A walk through a dimly lit, empty corridor at night is still a daunting memory for a senior medical professional, recalling her early days as a junior doctor. Unfortunately, not much has changed over the years—today’s generation of women professionals still navigate similar dangers during night shifts, balancing their duty with the fear of lurking threats.
The growing number of women in the workforce symbolizes economic independence and empowerment. Yet, despite numerous safety policies, the critical issue of their security is often overlooked. Onmanorama interviewed several women who work late into the night to understand how they cope with the ever-present risks they face.
Mahima, an intern at a Delhi-based startup, feels safe within her workplace but dreads her 2-hour commute on the Metro, where she frequently faces harassment, including stares, inappropriate remarks, and physical contact. She believes the solution lies in changing societal mindsets rather than relying solely on policies. Teaching children respect for women at an early age, she argues, is crucial. Mahima also stresses that this education should start at home, where boys are taught to value and respect women.
Joyeeta, a journalist from Kolkata, shares a different perspective, saying her city feels relatively safe for women, even at night. She believes the real problem lies in the moral decay of certain individuals and advocates for teaching young boys respect and ethics from an early age.
Dr. A.K. Jayasree, HOD of Community Medicine in Kozhikode, emphasizes that silence around workplace harassment is one of the major obstacles to resolving the issue. Women often refrain from reporting incidents due to fear or societal judgment. She encourages women to be assertive and demand safer working conditions, as well as to report any shortcomings in workplace safety. She also argues for less severe, but effective, punitive measures for offenders, which could increase the likelihood of justice being served.
In the end, gender equality and safety must be addressed at the root, starting within homes, schools, and workplaces to ensure that women can work in environments free from fear and harassment.
