A Term Paper on Street harassment faced by college girls
FACULTY OF HUMANITIES
AND SOCIAL SCIENCE
TRIBHUVAN UNIVERSITY
KATHMANDU, NEPAL
2021
A Term Paper on Street
harassment faced by college girls
(As a requirement for the partial fulfillment
of the course: Methods of Social Work 312)
Submitted to
Department of social work
Navodit College
Tribhuvan University
Kathmandu, Samakhushi
Submitted by
R Shrestha
BASW 2nd year, 2021
Symbol no:
August, 2021
Recommendation Letter
This term paper
prepared by Ms. Ritika Shrestha who is students of Methods of Social Work
subject, BASW 2nd year in this Navodit College was done under my
direct supervision and as far as I know, the primary data mentioned by them are
genuine. Hence, I would like to recommend it to the final assessment committee
to make an appropriate assessment of this term paper.
Ms. Nutan Gauchan
Department Supervisior
Navodit College,
Samakhusi
Approval Letter
It is because that a term report after doing a research on
street harassment faced by college girls topic has been presented by Ms. Ritika
Shrestha who is students of Methods of Social Work (312) subject, BASW 2nd year
studying in Navodit College under TU through internal proctor for its approval,
it’s been approved by the assessment committee.
Ms. Nutan Gauchan Mr.
Sudeep lama Waiba
Department
Supervisior Subject
Teacher
Mr.
Rajendra Adhikari External
Examiner
Principal
Acknowledgments
We would like to express our heartful gratitude to Navodit
college for providing this wonderful opportunity to prepare a term paper on the
topic “Street Harassment Faced by college girls.”
We would also like to thank out supervisior of department Ms.
Nutan Gauchan for always encouraging us
to do better and providing us with constant support.
Further we would like to extend our thanks to our lecturer Mr.
Sudeep Lama for constantly guiding and supporting us when we came across
difficulties during the entire process of this seminar paper.
We would also like to express our sincerest gratitude to all the
respondents for helping us throughout the data collection process, without their
help, this paper wouldn’t have been Possible.
We would also like to thank everyone who directly or indirectly
helped us to complete this term paper.
Sincerely,
R Shrestha
Table of Contents
Content Page
no
Cover page i
Recommendation letter ii
Approval letter iii
Acknowledgements iv
Table of contents v-vi
Chapter 1
Introduction 1-3
1.1 Background 1
1.2 Introduction 1-2
1.3 Statement of the problem 2
1.4 Objective of study 2-3
Chapter 2
Literature Review 4-5
Chapter 3
Methodology 6-7
3.1 Qualitative method 6
3.2 Area of study 6
3.3 Interview 6
3.4 Policy Review 7
Chapter 4
Data Analysis and
presentation 8-12
4.1 Interview with
experts 8
4.2Interview with college
girls 9-11
4.3 Analysis 11-12
Chapter 5
Conclusion and
Recommendation 13-14
5.1 Conclusion 13
5.2 Recommendation 14
Reference
Chapter 1
Introduction
1.1 Background
While coming with a topic regarding facing street harassment, I came up with different topics. Being the college student, I can feel the situation of having morning class and should leave from home in early morning in empty roads with lots of fear in mind, so I decided to choose this topic.The majority of street harassment is done by men towards women and may include unwanted commentary, vulgar sexual and racist remarks, threats, catcalls, whistling, touching and indecent exposure.
1.2 Introduction
Street harassment is a huge issue
in the world and desperately needs to end. It is not right for men to comment
on women and girls in the streets. Women feel vulnerable in the streets due to
the fact men harass them and comment on how they look. It is extremely
disrespectful to women because men degrade them down to how they look. Men
appear to be more powerful and women feel as though they can't fight back. In
some people’s eyes, it’s fine for men comment on women but it isn’t. Some women
can't even walk down streets.
Street harassment is a human right
issue because it limits persons’ ability to be in public, especially women’s.
Street harassment is one of the burning social issues in different part of the
world. It has been a global problem where girls are being harassed every day.
Street harassment emerges out of historical social and political inequality
between men and women that informs gender relations in much world. Talking
about films and other media, that reflects women’s bodies in public spheres.
Once it is in the public space people tend to comment, criticize and abuse on
women’s bodies.
Fairchild and Rudman
(2008) have noted that street harassment shares many common themes with
the sexual harassment that happens in other contexts, most specifically the
component of unwanted sexual attention.
However, street harassment is
unique in that it is perpetrated by strangers (as opposed to familiar people
such as bosses, teachers, or medical professionals) and that it takes place in
public domains.
Therefore, it is not recognized as
socially unacceptable behavior, men’s harassment to women. Instead it is
portrayed as complimentary, a joke, or only trivial annoyance. Plus people tend
to blame women for its occurrence based on what they are wearing or what time
of day they are in public. Men consider as a way to have fun with other male
friends . This focus on street harassment as harmless entertainment for the
harasser reflects the fact that the identity of female victim is irrelevant.
However, even harassment that takes the form of complimenting a woman’s
appearance is harassment if it is unwanted and unwelcome behavior.
1.3 Statement
of Problem
Now days since women’s have become
more independent, they go to work, visits places by their own but there is
still the fear of street harassment in women. There are people in the public
who harasses women by catcalling, touching and stalking. It’s very difficult
for women or teenager girls to walk on street without getting harassed. Street
harassment is experienced by groups collectively while the impact can vary on
the individual level, what may not seem like a big deal to one person can cause
a lot of harm to another and vice versa.
1.4 Objectives
of study
·
To know
the challenges faced by girls in the street of Kathmandu.
- To assess the situation street harassment among girls.
- To study the negative consequences of street harassment.
Chapter 2
LITERATURE REVIEW
Street
harassment is a form of harassment, primarily sexual harassment that consists of unwanted sexualised comments,
provocative gestures, honking, wolf-whistlings, indecent
exposures, stalking, persistent sexual advances, and touching by strangers, in public areas such as streets, shopping malls and public transportation. Street harassment is one of the burning social
issue in different part of the world. It has been a global problem where girls
are being harassed by asking or persistent request for their name, number,
giving them harsh comments, following, physical gestures, sexual assault and
rape.Whittaker, Elizabeth; Robin M. Kowalski (2015)
An
online article ‘Street Harassment: Once a problem, now a crime’ by Supriya
Shrestha gives an insight on the Nepalese law on street harassment. In Nepalese
law, harassers are to pay Rs. 20,000 fine and liable to spend 2 years in jail.
There are laws and policies but they are not implemented effectively.
“According to the data over 30,000 women are harassed in Kathmandu itself every
year. That’s 3 unpunished crimes every year”. Youths should be well known about
the laws and policies and raise their voice in this issue. “Hollaback! A worldwide
movement powered by a network of local activists around the world. Hollaback in
its literal sense means to answer back”. This movement has also been launched
in Kathmandu as Hollaback! Kathmandu. People should promote this kind of
movement in order to eradicate street harassment through effective and
efficient use of media and technology.
Raising voice for a safe city for women
against street harassment in street, public spaces and vehicles. An article
published by The Himalayan Time on April 17th,2016 “Youth demands
safe city for women” gives an insights about how youths and youth organizations
are focused on stopping street harassment. Youths are raising voice in order to
safeguard the girls in public spheres. In this articles an organization “Activista
Nepal” highlighted what is happening at national and local level to find
potential solutions to the problem. This can bring changes in the society.
Activista Nepal conducted programmes including many attractions like flash mob
on street harassment, Forum Theater and self- defending training, workshop on
street harassment, drama, youth voices through poem, and flashcards, chalking
and fliers distribution. This kind of programmers brings the youth together,
understanding the problem and obstacles faced by girls. Public are being aware
of these kind of social evil going on in the street and take street harassment
as a major social problem and a human right issue. One of the member of
Activista Nepal Smarika Shrestha said “
When it comes to travelling in the street, we always been a bit cautions in
terms of safety. I think I speak on the behalf of many women in Kathmandu when
I say that we are a bit alert when we pass by dark alleys and crowded places,
Absence of streetlights and the ‘culture’ of not complaining or fighting for
it, has made it even more difficult for women.” This statement clearly reflects
the consequences faced by women while they are in street. Women should raise
their voices when harassed, the more women’s are in silences the more harassers
are motivated in assaulting women in public spaces. This is also because of the
so called cultural values the woman follows. But this is not going to be a
solution to it. More youth lead organizations should come together in order to
aware people about street harassment and its negative impact on woman.
Chapter 3
Methodology
3.1
Qualitative method
Qualitative method was used for
this seminar paper. Qualitative methods are often regarded as providing rich
data about real life people and situations and being more able to make sense of
behaviour and to understand behaviour within its wider context. This type of
data is collected through methods of observations, one-to-one interviews. The term paper aims to explore
the challenges of street harassment faced by girls in the street of Kathmandu
and also to study the negative consequences of street harassment, the term paper will be exploratory so interview was done
with five college girls from different colleges.
3.2Area
of the study
The interview was conducted based
on the college areas inside the Kathmandu valley. The colleges are considered
to be the second place where girls spend more time after home. Therefore, interview
will be conducted will college going girls from age group 19-24 years.
3.3
Sampling
Interview will be conducted with five college going girl from age
group 19-24. The sampling will be done in purposive sampling. Purposive
sampling is a sampling technique in which researcher relies on his or her own
judgment when choosing members of population to participate in the study.
3.5 Policy review
Looking at the present scenario in Nepal, the
fact that there is no definition of or law against sexual harassment in public
places in Nepal; and the attitude of the law enforcers as well as the fact that
most of the victims did not get any help from members of the society seems to
suggest that street harassment is not regarded as a social problem or an
infringement of women's rights, i. e. the right to freedom of movement in
Nepal. Still there are still many laws related to sexual harassment through
which victims can get justics.
The Government of
Nepal has enacted a specific legislation addressing sexual harassment at
workplace with the objective to protect the right of every individual to work in
a safe environment. The Sexual Harassment at Workplace Prevention Act, 2015
(2071) (“Sexual Harassment Prevention Act” or “Act”) came into effect on
February 20, 2015 (Falgun 08, 2071).Section 12 of the Act provides that any
person who has committed sexual harassment under the Act may be punished with
imprisonment of up to 6 months, and / or fine of up to Nepalese Rupees
50,000.The Sexual Harassment Prevention Act provides a number of provisions
intended to protect the victims of sexual harassment, and create an environment
at the workplace where the victims feel encouraged to file complaints against
any occurrence of sexual harassment.
Chapter 4
Data Analysis and presentation
4.1
Interview with experts
Name:
Mamata Bista
Designation:
ShakhaPramukh
Organization:
Ministry of women
Contact
No: 4200502
Street harassment is major problem
of the society which is overlapped. Many girls as well as women also face
street harassment in work place, road or street and in own colony as well.
Government is doing different awareness program in different areas so that they
can walk freely in street. According to her, many street are under cctv
privileged and there are different emergency number where girls can contact for
the helpline. Though many people blame for girls or women appearance for the
harassment in present context but according to her only the person who has
harass the girl or women is one and only culprit and he should get the
punishment according to law. Comparing
the present context with past, there is decrease in street harassment. Many
street has small police station or booth so that, police can easily cooperate
with victims and culprit can get punishment or can be punished according to the
law. According to her not only government effort but victim should also reach
to the police or should be able to share their problem so that they get
justice.
4.2
Interview with collegegirls
Participant
no 1
She is a college student who is
continuing her study in South westen college in bachelor 1st year.
She is morning class student as she mentioned she lives in aatmagyan,
samakhushi and her college is located in basundhara chowk. She used to use
public vehicle. While using public vehicle she used to face some problem like
stalking, unwanted words expression. One day she mentioned that it was winter
morning and the vehicle was full empty, as she was in hurry she caught the
public vehicle after some station driver tried to talk with her using some
vulgar words. Since that she has fear in using public vehicle while she is
alone.
Participant
no 2
She is a college student who is
continuing her study in Lincoln college in 12. She is having morning class and
she lives near the college but the way to her college is small street with less
crowd and less people use that street so often she has fear going alone college
in winter morning. She takes help her parents but rarely she goes alone college
when her parents are busy. One day when her she was alone some boys tried to
harassed her by wolfwhistlings, touching and by calling her by bad names and
bad words.
Participant
no 3
She is a college student who is
continuing her study in Orient college in Bachelor in 2nd year and
have day college. Though the street are full still the gang of boys stalk on
girls, whistlings and uses vulgar words and she was also victim of harassment.
Every single day boys used tease girls having a gang. Those boys have fixed
time to stay near by college street and smoke and tease the girls.
Participant
no 4
She is a college student who is
continuing her study in Ashirbad college in Bachelor 4th year and
have morning class. She lives in manamaiju and she walk to college every day.
She never faced any harassment like teasing and so on but one day when she was
walking to college a male coming from opposite direction just opened his pant
and showed his reproductive organ and so was so much afraid that she run from
there and she could come to college for one week because of the trauma she got
from that incident.
Participant
no 5
She is a girl who is running her
bachelor in St.Xavier’s college. She used to wait her college bus in samakhushi
chowk. A guy used to follow her since some day. One day while she was waiting a
bus that guy with some friend started teasing her and did whistle while she was
standing in bus stop. He tried to come near and a unknown uncle noticed him so
uncle came near by her. Uncle asked her whether she know her or not then she
replied that she don’t know that guy. Then uncle suddenly reacted and gave one
slap to that guy and made him to say sorry in front of crowd since that day
that guy never tried to follow her neither harassed her.
4.3
Analysis
Street harassment is a very common
form of harassment whose main target is college girls. Many girls feel unsafe
just leaving their house in the middle of the day and would rather stay home
than to face harassers. Girls (well everyone for that matter) should be able to
walk down the street and not have to fear being approached by a stranger.For girls,
most harassment is performed by a total stranger.
Worldwide, statistics show that 80%
of women endure at least frequent street harassment, 45% feel that they cannot
go alone to public spaces, 50% have to cross the street to find alternate
routes to their destinations, 26% claim that they are in a relationship in
order to avoid harassment, 80% feel the need to be constantly alert when
traversing local streets and 9% have had to switch careers to escape the area
in which harassment occurred. Kearl, Holly(2010)
Street
harassment includes some of the unwanted behaviors mentioned below:
- Comments,
requests, and demands
- Commenting
on physical appearance, such as someone’s body or the clothing they’re wearing
- Continuing
to talk to someone after they have asked to be left alone
- Flashing
- Following
or stalking
- Groping
- Intentionally
invading personal space or blocking the way
- Persistent
requests for someone’s name, number, or other information
- Public
masturbation or touching
- Sexist,
racist, homophobic, transphobic slurs, or any comments insulting or
demeaning an aspect of someone’s identity
- Showing
porngraphic images without someone’s consent
- Staring
- Taking
a photo of someone without their consent
- Telling
someone to smile
- Up-skirting,
which is taking a photo up a skirt or dress without that person’s
permission
- Using
a mirror to look up someone’s skirt or dress without their permission
- Whistling
If you experience street harassment,
remember that it is not your fault. Street harassment is never a compliment and
is never OK. Everyone has the right to feel safe in public spaces. There is no
one right way to respond to someone who is harassing you. Because street
harassment is about power and intimidation—and there is often a reasonable fear
of further violence—it is essential to “trust your gut” in these situations.
Chapter 5
Conclusion and Recommendation
5.1
Recommendation
The analysis identified the following set of
recommendations to help prevent occurrences of street harassment.
- A major factor that leads to harassment in public areas/public
transport is overcrowding. So we should be aware and should be able to
fightback for ourselves.
- Sensitizing police officials about handling gender related cases
has also been suggested. Generally, women hesitate in going to police stations
due to women unfriendly environment. The process of registering a case is
also very burdensome and the police do not take such cases seriously.
- Another important recommendation is to create awareness among the
general public about respecting women and refraining from obnoxious
behavior. None of the drivers, conductors, passengers or pedestrian are aware of the
code of conduct in public transport and basic human rights of passengers
and pedestrian.
- Girls should also learn the self defense ideas and technique, so
that in emergency they can save themselves.
- Girls should be allowed to carry small self defense instrument
too.
5.2
Conclusion
The
street harassment experienced by girls from age group 19-24, all the harassing
behaviors that have been found to occur with the girls also occur to elder
women.In Nepal, approximately half of the college going girls has been harassed
in public areas, and the current study has shown that harassment of girls in
public may not only be as prevalent, but significantly more.
Overall,
this study gives an insight on the problem and challenges faced by girls when
they are in public space. Firstly, this study overviews harassment as factors
like harassing people by their face, nationality, religion, disability or
class. Street harassment is against human right, street is for everyone and no
one should feel uncomfortable in street. Secondly, the study reflects the fact
that the identity of female victim is irrelevant. Especially women are targeted
in the street by male. People judge women as their occurrence which has been
the major problem of the society. This study aims to develop continuous
understanding of what behavior is referred to as street harassment.
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