PROCESS OF GROWING UP

Activity 1: Understanding and challenging Domestic Violence

Summing Up: Wife beating is not justified under any circumstance There is nothing shameful in sharing one’s experiences of violence and abuse with a trusted person/ institution. In fact, it is an act of courage to ask for timely assistance and support Schools can play a vital role in instilling attitudes that strongly discourage violence in any form and empower young people to counter it The ‘Youth in India: Situation and Needs Survey’ conducted by Indian Institute of Population Sciences and Population Council in clearly shows that wife-beating is still accepted in society. We should be ashamed of accepting wife- beating. It shows a brutal and violent mindset. Such behaviour cannot be acceptable to a democratic and cultured society. It needs to change. Young people should resolve never to accept such a practice, and work against it whenever possible.

Activity 2: Understanding and challenging sexual abuse and violations

Summing Up: Abuse can be of various kinds, from emotional, physical, economic and sexual. It can happen with all kinds of people, irrespective of class, caste, educational status, urban-rural locations Both boys and girls are vulnerable to sexual abuse Non-consensual sexual experiences exist along a continuum, from threats and intimidation to unwanted touch, to rape. Coercion is defined by individual’s lack of choice to pursue other options without severe social and physical consequences. Research shows that these experiences have lasting physical and psychological consequences Contd…..

Activity 2: Understanding and challenging sexual abuse and violations Sexual harassment is any behaviour of a sexual nature perpetrated by one individual on another without his/her consent. Sexual harassment may be verbal or physical, done only once or repeatedly. It can occur between people of different genders or those of the same gender and may occur in a variety of relationships Child sexual abuse exists all over the world, in different cultures and communities. Child sexual abuse includes any exploitative sexual activity by a person who, by virtue of their power over a child, due to age, strength, position or relationship uses the child to meet their sexual or emotional needs In a recent nationwide survey in India in which 12,447 children across 13 states participated; 50% children reported some form of sexual abuse. Fifty three percent victims were boys. Contd…..

Activity 2: Understanding and challenging sexual abuse and violations Often times, the abuser is a relative or friend of the family or a person in a position of power making it very difficult for the victim to disclose the experience as well as the identity of the abuser Incidents of sexual harassment and abuse often go unreported. Children and young people who are sexually abused may find it difficult to disclose these experiences be-cause of multiple fears: fear of remembering the incident/s, fear of losing love from their family, shame, guilt or even fear of blame or not being believed. Hence, parents and school officials should inspire sufficient confidence in their children/wards so that they can trust them with difficult experiences of sexual abuse. Rather than blaming the victim, every possible support should be extended to him/her. Schools have a very important role in preventing sexual harassment and abuse. Parent and teacher bodies like the Parent Teacher Associations may be able to establish mechanisms to facilitate reporting of sexual harassment and to support those who complain. Contd…..

Activity 2: Understanding and challenging sexual abuse and violations Schools should also invest in confidence-building sessions so that students can reach out to school authorities with their complaints. Schools could designate counselors/ teachers to listen to students in privacy on a regular basis should they want to share their experiences. Mechanisms of complaining anonymously may also encourage reporting. Appropriate steps must be taken on the basis of complaints made by the students All of us should work sincerely to challenge sexual abuse or harassment of any kind, whenever it occurs. Contd…..

Activity 2: Understanding and challenging sexual abuse and violations We should understand how social norms often lead to abusive behaviour. For instance, a boy may misunderstand when a girl says ‘no’ to him because he feels she can never say ‘yes’ (society does not let her express her wishes honestly, especially positive expression of sexuality). Also, a society which has a lot of inequalities may accept high levels of violence against all those considered ‘weaker’ (women, working class, dalit castes etc). Girls may be abused as a form of punishment when they try to step out of prescribed gender stereotypes. We must all work together to challenge and change the unequal social norms, including norms regarding gender and sexuality. These unfair norms keep on perpetuating gender discrimination, sexual harassment, violent and abusive behaviour.