PRELIMINARY SURVEY REPORT ON GENDER
DISCRIMINATION AND SEXUAL VIOLENCE ON THE PANJAB UNIVERSITY CAMPUS
Universities
are considered to be centers of excellence and learning which have a huge
responsibility to educate the society emancipating it from all sorts of superstition,
discrimination and irrational practices.
Recently,
SFS conducted a survey in Girls’ Hostels regarding Gender Discrimination and
Sexual Violence in our Campus. The
study was conducted amidst 500 girls. The data revealed shocking findings that
expose the patriarchal and undemocratic environment in the campus and
anti-woman attitude of the authorities of Panjab University.
GENDER DISCRIMINATION PREVAILS: When asked about the environment in the
campus, 83.79% girls said Gender Discrimination prevails in the campus. A peculiar
phenomenon was also observed as there was a section of girls (11.9%) who did
recognize the prevalence of eve-teasing and other anti-woman practices, but
didn’t recognise it as gender discrimination.
FORMS OF GENDER DISCRIMINATION: When asked in what forms does it manifest in
the campus:
- Eve-teasing: 71.53%
- Hostel timings: 49.66%
- Access to the Central Library: 31.89%
- Molestation (by professors or anyone): 18.91%
- Unnecessary hostel fines: 51.71%
Other forms
were also pointed out by the girls like
- Rude behavior of wardens and authorities with girls
- Gates of girls’ hostels are closed at certain festivals like Valentine’s Day and Holi, when girls are not allowed to go out of even their hostels, leave alone campus.
- No female staff in hostel mess and canteens.
FOUR-WHEELERS:
As
four-wheelers which roam around in the campus serve as means to perpetuate
eve-teasing (especially outside the Girls’ Hostels premises), 69.53% of the
girls said that they should be banned. While other 5.35% said that outsiders’
vehicles be banned.
ANTI-WOMAN SONGS
81.84% of
the girls said that songs that demean the girls/are humiliating to
them/commodify them/present them as sex objects shouldn’t be allowed to be
played publically.
DRESS CODE
96.81% of
the girls said that it shouldn’t be authorities or anybody’s business to tell
girls what to wear. While other 0.46% said that there should be a dress code
for both boys and girls.
ROLE OF AUTHORITIES
According to
74.06% of the girls, authorities don’t put any efforts to eradicate or even
have a check on the prevailing gender discrimination. While other 3.54% said
they make negligible or heartless efforts.
NEED FOR AN ACTIVE AND DEMOCRATIC BODY TO
TACKLE SEXUAL HARASSMENT
91.44% girls
said that an active body to tackle sexual harassment is needed with the
participation of students. While 0.23 said it will be of no use. (However it
should be noted that while conducting the survey no girl was aware of a body
called PUCASH that authorities claimed to exist when a memorandum was submitted
to VC.)
PARTICIPATION IN POLITICS
87.74% of
the girls said that girls should participate in the student politics and it
shouldn’t be a reserve for boys only. Girls stressed that the participation of
girls in decision making is minimal and so need to participate in student
politics becomes even more important as issues related to women are being
ignored and go unaddressed.
As this survey
reveals, the university has failed to provide for an environment free from
discrimination. Girls are subjected to various forms of gender violence on
daily basis. The authorities are negligent of the gravity of the issue. They
take no measures to address the issue and on the contrary show callous attitude
whenever these issues are brought to the fore. The girl students are left to
their own, suffering from the ire of the prejudices against them. The
university may have received the honor of being the number one university in
the country, but it has failed 70% of its students.
The survey
has brought to light the need to intensify the struggle against patriarchal
mindsets. There is strong need to take measures to tackle the ongoing
discrimination and sexual harassment. A
detailed report of the survey will be published by SFS soon.
In the light of above, SFS recently submitted
a memorandum for activation and democratization of PUCASH. The authorities promised to work upon it and
suggestions from students were asked for the same. This is just one step, much more is needed to
tackle these issues. We appeal all to come forward and fight the prevailing
patriarchy in the university and in society as whole.
