Goa's visiting 'terrorists'
Nadia Menezes e Desai is fed up with the perverted behaviour of male
domestic tourists towards women in Goa
Mumbai's sighing in relief. The terrorists have been caught, some killed.
The siege is over. But in Goa, there's a siege on. A terror of a different
sort. And the victims in this case, aren't the general public, but rather a
gender of the general public.
Women. Goan women. Or any woman who while in Goa imbibes it's chilled-out,
'live and let live' attitude.
And the perpetrators aren't hooded, gun-trotting fanatics with a cause to
die for, but men, domestic tourists to be precise, for whom a woman is an
object and a Goan woman is an easy target.
Let me explain. Some Sundays ago a colleague and I were walking on Baga's
shores, post dinner, singing, chatting and generally having a good time. As
we turned to return to my colleague's vehicle parked on the road, a
high-pitched whistle was sent our way. It was ignored. But when a man,
dressed in a yellow shirt with white vest showing, started walking alongside
us, it wasn't an ignorable situation anymore.
The guy wanted to know if we'd want to join him for "disco". Why? Because we
were "walking on the beach". When asked how he assumed that t wo wo m e n ,
walking on the beach, were available for a good time, he looked stumped. W e
r e n ' t we? Of course, we yelled and abused him into slinking away. That
was two Sundays ago.
On Friday evening, walking for a movie being screened at Kala Academy, I was
accosted by a group of domestic visitors. The tallest, probably goaded by
the fact that he had friends around, decided that a lone woman walking on
the road, could be harassed.
Walking straight into me, he jumped out of the way at the very last minute.
Unfortunately for him, he got whacked on the head for it.
But most men don't get whacked or yelled at. They get away with lewd
comments, physical passes and vulgar gestures.
They presume that because a woman wears a skirt or dress or shorts she's
'available'. It's taken for granted that because Goan women aren't as
'inhibited' as the women back home, they are 'cheap'. The connection between
inhibitions and societal customs and traditions isn't understood by them.
Goa is culturally more Western than most other places in the country. Put
the onus of responsibility on the Portuguese rulers who were here till 1961
or the hippies who roamed, often nude, on Goa's beaches shortly later, but
the average Goan is not going to bat an eye on what you wear or how you wear
it.
But it's something that those coming from out of the state don't understand
and worringly, don't respect.
A colleague blames it on the way Goa is projected as a tourist destination.
There was a time when the hoardings and ads carried in parts of the country
projected a not so subtle message of sex available with the sun, sand and
surf offering.
The photos have toned down, but the message, from the behaviour of those who
visit, appears to have not.
So now it's better to leave home wearing a skirt that reaches the ankles and
to leave those shorts to gather motheaten holes in the cupboard.
If you don't, woman, make sure you're made of sterner stuff, because some
man, for whom a show of skin, any skin, is a signal of availability, is
going to ask if you're available.
So whether it's an "aati kya" thrown your way as you enter a bus, or a
slowing down of an AP, KL, KA, DL or MHregistered vehicle as you walk on the
footpath or road, you're going to be 'terrorised' if you're a woman in Goa.
I have girlfriends who've even been chased or followed in their vehicles by
out-of-town registered vehicles. Can we change this scenario?
The conservatives will say: Woman, watch what you wear. The not so, will
say, ignore the guys. Here's my advice to women: Whatever you wear make sure
you can handle the comments/passes, because they will come.
Please don't ignore the comments or passes if they are persistent or
physical or both. Most times, the man/men aren't expecting a retaliation and
more often than not are afraid when confronted. Make sure of course, that
you're loud (yell if need be) and that there are people around who could
help.
Goa is no longer a safe place where a woman can walk on a beach or road, lit
or otherwise, alone. If you are in such a situation, ask someone to join you
or pick you up or make sure you can defend yourself. I learnt a rather
effective trick from my stay in Mumbai: If you see a person or vehicle
following you, pick up a stone, a large one, and toss it in your hand while
looking at the person/vehicle. If need be, mouth out a threat. It works.
(ENDS)
The writer is a Goa-based journalist. The views expressed are those of the
writer. This weekly column allows readers to have their say on important
issues.
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