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Despite progress, sexual harassment continues
CHANDIGARH: Greater involvement of women in sports is one of the steps we’ve taken to evolve into a modern society, yet we have failed to protect them from sexual
CHANDIGARH: Greater involvement of women in sports is one of the steps we’ve taken to evolve into a modern society, yet we have failed to protect them from sexual harassment.
“When girls go for competitions, their parents are more worried about their safety than performance,” says 2010 Commonwealth Games discus gold medallist Krishna Poonia. “I was lucky not to face any untoward incident, and despite coming from a family that supported girls, I am sure my parents would have also been worried about my safety when I was out for tournaments. Though they never mentioned it, I could make out their concern,” she adds.
“Today, I am in politics and have contested assembly elections, but whenever I go out on political commitments, family members accompany me. I know this is for protection and assisting me comes second,” says the country’s only woman athlete to reach the final of an Olympics throw event, at London 2012.
We hear of sexual harassment of women athletes but most of the cases are brushed under the carpet.
“Take for example Haryana. At the junior level, you will see many girls winning medals at the national level. But when it comes to seniors, hardly any of them pursue sports. Though marriage is a reason, sexual exploitation, especially of juniors, discourages athletes from continuing,” says 2014 Asian Games discus gold medallist Seema Antil.
“I may sound harsh but many coaches are responsible for ruining women athletes’ careers. Whenever they (coaches) get a chance, they try to sexually exploit them, especially in the junior section. The victims don’t have the guts to report it to their parents as they aren’t sure of the reaction. Many feel that disclosing it will invite embarrassment for them and their families. Girls going through trauma are left with two options — leave the sport or succumb to the coach’s pressure,” adds Seema.
It is not just physical, even the way girls are looked at makes them feel uncomfortable.
