A recent incident in Delhi highlights how unsafe and uncomfortable public spaces still feel for women in India. In an upscale neighbourhood, a woman and a photographer were conducting a photo shoot. Despite being in a busy, modern area, they faced intrusive behaviour. A man not only stared but interrupted them with personal questions: “What are you doing?”, “Do you have an Insta page?”, “Where do you stay?” His questions grew bolder, ignoring clear signs that his presence was unwelcome.
This is not an isolated case. Women across India often face similar situations—constant stares, unsolicited conversations, and an expectation that they will respond politely. Society conditions women to always be pleasant and accommodating, even when boundaries are crossed. Assertiveness is often judged as rudeness, which puts extra pressure on women to manage such situations with a forced smile.
This everyday experience reflects a deeper social issue—one where women’s presence in public spaces is still seen as unusual, almost exceptional, making them targets for unwanted attention.
India’s response to gender-based harassment has largely focused on segregation—pink buses, women-only metro coaches, special parks, and separate queues. These measures may seem helpful on the surface, but they reinforce a harmful idea: that public spaces belong to men, and women need separate areas for safety.
Such policies make women’s presence in shared spaces appear unnatural. As a result, women often use public places only for essential purposes like commuting or shopping, rather than for leisure or equal participation. According to studies, more than half of women in Indian towns do not step out even once a day, and only 48% of women in urban India are allowed to leave home alone.
The real solution is not pink carriages or women-only zones. It is creating a culture where men and women share spaces with mutual respect. Boys and men need to be socialised differently—taught from an early age that women are equals, not outsiders.
Currently, most boys grow up with little interaction with girls and without education on respect, consent, or gender equality. This lack of exposure creates discomfort and often aggression when women claim their space in public.
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The problem goes beyond individual behaviour. A viral video of an Indian man in Venice making crude remarks about a foreign woman shows the global embarrassment caused by such attitudes. It reflects a mindset that women in public spaces are open to scrutiny or harassment.
The statistics paint an alarming picture. According to the National Crime Records Bureau, crimes against women increased by 4% in 2022 compared to 2021, with over 4.4 lakh cases registered. Most involved domestic violence, abduction, sexual assault, or rape. This explains why women in India constantly calculate their safety whenever they step outside—choosing routes carefully, planning return times, and modifying behaviour to avoid trouble.
India cannot achieve real safety through symbolic measures alone. Building pink spaces will not solve a deep-rooted cultural problem. Women’s equality in public spaces requires social transformation—teaching respect, enforcing laws effectively, and challenging patriarchal norms that treat women as second-class citizens.
Until this shift happens, incidents like the one in Delhi will continue to remind us that women still move through public spaces with caution, not comfort.
True safety will come when mindsets change—not when women are confined to special zones.
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