Sexual Harassment of Men: A Hidden Epidemic

“Men can take care of themselves”

Sexual Harassment of Men?? Sounds wired right…. In Indian society, the thought of a woman sexually harassing a guy is still unimaginable. The impulse of people to see male victims of sexual harassment as "feminine" or "weak" makes it even more difficult for males to talk openly about such situations. The disbelief surrounding sexual harassment of men by women in India can also be attributed to the absence of data/statistics on this issue.

The POSH Act, which stands for the Prevention of Sexual Harassment of Women at the Workplace, is a landmark legislation in India aimed at preventing sexual harassment in the workplace.

It defines sexual harassment broadly, including unwelcome acts or behavior with sexual intent that interfere with a woman's work performance or create a hostile work environment. While it specifically addresses women's protection and there is no doubt that crimes against women are growing rapidly all over the world, it is equally true that men commit crimes. It is wrong that little attention is devoted to men's wrongdoings or the drawbacks they face in society. Many individuals feel that males are susceptible to sexual harassment. This conduct is so weird to them that they consider it an act of deception.

In rare cases, a female offender may use sexual harassment legislation against the guy if he refuses to give in to her sexual advances.

This idea came up in the 2004 film Aitraaz, starring Priyanka Chopra and Akshay Kumar, in which the lead character, Raj Malhotra (played by Akshay Kumar), faces charges of rape by his employer's wife, Sonia (played by Priyanka Chopra) after Raj refuses to give to Sonia's sexual demands.

Statistics and Data

According to Roberta Chinsky Matuson, “Many people believe that sexual harassment is limited to female”

Men's sexual harassment is a serious issue in India, yet it is frequently underreported and under-discussed. According to a National Commission for Women research from 2022, 1.4% of males in India had experienced sexual harassment, and 3,000 incidences of sexual assault on men were documented in India in 2022. This represents a huge increase from the 2,500 recorded cases in 2021.

According to a poll conducted in 2023 by the Centre for Civil Society, nearly 18% of Indian adult men surveyed reported being pressured or forced to participate in marital relations. 16% identified a female perpetrator, whereas 2% claimed a male perpetrator.

Another poll, conducted by the Economic Times, discovered that 29 to 43 percent of respondents agreed that they were harassed by female coworkers.

It is crucial to remember, however, that these figures only include incidents that were reported to the police. According to experts, the true number of incidents of sexual harassment of males is much higher. This is because many men are hesitant to disclose sexual harassment for fear of shame and sanctions.

Societal Stigma

One of the most difficult problems in dealing with sexual harassment of men in Indian society is the shame associated with sexual harassment of men. This is due in part to the social customs that males are required to adhere to. As a result, males who are sexually harassed are most of the time afraid to report it.

Only a woman may be deemed a victim of sexual harassment in India, and only a male can be the offender. The Indian Penal Code, of 1860, does not consider it a crime when a male is the victim.

The Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition, and Redressal) Act was enacted for the first time in 2013, with protections confined to women and their modesty.

Is this because of the lack of workplace sexual harassment against men in India?

No, as it turns out, males in India are often sexually harassed.

Furthermore, many people in India do not believe that sexual harassment may happen in males. This is because sexual harassment is frequently seen as a crime against women. As a result, guys who claim sexual harassment may face suspicion or falsehoods.

Legal Framework

The Indian Penal Code (IPC) defines sexual harassment as any unwanted sexual approach, request for sexual favors, or any sexually motivated verbal, nonverbal, or physical action. Sexual harassment is a crime that can result in up to three years in jail and/or a fine.

Still, the IPC makes no mention of male sexual harassment victims. As a result, several allegations of male sexual harassment have been rejected by the courts.

The Supreme Court of India determined in 2015 that rape can be committed against both men and women. This decision marked a significant step forward for the rights of male sexual assault victims. However, more must be done to guarantee that male sexual harassment victims have access to justice.

According to G Pramod Kumar, The People’s Union of Civil Liberties had this to say about Tihar way back in 1981: “When a young boy enters, the prisoners have been known to have bid a price for the boy. The price offered is in terms of ‘bidis’, soap or charas. Often prisoners have been divided into camps and the groups have fought each other on the issue of who shall have the new entrant”.

Sexual harassment of men requires more intent than any other climbing crime or issue because male suicides at workplaces are 4 times more than female suicides at workplaces.

Gender-neutral laws have been found accepted in approximately 77 countries around the world including, the U.K., Denmark, Australia, the U.S., and many more. But, disturbingly, the Indian Parliament has repeatedly rebuffed to make laws against sexual harassment gender-neutral in India. This problem of sexual harassment with males is more frequently taking place in prisons.

Conclusion

Sexual harassment of men is a serious but under-reported issue in Indian society. Although there are laws against Sexual Harassment they primarily protect women and provide little protection to male victims, recent data shows that cases of sexual harassment of men have increased and experts also believe the actual number is much higher but is not reported due to stigma.

In India, there is a need for Gender-Neutral Law and greater respect for male sexual assault victims, other countries have passed similar legislation, but India has not yet done so. To change this scenario, Prejudice must be broken, open dialogue encouraged and legislative reforms implemented to provide justice to all victims regardless of Gender. By doing so, we can create a safer and more inclusive society for everyone.