When Elbows And Bags Become Weapons Against Groping

Brut India

Women often have to adopt an alarming number of hacks to feel safe and protected in crowded spaces. How many of these do you swear by?

Transcript

00:00Since I was a child, I've had many instances of getting groped in public.

00:05I'm constantly in fear of being groped or touched, simply because I'm a woman.

00:12Which is such a weird thing to say. It should not be happening to anybody, regardless of gender or age.

00:18I am very hyper-vigilant of all of my surroundings, like, my eyes and ears are wide open.

00:26And I am ready to pounce, should anything untoward happen.

00:30I always try to maintain one arm distance with any stranger.

00:35And I use my mobile less, so that I can focus more on my surroundings and my awareness.

00:41I never wear heels in a public place.

00:44Just in case I need to, like, run away from a situation.

00:47Makes me feel more confident, in case there's a need to, sort of, you know, run or walk fast or kick someone.

00:54When I carry my bag, I would hold it across my chest.

00:58Because this way, you know, my front feels protected.

01:01And my hands are left free to protect my bag, if needed.

01:04I carry huge bags with me, so that if there's somebody around me,

01:08I could actually use it as a shield or use it for my self-defense.

01:12I'm very aware of the things that I have in my bag, that I could fashion as a weapon.

01:17It could be a set of keys, a phone charger or a laptop charger.

01:21So I always carry a chili spray, and somehow it makes me feel safe.

01:24And then I walk like this, with my elbow outwards.

01:27So again, should anything go untoward, I just give the person a whack.

01:31So I'm always in a crossed hand position.

01:33Especially if I'm crossing, like, a crowded market or, like, a bus stop,

01:37I usually cover, like, my chest with my hands.

01:39And I put, like, my sling bag across my butt, so that nobody can grab me or grope me.

01:47I don't dress how I want.

01:49What I do is, I try to avoid wearing tight clothes.

01:52We wear very modest clothes, mostly Indian and salwar, along with the pattas,

01:59because it's more comfortable that way, working along with our local vendors or even other guests.

02:06If I'm wearing something sleeveless, then probably something that's loose.

02:09Another thing that I do usually during winters is to wear a shawl.

02:14I try and avoid taking public transportation.

02:17I make sure that when I'm traveling in a public transport, I don't fall asleep.

02:21Or check the GPS from time to time.

02:23Try to sit where the other women are sitting.

02:26And if that's not possible, I'll try to sit where the driver is,

02:29so that I can quickly alarm him if I feel uncomfortable in any way.

02:34Another thing that I do very consciously is to sit right behind the driver,

02:38so that there is lesser access.

02:41I try to keep my back sideways to avoid direct physical contact with any passenger.

02:48If the person next to me tends to move a lot so as to get a better position to touch me,

02:53or if the person sitting behind would try to slit their hand in between the seats,

02:58I would outright tell them to stop doing that in a stern voice,

03:03so they know that they cannot do that to a person.

03:06I do ensure I'm going in main roads in the night and not in like gullies,

03:13and ensure it's well lit, the area that I'm passing by.

03:18And while traveling in a metro, when I come out or get in,

03:21I make sure that I'm in a queue, because chances of being groped is maximum that time.

03:26If there is any man walking by or walking behind me, I usually speed up my pace.

03:34I either try to go towards where a lot of people are, so I can make some noise,

03:40and you know if that person insists and keeps coming behind.

03:44I ask my friends to accompany me if I'm going out somewhere.

03:48One thing that is always on my mind is how to keep myself safe.

03:51And it's very stressful to constantly be so alert and so aware.

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