Yesterday, on February 17, 2025, while returning from a shop, I noticed a girl carrying a big steel container. She was walking on the side of the footpath, busy scrolling through her mobile. Footpaths in many places are not well-maintained—some are occupied by shopkeepers, while others are used as garbage dumps, forcing pedestrians to walk on the road.
What caught my attention was a group of three boys, probably aged between 15 and 20, speeding on a single bike. As they passed the girl, they deliberately swerved close to her, trying to tease her. She was startled for a moment, glared at them, stepped back onto the footpath, and resumed scrolling her phone. The two boys sitting behind laughed shamelessly and sped away.
When I told my wife about this, she simply said, “This is common; girls don’t pay attention to such acts.” Her words upset me. This incident reminded me of something similar that happened years ago, proving that such harassment has been persistent over time. I was accompanying my sister to her PG accommodation. At a railway station, some miscreants hanging onto a moving train shouted vulgar words. I don’t remember their faces or exact words, but I still recall the anger and helplessness I felt. My sister ignored them and told me not to create a fuss.
Such incidents make me furious. Men and women were meant to coexist with mutual respect. Yet, society has distorted this balance, often exploiting vulnerabilities rather than uplifting strengths.
Can we even imagine what goes through the mind of someone who lives in constant fear of being harassed? And what about their parents? I’m not referring to high-profile cases like the Kolkata rape case or the Delhi Nirbhaya case. There are countless incidents happening daily, showing how some so-called “gentlemen” are turning into sick-minded individuals. This issue is not just about education—it is about a culture that is shifting from ethics, freedom, and humanity to ego-driven and pleasure-seeking behavior.
We are living in a world where social media is replacing real interactions. People are getting addicted to quick bursts of happiness, losing self-control, and running away from struggles.
The fear isn’t limited to the adult women alone. A few days ago, I faced a similar situation when a young man, around 20, tried to harass us while I was on a bike with my daughter. She is too young to understand such intentions. She often asks me to let her walk home alone from the bus stop, but I keep delaying that experience so she can enjoy her childhood a little longer.
I recently joined a language-learning app where people practice languages with strangers. It was no surprise to see female users from around the world with bios saying, “No DMs,” “Don’t contact if you’re a pervert,” and “No romantic chats, please.” Three years ago, I blocked some pedophile on Instagram and locked my daughter’s profile so only family and friends could see her achievements. Many parents must be doing the same. Whose fault is it? Is it the fault of those sharing happy moments on social media, the people making others uncomfortable, or the platforms themselves for allowing such behavior to intrude on someone’s independence?
Social media platforms have become a virtual society where people from different cultures interact. It is necessary to define cultural boundaries and enforce strict guidelines on content. An adult content warning is not enough. Advanced filtering algorithms can be developed to restrict content based on age, ethnicity, or cultural sensitivity.
Telegram has blocked more than 15 million channels and groups this year that shared content that violated the partner network’s usage policies, and banned more than 700,000 that were related to child sexual exploitation content. Who is responsible here? Is it the people with a twisted mindset who lack respect for others and even themselves, or the social platforms that allow such content to spread until someone complains?
Casual sexism in language isn’t just limited to street harassment—it thrives in entertainment too, where vulgarity often gets rewarded as humor. I remember a local comedy show where the host said a bad word, paused, and the audience burst into laughter. If you have any of these qualities, you can probably make a career in stand-up comedy:
- Use slang.
- Talk about private body parts.
- Make jokes about sex and relationships.
- If nothing else works, abuse your own family members and disrespect the relationship in jokes.
Today, I watched the movie Chhaava (छावा), which left me emotional. It wasn’t just about a king who gave his life to protect his land, culture, and people—I kept comparing it to the world we live in today, where people can’t even respect others in their language. Forget about vulgar stand-up comedy shows with billions of views—how many men do you know who never use bad words about women? It’s common to hear such language in offices, friend circles, and even homes. Many men justify it by saying, “We don’t mean it,” or “We only talk like this when women aren’t around.” Using vulgar language about women, even in their absence, reflects weak character.
OTT platforms are filled with content where women are included not to add depth to the story but merely to attract audiences for momentary gratification. These platforms don’t even provide clear warnings about whether a show is suitable for family viewing, leading to awkward moments where people have to keep skipping ahead to find a ‘safe’ point to resume. Some kids, mature beyond their age, pretend nothing happened by distracting themselves. This embarrassment is becoming a daily reality for anyone using these media platforms. I will probably cover this issue further, along with possible solutions that OTT platforms and Social media platforms can easily implement, in another post.
We live in a society that we ourselves have built, creating rules to protect the vulnerable. Many laws were introduced in the past to safeguard women, which may have been necessary at the time. However, as society evolved, these rules were never revisited or updated. Many free-thinking individuals had to raise their voices against outdated norms to bring about change. Instead of blaming social media, shouldn’t we question why some men still view women as mere child-bearers, and why some women reinforce the idea of girls being objects of pleasure?
I am not ignoring the struggles of men who also deserve respect or those who face exploitation from either gender. Neither am I supporting toxic feminism or the women who contribute to harmful stereotypes. The purpose of this article is to encourage small but meaningful changes in our behavior and language—changes that promote respect for others. We must also take a stand against the normalization of obscene content on OTT platforms and social media, which is making the younger generation impulsive and emotionally weak. And finally, I want to applaud all the girls who, despite having a thousand unsettled and suppressed thoughts, still manage to appear calm.
Change starts with each of us—through the words we use, the behaviors we tolerate, and the respect we show. Let’s make sure no one has to silently struggle anymore.
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