Perceptions Of Harassment And Safety Among Women In Urban Public Space

Women in urban public space endure various forms violence which obstructs their basic rights and liberty as equal citizens. Street harassment is one such unnoticed violence that profoundly impacts on the consciousness, physical and mental well-being and social life of women. The paper tries to reflect upon the issue of women's safety, exclusion and fear in public spaces by looking at the violence experienced by young women in form of ‘street harassment'. The data was collected from 160 university and college girls from Amritsar City of Punjab. Three focus group interviews were also conducted. It was found that girls/women do not consider themselves as equals in their right over the public spaces. Findings revealed that majority of the girls reported themselves as abused in more than fifty percent of their movement on street. The respondents also felt that it is not just patriarchy to be blamed but also the way public policies are designed and places are constructed, and managed that promote scope for such behavior. The study also brings to light the disturbing trend that majority of the women worry about their safety on street and the impact of such behavior on their lives. The article intends to expand the current societal understanding of street harassment and contribute to the conversation about its potential remedies and also to suggest that safety and inclusivity should be prioritized in urban planning and policy.