Sonalde Desai on sexual harassment in India
Comments on how "eve-teasing" could have health and economic consequences
Faculty associate Sonalde Desai, in her recent opinion editorial for The Hindu, used data from two waves of the India Human Development Survey (IHDS) to demonstrate that the prevalence of harassment at the neighborhood level as reported by men and women within households increased from 14% and 20% respectively in 2004-05, to 21% for men and 31% for women in 2011-12 . It is unclear whether this rise represents an actual increase in harassment or a greater likelihood of reporting. Regardless, instances and perceptions of sexual harassment can influence key decisions that women and their families make, including where and when women can travel, and whether they can access healthcare and other facilities alone.