Sexual Harassment and Female Students of Kashmir Universities: (Con)testing spaces in Public Transportation

Abstract

This paper attempts to investigate the experiences of sexual harassment and its associated consequences among female students of Kashmir universities on public transportation. It argues that sexual harassment is a distressing issue impacting not just the personal safety of female students but also creating a broader culture of fear and discomfort for women using public transport. Sexual harassment and other forms of sexual offenses in public spaces are common for women across the globe, a recurring problem around the world, with every nation taking its stand to deal with its consequences. This is a qualitative study based on 50 oral narratives conducted over time with female students of the universities of Kashmir (India) experiencing sexual harassment while travelling on public transport. It also included five semi-structured interviews of eyewitnesses who have observed sexual harassment on public transport. The evidence-based findings revealed that the female students of the universities of Kashmir have experienced diverse forms of sexual harassment, significantly impacting their health and well-being. Notably, toucherism and leering have emerged as a particularly concerning aspect of the pervasive problem.