Eve teasing research?

[Sharon Talboys]

Hi - My name is Sharon and I am a PhD student in Public Health from the University of Utah, USA.

I have been researching gender equity in rural Punjab through a community-based participatory collaboration with rural villages, a community based organization, and an Indian school of public health.  Eve teasing emerged as a community concern and seems to constrain young women from a variety of activities.  Young women suggested it can lead to depression and suicide.  Young women in India, especially in rural areas, outpace their male peers in suicide.  Some studies suggest it is partly due to gender disadvantages.(see Vikram Patel, et al)  Eve teasing may be one of these disadvantages.

As such, my research is focused on the mental health impact of eve teasing on female youth ages 15-24.  The literature on 'eve teasing', 'sexual harassment', 'public sexual harassment', or 'street harassment' seems to be quite limited.  Even the concept of sexual harassment seems to vary a great deal by person and context.  I am looking to connect with anyone who has looked into qualitative or quantitative measurement of eve teasing, attitudes about eve teasing, and perceived consequences.  

In some ways, I think eve teasing is similar to bullying, where, in the US, research on bullying has shown a clear link to depression and suicide.  Please let me know if you agree... or not.  I appreciate hearing from you if you have comments, suggestions, or information about similar studies.

Best Regards, 

Sharon Talboys, MPH

Public Health Doctoral Student

University of Utah, USA

[e-mail]

[Sharon Brisolara]

You might want to search for literature using the terms gender-based violence and mental health for links to measurements and research. These are terms used by WHO and many international development agencies.

[Rituu B Nanda]

Hi Sharon,

This article might be of help to you http://www.legalserviceindia.com/articles/etea.htm

Warmly,

Rituu

[Lena Ganesh]

Dear Sharon,

This is from what I have written earlier and may be of use:

"The term ‘eve-teasing’, a colonial relic, has little or no relevance to harmless fun, interplay, banter, flirting or joking between women and men that are evoked by the term ‘teasing’. The Hindī ‘chedhnā’, since it means ‘to tease’ as well as ‘to provoke’, gives a slightly better sense of the practices of sexual harassment. However, even ‘chedhnā’ has distinct power implications in that it is a provocative, aggressive act inviting a response as an assertion of equality but often initiated by the more powerful against the more contained. In this, the initiator not only begins with an upper hand but often succeeds in reinforcing the sub-dominant position of the other. Sexual harassment is characterised by sexual aggression and sexual humiliation."

So yes, the links of verbal, visual and physical sexual harassment to women's mental health is strong. Apart from this, one of the strongest effects it has is on women's access to mobility and thence to access to education, health, knowledge, economic opportunity.

If this is useful, there are some other references that can be collated.

Regards,

Lena

[e-mail]

 

[Sharon Brisolara]

Here's another article for consideration to go with the post below:

http://blogs.wsj.com/indiarealtime/2013/04/21/the-term-eve-teasing-...

[Krinna Shah]

Hello Sharon,

Two thingS I  would like to bring to your notice: a) Do see The Protection of Children form Sexual Offences Act, 2012 and http://delhi.gov.in/wps/wcm/connect/doit_dcpcr/DCPCR/Home/

Guidelines for the Prevention of Child Abuse to see the concern of below 18 children on the subject you are researching in India. 

b)  You might like to see eve teasing as one of the reasons for which parents get their children, mainly girls married assuming that it makes them safe. Same is the reason why girls' education is discontinued sooner when schools are bit away from home. 

Feel free to get in touch

Warm regards, 

Krinna Shah

[Krinna Shah]

Hello Sharon, 

In continuation of my reply to you  I feel that you could see  'The Girl Who Lost Her Name' directed by Udayan Namboodiri  ( Reference:  https://www.facebook.com/events/706085526083346/?ref=22)

You might like to find the mental health concerns here not in the direct context of your research, never the less useful. 

Warmly,

Krinna

[Sharon Talboys]

Thank you Sharon, this is quite helpful!

Sharon Brisolara said:

You might want to search for literature using the terms gender-based violence and mental health for links to measurements and research. These are terms used by WHO and many international development agencies.

[Sharon Talboys]

Thank you!

Rituu B Nanda said:

Hi Sharon,

This article might be of help to you http://www.legalserviceindia.com/articles/etea.htm

Warmly,

Rituu

[Sharon Talboys]

Krinna, 

Thank you so much.  Your links are especially pertinent, as my study question came from my previous research into school dropout in secondary education.  

Krinna Shah said:

Hello Sharon,

Two thingS I  would like to bring to your notice: a) Do see The Protection of Children form Sexual Offences Act, 2012 and http://delhi.gov.in/wps/wcm/connect/doit_dcpcr/DCPCR/Home/

Guidelines for the Prevention of Child Abuse to see the concern of below 18 children on the subject you are researching in India. 

b)  You might like to see eve teasing as one of the reasons for which parents get their children, mainly girls married assuming that it makes them safe. Same is the reason why girls' education is discontinued sooner when schools are bit away from home. 

Feel free to get in touch

Warm regards, 

Krinna Shah

[Krinna Shah]

Sharon,

Would love to be informed on progress made in your research.... we work on preventing child marriage among other issues on child rights and child protection. 

thanks 

Krinna

Sharon Talboys said:

Krinna, 

Thank you so much.  Your links are especially pertinent, as my study question came from my previous research into school dropout in secondary education.  

Krinna Shah said:

Hello Sharon,

Two thingS I  would like to bring to your notice: a) Do see The Protection of Children form Sexual Offences Act, 2012 and http://delhi.gov.in/wps/wcm/connect/doit_dcpcr/DCPCR/Home/

Guidelines for the Prevention of Child Abuse to see the concern of below 18 children on the subject you are researching in India. 

b)  You might like to see eve teasing as one of the reasons for which parents get their children, mainly girls married assuming that it makes them safe. Same is the reason why girls' education is discontinued sooner when schools are bit away from home. 

Feel free to get in touch

Warm regards, 

Krinna Shah