Mumbai Nightwal campaigns for safe cities

Last Saturday, women took to the streets of Mumbai at night as part of the #MakeYourCitySafe campaign at a night walk organised by CrossBow Miles to spread awareness about women’s safety and giving women an opportunity to reclaim public spaces.

This campaign was flagged off with an advertisement by Volvo which featured women going out at different times of the day. The women, originally shown to be alone, then take the chance to walk out on the streets and then find other women doing the same. The idea behind the video was that once women shake free of their inhibitions and reclaim the public spaces, cases of harassment will reduce.

Reminiscent of the #IWillGoOut marches that happened across the country in January last year, this video also asks the question, “If a city could talk to its women, would it ask them to hide for their safety, or stay?” This march was supported and attended by celebrities like Dia Mirza among others.

In a socio-political climate where women’s ears are tired of hearing lines like “don’t go out so late”, “Get back home before it is dark”, “Don’t wear that and go out, it’s not safe” and the government blames jeans and chow mein as the causes for rape, an atmosphere of fear is created. Things like victim shaming, blaming women for the actions of predatory men, casting a survivors’ character into question because of something that is in no way her fault perpetuates what is called rape culture.

Curfews for men and women in colleges and hostels, not letting women go out after dark and essentially curbing women’s freedom in the name of safety is not the way to go. It creates spaces that are virtually “Men Only’’. It is not something very stark but disturbing when we actually notice or think about it. Certain bars, restaurants, streets, cafes or even chai stalls are so filled with men that it discourages women to even go there. If nothing else, the stares by men already present there are enough to make any woman uncomfortable to venture out.

In such situations, it is even more important that women take their stand and reject these regressive notions that are essentially holding them accountable for other’s actions. It is time that women break out of the “Lakshman Rekhas” because Ravan needs to understand his boundaries and answer for his own actions. Campaigns like this empower women to take this stand because lone wolf efforts can be and are quelled down.

#MakeYourCitySafe did a good job of empowering women and hopefully, more events and campaigns along similar lines will help bring about the social change that we so desperately need.

By: Sre Ratha