From Jamui to Delhi, the burden of safety from sexual assault cannot fall on women

For women in India, daily life is often a constant oscillation between anxiety and anger. The anxiety stems from the mental labor of calculating personal safety—scrutinizing clothing choices, routes, and timing—while the anger arises from the absurdity of this reality and the relentless reports of sexual violence. Recent incidents, including a viral video of harassment in Bihar and the alleged gang-rape of a teenager in Delhi, have reignited national outrage. Yet, instead of systemic change, the immediate response from authorities often involves restricting women’s movements, such as closing public parks or moving college classes online, effectively punishing the victims for the crimes committed against them.

Data underscores the severity of this crisis, with a recent survey revealing that 65% of women in New Delhi and 29% in Bengaluru experienced public harassment in the past year. Feminist activist Kavita Krishnan describes this as a widespread form of gender-based violence, while author Meena Kandasamy notes that regulating women is a cost-free way for the state to signal action to concerned parents. Despite this, political responses remain dismissive; some officials have labeled incidents as isolated or suggested that moral policing could be handled more elegantly, reflecting a political culture where accountability for gender-based crimes is frequently treated as optional.

This pattern of repression operates at three levels: the family, the community, and the state. At home, it manifests as arbitrary curfews; in the community, as victim-blaming; and by the state, as the restriction of public spaces. Kandasamy argues that these institutions view women not as citizens or adults, but as inanimate, precious objects that must be locked away to prevent theft. This approach ignores the root causes of violence, such as patriarchal conditioning and the failure to address why public spaces are unsafe regardless of the time of day or the clothing worn by women.

Resistance is growing, however, as students from Delhi University and other institutions demand structural improvements, such as better street lighting, accessible public toilets, and increased safety measures. Activists argue that locking up parks only reserves them for men, rather than making them safe for everyone. They are calling for political parties to take a firm stance by refusing to grant positions or electoral tickets to individuals accused of sexual harassment, aiming to dismantle the culture of impunity that allows such violence to persist at the highest levels of government.

Looking ahead, the path to safety requires a fundamental shift in societal mentality, beginning with how boys are raised and how families view gender roles. Experts emphasize that those in positions of authority must actively challenge patriarchal norms rather than reinforcing them. Until the state and society stop treating women as a problem to be managed and start addressing the systemic roots of sexual violence, the burden of safety will continue to be unfairly placed on those who are most vulnerable, leaving the cycle of repression and violence largely unbroken.