Youth
OPINIONS

Fight Back or Walk Away?

Sexual harassment, or it's more common but somewhat misleading euphemism “eve-teasing”, happens to be something that we are all well aware of now, given the recent rise of such cases in the subcontinent. Often the victim is left with the option to either fight back against the oppressor (which might, in some cases, land her into nastier situations) or to walk away with the trauma of the incident. We asked a few people what they thought the victim could do in these cases. Here's what they had to say.

In a situation like this, I feel that the girl should look him in the eye, stand her ground and confront him These men aren't brave enough to go further when the girl actually takes a stand. They back away. She should ask him why he called her what he called her. There is never an answer to 'why'. So the point is to make the situation equally uncomfortable for the guy. Make sure a crowd gathers and that she isn't daunted and is heard, as she should to be heard. I think she can actually make her point and still not get into a worse situation, if she's calm and smart enough. 
– Chowdhury Sumaiya Ishra, 18

It's very difficult to just face away from the harasser and pretend like nothing happened; I certainly wouldn't like it if my dignity was played with and I was made to feel like a woman 'who was asking for it'. But how far could you go to protect yourself? Curse the guy? Punch the harasser in the face? Seek help from the authorities? You'd still be looked down upon, for dressing in a way which must have provoked him. Moreover, you never know what might happen to you for standing up for yourself; a girl against 5-6 other hungry low-lives – we don't need another rape case. I'm not saying you should not fight back. Of course, you should but in a way that embarrasses them. Stare back if they stare at you, yell at the top of your lungs, and scare the living hell out of them! Fight back in a way that still upholds your dignity.
– Maisha Maliha, 18

Given the fact that there are people around who will help the girl if she decides to respond, yes, she should definitely fight back. I mean, these guys need to face the consequences of the crime that they commit. The scene does get messy but it makes sure that other people with such lowly intentions know where they'll end up if they harass a girl. But if there aren't people around, she should walk away and try to get out of that area as soon as possible because her response in that scenario might put her into deeper troubles. 
– Afiyah Fahmida Rahman, 17

If it's a question of fight or flight when it comes to eve teasing, then I say fight. The problem is way more prevalent than we think. What's surprising is that some people are not even bothered by it, they're 'used to it'. As a nation, it's high time we realise that the more we turn a blind eye to such problems, the more we're encouraging it
 – Afiat Maishah, 17

 

 

Comments

OPINIONS

Fight Back or Walk Away?

Sexual harassment, or it's more common but somewhat misleading euphemism “eve-teasing”, happens to be something that we are all well aware of now, given the recent rise of such cases in the subcontinent. Often the victim is left with the option to either fight back against the oppressor (which might, in some cases, land her into nastier situations) or to walk away with the trauma of the incident. We asked a few people what they thought the victim could do in these cases. Here's what they had to say.

In a situation like this, I feel that the girl should look him in the eye, stand her ground and confront him These men aren't brave enough to go further when the girl actually takes a stand. They back away. She should ask him why he called her what he called her. There is never an answer to 'why'. So the point is to make the situation equally uncomfortable for the guy. Make sure a crowd gathers and that she isn't daunted and is heard, as she should to be heard. I think she can actually make her point and still not get into a worse situation, if she's calm and smart enough. 
– Chowdhury Sumaiya Ishra, 18

It's very difficult to just face away from the harasser and pretend like nothing happened; I certainly wouldn't like it if my dignity was played with and I was made to feel like a woman 'who was asking for it'. But how far could you go to protect yourself? Curse the guy? Punch the harasser in the face? Seek help from the authorities? You'd still be looked down upon, for dressing in a way which must have provoked him. Moreover, you never know what might happen to you for standing up for yourself; a girl against 5-6 other hungry low-lives – we don't need another rape case. I'm not saying you should not fight back. Of course, you should but in a way that embarrasses them. Stare back if they stare at you, yell at the top of your lungs, and scare the living hell out of them! Fight back in a way that still upholds your dignity.
– Maisha Maliha, 18

Given the fact that there are people around who will help the girl if she decides to respond, yes, she should definitely fight back. I mean, these guys need to face the consequences of the crime that they commit. The scene does get messy but it makes sure that other people with such lowly intentions know where they'll end up if they harass a girl. But if there aren't people around, she should walk away and try to get out of that area as soon as possible because her response in that scenario might put her into deeper troubles. 
– Afiyah Fahmida Rahman, 17

If it's a question of fight or flight when it comes to eve teasing, then I say fight. The problem is way more prevalent than we think. What's surprising is that some people are not even bothered by it, they're 'used to it'. As a nation, it's high time we realise that the more we turn a blind eye to such problems, the more we're encouraging it
 – Afiat Maishah, 17

 

 

Comments

যুবকদের দক্ষ করতে ফলমুখী সমবায়ী শিক্ষার ওপর গুরুত্বারোপ প্রধান উপদেষ্টার

‘ব্যবসাকে শুধু সম্পদ গড়ে তোলার মাধ্যম হিসেবে না দেখে এটি যেন মানুষের জীবনে ইতিবাচক প্রভাব ফেলে, সেভাবে রূপান্তরিত করতে হবে। তারা একটি নতুন সভ্যতা গড়ে তুলতে সামাজিক ব্যবসায় সম্পৃক্ত হবেন।’

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