An incident that took place recently was circulated on Facebook, where a girl was harassed and then attacked during her early morning bike ride:

A lot of people spoke up in support. However, there were some predictable comments that lacked both support and reason where she was given sound advice on how she could have avoided the incident altogether.

This isn’t the first incident that has been publicly talked about, nor will it, unfortunately, be the last due to the vast reach of social media.

In order to ensure that stuff like this doesn’t happen again, here is a comprehensive guide on what should be done to avoid being harassed. You guys might want to pay attention. All of these methods have been tried and tested:

Never leave your house

You should know better than to venture out into the unknown. You know who lives the longest? People who stay holed up within their houses forever. It’s a fact. Stay inside, regardless of your gender. Warna guaranteed harassment.

Use an invisibility cloak

All you Harry Potter fans know what I’m talking about. Okay, so these don’t exist just yet. Science will catch up. Till then, refer to point number one.

Hire guards

Nothing scares harassers more than guns and big, burly guards. Tether yourself to your guards. Never leave the house without them. They are your lifeline.

Wear a burkha

Because, obviously, no one’s ever gotten harassed while wearing a burkha. Not like there have been numerous cases reported where women have been harassed regardless of what they wear. Sab ko burkha pehna do. Guys, you too. It’s the only way to be safe.

Gear up

Pepper spray, tasers, knives, guns – keep everything on you. You are stepping outside into a war zone, after all. Bachon ka khel nahi hai.

Get a sex change operation

If you get harassed simply because you’re a girl, this is the only way. Kiss your genitals goodbye (figuratively, please).

Never complain or speak out

So you think speaking out and raising awareness will help? WRONG. I mean sure, you might just get people to actually think things through and consider your side of the story.  And perhaps, your story might inspire a lot of other targets and encourage them to speak out. But the wiser option is definitely shutting up.

Accept the blame

How dare you show your forearms? Or go out with your friends? Or have fun? What are you even thinking? This is insanity and not the society we live in. Always remember, it’s your fault. You can’t fool yourself into thinking that you have the freedom to live your life as you want, or the access to basic human rights. It’s always your fault.

Never question. Ever.

Laug are always right. There is no other way of looking at things. If laug say that you’re wrong because you were out alone, they’re right. Save yourself the argument where you talk about how people should respect you as an individual. Society is never wrong. Besides, if you start back answering too much, laug kya kaheinge? 

Accept that you deserve it

You’re always asking for it. That’s the first rule of harassment. Whether you’re a girl in a burkha or jeans, you will always be asking for it – because you’re a girl and that’s obviously your fault. And if you’re a guy, you’re asking for it too. Just because. There doesn’t have to be a logical explanation. If you’re a living, breathing human, you are always asking for it.

Stop existing

The easiest way to not get harassed is to not exist. Really doesn’t get any simpler. You guys should have thought of this one on your own.

On a more serious note, harassment is not a joke. What’s worse is that some people firmly believe that it is the target’s fault. The fact that this mentality exists is the reason why these harassers walk free – because we rid them of the blame they deserve by placing it upon the target’s shoulders, based on what they wear, who they were with or what they were doing. If we live in an age where our sisters, wives and mothers can’t enjoy a bike ride in peace, we should fear the sort of mentality that we have allowed to flourish among us. We are to blame then, for we have allowed the birth and nourishment of this mentality. All of this and all those that follow are on us.

So the question is: Is this finally when we start taking action, or do we have the stomach to digest further blame?

Cover Image: LargeShortFilms

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