav'nt even booked the molesters. The best we could do right now (taking the awareness idea of BNP forward for now and sticking to the web as the medium for raising awareness) is start a wall of shame, where we put up pictures of eve teasers who have gotten away. Now that is a very open definition but atleast there would be some affirmative action happening here.

[gauri227]

@miltond

while i personally like your idea....on the effectiveness scale, am not sure how much of a difference it'll make to the navi mumbai type junta. isn't the idea also to empower them with a sense of righteousness (cuz that goes a long way) rather than allow them to be cowed at the hands on sword-toting molesters?
am i being too ambitious/precipitous with my on-the-ground mobilisation ideas? i know sitting here it's very easy for me to be all teesta setalvad, so i'm genuinely asking for your take.

p.s. wall of shame thing to banana hi chahiye....no two views on that.

[miltond]

@ Gauri

Having 2 Setelvads in a country like India can only be a good thing. My take is that it's better to build with many small bricks rather than one big brick which might not be able to stand on it's own.

My convoluted analogy basically implies:
1. Raise awareness about the issue in gtage 1 (which in itself is a monumental task, and a large part of this is driven by dispelling myths surrounding sexual harassment)

2. Affirmative action on the ground in stage 2 (empowering the harassed, etc etc)

[ketanm]

Have just heard about this project, not read the details (also not gone through previous posts... will do in leisure)... here is an article which I came across....

Rape Victims Speaks Out

Ketan

[gauri227]

Originally Posted by miltond

@ Gauri

Having 2 Setelvads in a country like India can only be a good thing. My take is that it's better to build with many small bricks rather than one big brick which might not be able to stand on it's own.

My convoluted analogy basically implies:
1. Raise awareness about the issue in gtage 1 (which in itself is a monumental task, and a large part of this is driven by dispelling myths surrounding sexual harassment)

2. Affirmative action on the ground in stage 2 (empowering the harassed, etc etc)

ok that logic i cannot fault.
thanks....although incidents like these just fill me with the urge to skin the bloody b**gers. but anyway....sound point taken.

[miltond]

Like the fight against racism (where web sites carried an anti-racism banner) we could carry banners about the BNP project on our blogs. Any one with wall of shame ideas?