I Think: Let’s talk about husbands, uncles, the ‘every day’ stories
Jeroze Bhadha, cabin crew member, Mumbai
As a cabin crew member, safety is my primary function. Although cases of sexual harassment are not very common on aircrafts, we must still be proactive and keep our eyes open. I once requested a man to change seats as he was sitting next to a girl child flying alone. It is our job to keep people safe, which includes this kind of safety.
When it comes to news on matters such as sexual harassment, I just want the basic facts. I prefer the newspaper to television news. I don’t like to watch channels where there are experts screaming at the top of their voices, saying the same things over and over again. They are only sensationalising matters.
The media probably reports only 1 per cent of what is happening. The media is a business after all. I do believe they only pick out the stories that sell or gain them a larger viewership. The media should also be bringing out the stories that happen every day — where a husband rapes his wife, or an uncle molests a child.
An act of sexual violence is cruelty towards one’s own kind. The last incident I read was about a child who was raped. I did not follow it up because I felt very disgusted, especially with the men who did this. Children should not have to go through this. Children must be protected.
The media can play a huge role in education and social change. News channels should focus on this — social change is the need of the hour. The feudal attitude of “men are better than women” needs to change. A woman has every right to say yes or no to somebody, it is not a reflection on his manhood, it is her own lifestyle and choices, and she is entitled to it.
This is part of a series of articles that NewsTracker published from 25 November to 10 December as part of the #16Days activism, aligned with the UN’s International Day for Ending Violence Against Women. This piece was published on Day 6.
