What Is Eve Teasing? A Mixed Methods Study of Sexual Harassment of Young Women in the Rural Indian Context

Abstract

Eve teasing was identified as a significant community problem through a community-based participatory process with nine villages in Punjab, India. Eve teasing is a common euphemism in South Asia for sexual harassment of women in public areas by men. The purpose of this study was to characterize the meaning of eve teasing in the rural context, especially among female youth, and to develop a means to measure its occurrence. Mixed methods were utilized including focus group discussions (FGDs), semistructured interviews, and direct observation of questionnaire administration. Thirty-four people participated in six FGDs; two with adolescent boys ( n = 10), two with adolescent girls ( n = 15), and two with women ages 20 to 26 years ( n = 9). Eighty-nine females, ages 14 to 26 years, were recruited through purposive sampling for face-to-face interviews in homes and schools. Twenty-four interviews were observed directly to aid questionnaire development. Eve teasing was described as staring, stalking, passing comments, and inappropriate physical touch. Perceived consequences of eve teasing included tight restrictions on girls’ mobility, inability to attend school or work, girls being blamed, and causing family problems. FGD participants suggested that eve teasing can lead to depression and suicide. Among the 36 (40.4%) interview participants who reported eve teasing, 61.1% reported feelings of anger, 47.2% reported feelings of shame or humiliation, and more than one third reported feelings of fear, worry, or tension. The questionnaire offers a means to assess the occurrence of eve teasing that is culturally relevant and age appropriate for female youth in India.

Adolescent girls’ health, nutrition and wellbeing in rural eastern India: a descriptive, cross-sectional community-based study

“…Eve-teasing is a common form of emotional and sexual violence against girls, and includes “staring, stalking, passing comments, and inappropriate physical touch” by boys and men [42]. Consequences for girls may include restrictions on mobility, inability to go to school or work, blame and disrespect from family members [42]. Parents were the most common perpetrators of violence against girls in our study and around a quarter reported witnessing violence between their parents.…”

“…Emotional violence was highly prevalent in our study and included being insulted, humiliated and intimidated. Eve-teasing is a common form of emotional and sexual violence against girls, and includes “staring, stalking, passing comments, and inappropriate physical touch” by boys and men [42]. Consequences for girls may include restrictions on mobility, inability to go to school or work, blame and disrespect from family members [42].…”

Adolescents’ experiences of street harassment: creating a typology and assessing the emotional impact

“…Stranger harassment in public spaces also reduces women's perceptions of safety while travelling alone at night (Macmillian et al, 2000) and such experiences indirectly contribute to restricted movements (Fairchild and Rudman, 2008). Adolescent and young adult experiences of 'Eva teasing' (a form of street harassment) are associated with negative emotions and restricted movements (Talboys et al, 2017), avoidance of school (Bhagavatheeswaran et al, 2016), and poorer mental health outcomes and suicidal ideation (Talboys, 2015). Further, adolescent females are twice as likely as adolescent males to report Running head: STREET HARASSMENT TYPOLOGY 6 worrying about stranger danger when considering neighbourhood safety (Craver et al, 2008), more frequently report a sense of unease when they are stared at by a stranger or are alone at night in the street (Zani et al, 2001), and are more likely to experience street harassment (Meza-de-Luna and García-Falconi, 2015).…”

Understanding young women’s experiences of gender inequality in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh through story circles

“…Gender norms also manifest through harassment and violence, daily realities for many young women in India. Eve teasing (street harassment) and sexual harassment have far-reaching consequences, including both short and long-term socio-emotional consequences and limited access to education for victims (Talboys et al, 2017). Participants' stories highlighted harassment experienced on public transportation, which other studies have found to be commonplace (Dhillon & Bakaya, 2014;Gekoski, Gray, Adler, & Horvath, 2017;Leach & Sitaram, 2007;Tripathi, Borrion, & Belur, 2017).…”