What India is learning from movements like ‘#MeToo’ and ‘SlutWalk’

Different women coming out of their molestation and harassment story from their colleagues should not be go unheard but rather a through investigation should be done to punish the culprits

In the wake of harassment allegations by women in all parts of the globe and allegations on men taking unfair advantage at work, women colleagues have loomed women to raise their voices. From the past many years, these voices were pressed by patriarchal society but now feminism is on the new rise which demands equality and no discrimination.

The hashtag ‘#MeToo’ movement which started with Harvey Weinstein scandal where more than 80 women accused Hollywood giant of molesting, harassing and raping women from past 30 years.

Another event against gender discrimination is marking its fourth-year presence around the globe. ‘SlutWalk’ which spread the message of body positivity and gender equality saw a rise in a number of women joining this walk. Starting from 2015 women from the different nation have felt the need of such kind of movement to change the conservative views of the society.

India which has championed themselves in and women are now raising their voices against abusers. Some women from the media industry have recently disclosed the ugly face of the industry.

Be it Tanushree Dutta who in 2008 accused Nana Patekar of molesting her during the movie shoot has again raised the voice against the much self-disciplined actor to seek justice for her. Recently, a crew member of Phantom Films also accused Vikas Bahl of molesting her back in 2015.

The journalism fraternity is also looming from the molestation cases of the women journalist. Journalist Sandhya Menon tweeted against K.R. Sreenivas the resident editor of Times of India of making unsolicited advances at her in 2008. Menon also accused Editor-in-Chief of DNA Gautam Adhikari of kissing her without her consent. Former bureau chief of a metro edition of Times of India Sonora Jha also accused Adhikari of sexual assault who was then executive editor of the same newspaper.

Another journalist Avantika Mehta accused Prashant K Jha the national political editor of Hindustan Times of making sexual advances. Recently on October 5 Anoo Bhuyam of The Wire accused Mayank Jain of Business Standard of making unsolicited advances.

On October 4 writer Mahima Kukreja accused comic Utsav Chakraborty of sending her unsolicited pictures of his genitals. From past many days more than 12 female journalists have come out against their fellow mate for harassing them or taking some benefits.

The women in India are raising their voices against their colleagues for the harassment or molestation they have faced in the workplace. The urgent need of the hour is that these voices should not be gone unheard and justice should be given to all. The culprits should be jailed for the crime they possessed to set an example for the society.