60 pc of women living in US face sexual harassment

Sixty per cent of women living in the United States face sexual harassment and are quite prone to resulting depression and disorders, according to some researchers.

Sixty per cent of women living in the United States face sexual harassment and are quite prone to resulting depression and disorders, according to some researchers.

HT Image

"A recent study recently pointed out that more than 60 per cent of the women admitted to facing sexual harassment at some point of their life.

80 per cent of the girls below the age of 14 talked about similar experience," Suraiya Baluch, director, Princeton University's SHARE (Sexual Harassment/ Assault Advising, Resources and Education office) said on Wednesday.

Baluch was at a panel discussion on 'Women Empowerment and the Changing identity of Women in India and America' organised by the American Embassy here.

"Poverty and racism are two of the most important factors that contribute to the trauma and abuse that women face there," Karen Singleton, Director of the Columbia University Sexual Violence Prevention and Response programme said.

Neelam Katara, the mother of Nitish Katara who was killed allegedly by Vikas Yadav, the son of UP politician D P Yadav, spoke about the issue of property rights vis-a-vis empowerment.

"There is an attempt to curb the sexuality of a women when it comes to the issue of inheritance. The general idea is now the girl is going away and is taking away the land, let us ensure that the land is in the same race or community," she said.