Sexual harassment remains a significant and pervasive issue, especially among youth, who often lack adequate awareness, support systems, and legal literacy to respond effectively. In India, despite legal measures such as the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013, the problem continues to persist across various social and geographical contexts. This study investigates the perception of sexual harassment among the youth of Srinagar, a growing educational town in the Garhwal region of Uttarakhand. The research focuses on three primary objectives: understanding youth familiarity with sexual harassment and legal protections, assessing the role of parents and families in education, and identifying common settings for harassment, youth responses, and its emotional impact. A structured questionnaire was administered to a diverse sample of college-going youth. The findings indicate that while general awareness about sexual harassment is widespread, only a minority had received formal education on the topic. Most participants demonstrated average knowledge of legal provisions and expressed limited trust in law enforcement. Public transport, social media, and public spaces were the most reported sites of harassment. Emotional effects such as fear, anxiety, and depression were frequently cited. Furthermore, family dialogue on the issue was reported to be limited, despite being recognized as important. The study highlights the urgent need for targeted awareness programs, youth empowerment strategies, and culturally sensitive interventions to address sexual harassment effectively. Institutional and familial support systems must be strengthened to foster safer environments for youth in semi-urban settings.
Rawat et al. (Tue,) studied this question.
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