Indicators of sexual harassment experienced by the rural school going adolescent girls in Punjab

Abstract

Women are often subjected to groping, suggestive remarks, whistling, catcalls and the like by men in public places like market, malls, streets and roads, movie halls, in buses etc. The present study to identify the indicators of sexual harassment experienced by rural school going adolescent girls was taken up in one block of Ludhiana district of Punjab state. The sample consisted of 200 respondents who were in the age range of 16-18 years and the data were collected using a self-structured questionnaire relating to various aspects of sexual harassment. Majority of the adolescent girls experienced verbal and non-verbal sexual harassment. Significant differences were observed in the physical sexual harassment experienced by the younger and older adolescents; older adolescents experienced more physical sexual harassment. The most common non-verbal indicators of sexual harassment experienced by the adolescents were whistling, winking and staring whereas receiving general comments and suggestive songs were identified as verbal indicators. Rubbing against in crowded places and pushing against in public transport were found to be the most prevalent form of physical sexual harassment.