Page 61 - MS Magazine 2025

The Agenda of

‘WOMEN’S SAFETY’

“Rapes and sexual harassment are not just about sexual contentment — they are acts of power play.”
Did you know that approximately 89% of rapes are committed by someone known to the victim? In
India, rape is the fourth most common crime against women.

Today, the world is such that everyone is aware of what is happening — the horrors inflicted by rapists.
Women, whether they are 12 years old or 30, are not safe. Parents are now terribly afraid to let their
daughters go outside to study, work, or play. Their minds are conditioned to believe that if their
daughter is out in the world, something bad might happen to her.

This situation imposes significant restrictions on women, while men who engage in such behaviour
continue to move freely without concern, knowing they are unlikely to face consequences — as the
conviction rates for these crimes in India are distressingly low. This only reinforces the disparity.
But will this situation remain unchanged?

Will harassment and eve-teasing continue to rise?
Will these issues hinder the progress of women?
Maybe the answer is ‘Yes’ — if we do nothing.

The government and judiciary will do their part, but when will they act? We do not know. So, until we see
meaningful change, we as a society must take action to address the root causes of these issues — such
as the lack of education and awareness, power dynamics, weak law enforcement, victim-blaming, and
prevailing attitudes of both men and women.

To rectify these mistakes, the first thing we, as a society, can do is unite — to help, educate, and support
one another. It is not just the victim’s responsibility; it is ours too.
We could have intervened instead of ignoring the situation, thinking it was not our duty.

If it is another woman today, it might be your mother, sister, wife — or even you — tomorrow.

So, the next time you witness a situation like this, be willing to help — gather around, call the police,
pretend to be the victim’s relative, or do anything you can in that moment.
The second step we can take is to spread awareness among our generation — the upcoming youth of
India. Most of their time is spent in schools. So, it would be ideal if these issues were addressed openly in
schools — for both boys and girls.

They should be taught about boundaries, mutual respect, the meaning of consent, and more. These
topics should be widely discussed with the youth to raise awareness, define boundaries, foster
responsibility, and ensure the proper use of social media.
The third step we must take is to teach our children.

Parents often focus on telling their daughters how to behave, where to go, what to do, and how to dress.

Yet, they frequently fail to teach their sons to respect women, to maintain boundaries, and to treat
women as equals. This failure, rooted in outdated beliefs of male dominance and physical superiority,
must be challenged.
We need to shift this mindset by educating boys and raising their awareness to foster respect and
equality.

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Page No. 58 The Mapsian 2025