Will gendered spaces prevent sexual abuse?

How do segregated canteens, wearing salwars protect women?

I have mixed feelings about the incident, having studied in Miranda House as well as co-ed schools. I think the concept of a dress code is viewed in a very myopic way in this country. Corporate offices impose dress codes on both men and women. Even TV anchors are never seen wearing kurta-pajamas, and don dark coloured coats and ties instead, even in the sweltering summer. I have seen TV journalists on Haryanvi channels wearing formal Western dress. How could this have escaped us, while we scrutinise a school for imposing uniforms? If a college decides that women should not be wearing skimpy ridiculous garments, we should treat it with an equal footing. I would envy public school girls in their salwars when I wore a skirt on cold winter days. We accept the Western dress as a symbol of freedom and progress in this country which is ridiculous. As soon as someone errs on the side of the Indian dress code, it is seen as regressive. As for gendered spaces, sexual harassment will not be prevented from separating men and women but I can safely say that an all-women environment has its perks. Girls can relax without being conscious all the time and made fun of for their body and appearance, because young boys can get annoying. But this should not come at the cost of women being afraid. Women should be able to look men in the eye, and make them lower their gaze instead.

—Madhu Kishwar, academic, feminist and writer

Sexual harassment is a state of mind, which a gendered canteen or traditional uniforms will not be able to stop. Besides, this seems like a very cosmetic, knee-jerk reaction. I think there should be awareness programmes centred around boys to reinvent their thinking. But this is a long-term solution. Short term: families as well as schools should take a stand. Boys should not be pampered into thinking that their actions will not have consequences. Those who break the law by ogling, stalking or worst, molesting, should be reprimanded accordingly. The current system allows culprits to get away with it.

—Olga Tellis, journalist

Spaces are always gendered, some more secure, as compared to others. Gender segregation will not prevent sexual harassment. Gendered spaces are counterproductive and will not prevent sexual harassment. The real world does not function like this. Addressing the larger issue of why it happens is crucial, and a zero-tolerance policy is needed. Uniforms too, especially at a tertiary level, prevents students from expressing themselves, and positive differences from emerging. Boys and girls should be like each other, and prescribed behaviour along the lines of ‘boys will be boys’ is befuddling and regressive. If we prescribe gendered spaces and salwar-kameezes to young adults, they will not learn the concept of consent and women will not be equipped to protect themselves in the future.

—Shoma Choudhury, HOD of Sociology, St Xaviers, Kolkata

Source: DNA, 9-02-2017