When discussions about women's safety emerge on Indian streets, a troubling pattern often repeats itself: the focus shifts from perpetrators to what women were wearing, where they were going, or why they were out alone. This dangerous deflection ignores the real issues plaguing our public spaces.
The Real Culprit: Systemic Failures, Not Clothing Choices
Recent incidents have sparked familiar debates where commentators suggest that women's attire or behavior invites harassment. This perspective not only absolves perpetrators of responsibility but also shifts the burden of safety onto potential victims. The truth is, unsafe streets result from inadequate infrastructure, poor policing, and deep-rooted patriarchal attitudes—not from women's clothing choices.
What Actually Makes Streets Dangerous
- Poor lighting in public areas and residential neighborhoods
- Inadequate police presence and slow response times
- Lack of reliable public transport during evening hours
- Absence of gender-sensitive urban planning
- Cultural acceptance of street harassment as "normal" behavior
The Consequences of Misplaced Responsibility
When society focuses on telling women how to dress or when to go out, it creates several damaging outcomes. First, it normalizes the idea that harassment is an inevitable response to certain behaviors. Second, it discourages women from reporting incidents, fearing they'll be blamed. Most importantly, it allows authorities to avoid addressing the actual problems in our public safety systems.
Towards Meaningful Solutions
Instead of restricting women's freedom, we need comprehensive approaches that include better street lighting, increased police patrols, gender sensitivity training in schools, and swift legal action against perpetrators. Urban planning must prioritize women's safety through well-maintained public spaces and reliable transportation.
The conversation needs to shift from "what women should do to stay safe" to "what society must do to stop harassment." Until we address the systemic issues and hold perpetrators accountable, Indian streets will remain unsafe regardless of what women wear or where they go.
