By Lisa Conley
The BBC reported increases in “Eve Teasing” in Bangladesh has led to an increased incidence of suicide among young women. According to the article, this form of sexual harassment is completely unchecked and constitutes “little rapes,” and is particularly damaging in Bangladesh because of weak sexual harassment laws. Victims are often stalked and ridiculed daily with little to no recourse. Many of the victims of Eve Teasing feel suicide is the only way out.
One such example is 13 year old Nashfia Akhand Pinky, known as Pinky, who killed herself after months of stalking, harassment, and torment by her 22 year old neighbor and his friends. After confronting the harasser, Pinky was beaten by her neighbor as other neighbors looked on but did nothing. In her suicide note she wrote, “When [my tormentor] pulled my scarf and harassed me physically in front of the house, onlookers at the scene laughed. Nobody protested. None of my family members are responsible for my suicide.”
Sunday June 13 has been declared Eve Teasing Protection day by the Bangladesh education ministry. If you’re interested in standing in solidarity with the victims of Eve Teasing, check out the group on Facebook and check out The Blank Noise Project to learn more about how to get involved.
Well, to determine if there is something unusually bad about these suicides you need to correct for the suicide epidemic effect. And I expect that thirteen similar suicides in four months is not an unusual suicide cluster. No doubt the physical harrassment of these girls is bad, but there’s nothing in that article that should incite a moral panic. Not that a lack of proof ever stops anyone…
Time to say……….. NO !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!