Men can also be victims of sexual harassment, just ask these DU guys
After a few cases of sexual harassment reported by male students of Delhi University, the University Grants Commission (UGC) has introduced guidelines for male students to lodge a complaint against sexual harassment. A good idea, or not? We got talking to students about the UGC’s move. And as expected, we got a mixed response. Here’s what the guys said.
Can men be sexually harassed? Of course! But sadly, a majority of the world’s male population doesn’t believe or want to believe so, making it difficult for male victims of harassment to get justice, or even be heard. But things are slowly changing, even on campus. After a few cases of sexual harassment reported by male students of Delhi University, the University Grants Commission (UGC) has introduced guidelines for male students to lodge a complaint against sexual harassment. A good idea, or not? We got talking to students about the UGC’s move. And as expected, we got a mixed response. Here’s what the guys said:
“This makes me laugh. Why would a man need a committee? I think the need of the hour is to open up some boys colleges so that the chances of getting into a good college gets manifold. Girls already have good and separate colleges. I don’t know why the authorities don’t consider other important issues rather than making a harassment committee. Ladkon ko kaun chedega?” says Vibhor Chanda of Shivaji College.
Read: 40% Delhi women were sexually harassed in 2015. Mostly during daytime
“It’s a great initiative. Looking at the past incidents against boys, the committee would be a hope for us. Wrong things could happen to anybody. Also, boys should understand that the committee will not dent their tag of Mard so they should free feel to go and register complaints, if they face any,” says Taranjeet Singh of Shri Guru Nanak Dev Khalsa College.
“I don’t think it is necessary. I spend most of my time in the North Campus and have never seen any such scene happening in and around. It’s an unnecessary step. Boys are self sufficient to protect themselves against harassment and molestation. We don’t need an authority to talk to about it,” says Robin Kundu of Hindu College.
Read: It’s a man’s world: 7 sexual harassment cases that rocked India
“Nowadays, a lot of false allegations are being made against males. The committee will work as a rescue team for us and at least there will be a place where we could go and register a complaint against unfair deeds. We all should come forward and support this step rather finding it against machoism,” says Pulkit Agarwal of PGDAV College.
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