Stalking Is A Serious Crime Against Women. Stop Taking It So Casually!

Stalking is not love. It is a serious crime against women that needs to be addressed on a war footing say #WomenOnTheMove.

Stalking can be defined as a course of conduct where an individual, especially a woman, is subjected to repeated or continuous mental or physical turmoil.

Is stalking gender specific? No, stalking is not gender specific and perpetrators and victims can both be male and female. However, most of the times it is seen that the stalkers are men. The harasser is often under a false impression that he/she is just trying to profess his/her love, although forcefully. The repeated harassment causes immense emotional distress including fear, intimidation and apprehension in the victim.

Stalking is not about being kool ! It’s a basic Male instinct & One should hv right to instinct ! Stalking ≠ Rape ! https://t.co/OQAbqVfQdO

— Doberman◇Gang◇India (@pari_bravo) August 7, 2017

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This tweet is a true representation of how misinterpreted stalking is. Stalking is not love; stalking is a serious crime against women. Yes, stalking is not equal to rape, but stalking may lead to rape, kidnapping, acid attacks and also murder.

Most Indian women are familiar with street harassment and stalking. Our weekly #WomenOnTheMove chat got the Twitterati talking and sharing real life incidents of stalking and intimidation. We also discussed how to take stock of the situation and do something about it. Here’s what they said.

Street harassment in India is as common as the holy cow on the streets

#WomenOnTheMove A1 On my blogs yes lots of sexual unwarranted trolling &physically long back as a college student in local buses in #Shimla.

— Pooja Sharma Rao (@SoulVersified) August 9, 2017

Yes, you cant escape if you are in the capital city. Somewhere, somehow you become a victim. Pretend-you are equipped and help is around!

— Anjali G Sharma (@anjgsharma) August 9, 2017

Some real life incidents shared

Growing up as a woman in India is an everyday fight. Being groped, eve-teased, sexually assaulted, harassed on the streets, being stalked, are so common in women’s lives, that finding an exception to the narrative is hard to believe.

Yes. Over 2 decades ago. He was at least 20 yrs older than I. Planned to kidnap me. His aide spilled beans and my family alerted cops. 1/2

— sanghamitra mazumdar (@sanghamitra_m) August 9, 2017

A friend had a much older man follow her to school daily, never told parents. Cos she knew somewhere she would be blamed #WomenOnTheMove https://t.co/2KIZFz4Pnz

— Aparna V Singh (@editorsahiba) August 9, 2017

A1. Yep. I moved. #WomenOntheMove

— BookBear (@MyBookJacket) August 9, 2017

A1. When I was college.I simply tried to ride by bicycle as fast as I can. #WomenOnTheMove

— Shipra Trivedi (@trivediship) August 9, 2017

So many times. Back in high school, on local trains, in the neighbourhood, at office, in college and today, online stalking

— Tina Sequeira (@tinajsequeira) August 9, 2017

I once told my friend that someone is following me in campus. He said you girls should be used to of this by now. This shows the prevalence

— SWAT (@swatianandsingh) August 9, 2017

Should movies, actors and directors be held accountable for perpetuating the idea of stalking as a way of professing love?

Movies mirror the society and vice versa. Actors and actresses are no less than demi-gods for people in India. No wonder if anyone dare speak against them, the “bhakts” take matters in their own hands by viciously trolling the mere mortal who dared to speak against their god without even verifying the facts or acknowledging the right to free speech. Now imagine, when these demi-gods dance to the tunes of “achi baat karli bahut, ab karenge gandi baat” or “tere peeche aaunga main, apna banaunga main, jayegi bach le kahaan“, the kind of dangerous message they inadvertently propagate!

Well media and society always reflect each other, though the medium is the message and mass media does influence impressionable minds deeply

— Pooja Sharma Rao (@SoulVersified) August 9, 2017

For sure they should. Like they refuse to do cosmetic or coke commercial. Refuse movies with such scripts.

— SWAT (@swatianandsingh) August 9, 2017

Yes. The onus lies on filmmakers to not portray following/chasing/harassing women as a legit method of wooing them. https://t.co/NUYsv6Hnw5

— Shuchi Singh Kalra (@shuchikalra) August 9, 2017

A3.’N’ numbers of movies hv shown how stalking leads 2 LOVE down the time.This for sure aggravates other boys 2 try the same #WomenOnTheMove

— Shipra Trivedi (@trivediship) August 9, 2017

We wouldn’t know about how certification works. But a conscience when making movies would go a long way.

— BookBear (@MyBookJacket) August 9, 2017

We don’t need any more laws, we need proper implementation of those laws to make women feel safe in their own country

Authorities shud first set examples with taking strict actions.This will encourage others to report such crime. 1/3 #WomenOnTheMove

— Shipra Trivedi (@trivediship) August 9, 2017

Well lit streets. Cctv cameras. Proper police patrolling. Help centers near colleges to mention a few.

— SWAT (@swatianandsingh) August 9, 2017

Let the patrol police punish offenders on the spot. Physical harm. Social shame. That should set salking minds straight https://t.co/6OWu59lygc

— Deepa Govind (@DeepaGovind) August 9, 2017

Practise what they preach themselves. They should take into task authorities who misbehave with women. Implement strict punishment.

— Tina Sequeira (@tinajsequeira) August 9, 2017

D basic hygience stuff lik ‘workin street lights, ‘functional’ cctvs, law n order wud help. Women can tk care of d rest #WomenOntheMove

— Nidhi Sethi (@iam_agog) August 9, 2017

And avoid victim blaming!

— Calling Out Stalking (@CallOutStalking) August 9, 2017

Image: You Tube

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