Dial 2444444 against ‘Jack-asses’!

By Sajitha Prematunge

sajitha@sundayobserver.lk

It is important to understand what makes these perverts tick. Dr. Priyanga De Zoysa, best selling author and medical doctor, claims that for teenagers - due to lack of sexual exposure - it arises out of a need to derive sexual pleasure or urge to experiment. “For an older person it could be habitual.” The doctor explained that if a man continues this from his teen age, he may continue to do this out of habit and an urge for it.

If you are a woman or a girl who takes the private bus regularly, it’s advisable to exercise regularly and train yourself in gymnastics and not because the buses are overcrowded, but because you would want to be at your flexible best when you want to avoid those perverts. (And phycology too if possible for, anger control.) From stealthy paparazzi armed with camera phones to shameless perverts who would resort to anything from whispering songs into women’s ears, grabbing, pushing or simply staring open mouthed - due to the incapability of doing anything more damaging - perverts can take various forms. Women go through a lot in today’s society and most of all inside busses.

When I, my friend and our mothers were returning home from tuition class - after a while - we realized that my friend was missing. We looked around to see a furious Dinushi walking after a guy with her bundle of books propped up. Alas a boob-grabbing pervert would have received a memorable whack on the head if Dinushi’s mother wouldn’t have grabbed her by the elbow and ‘brought her back to her senses’. But is it good sense to refrain from taking action against such harassment out of the fear for embarrassment? Or is it cowardice?

Kamani Ranasinghe, a housewife says “Every day I get on a bus something happens.” And related an incident that took place while she was schooling. She was the last person out of the bus bound for Warakapola. When the driver asked for change she said that she didn’t have any. And to her astonishment the old driver, who was probably in his 60’s, squeezed the breast pocket on her uniform - several times - looking for change! “He did it in such a nonchalant manner, wasn’t smiling. I was so shocked I jumped out of the bus ridiculously muttering ‘No I don’t have, I don’t have’.” Kamani said. She explained that as a school girl she was enraged. “But I couldn’t tell anyone about it because I was too embarrassed. However I went home and I told my parents.” Although according to Kamani they also felt like complaining, they didn’t because this sort of thing happens every day and they didn’t want to risk the humiliation. “I always avoided that bus after that.”

Rashie Liyanage who was just 19 when she had to face an uncomfortable situation because of another pervert. “I was waiting to get on the bus when a man in his mid thirties was getting off.” Out of the blue something hit her in the groin. The man had hit her with his fist with tremendous force. “It hurt so much that I felt like screaming. But I didn’t.” Before she could make up her mind he walked away. “I would have been too embarrassed to do anything anyway.” Oshini Premathileke was also 19 when she faced a similarly helpless situation, on a bus from Kotte, bound to Nugegoda. A shabbily dressed man got on the bus at the same bus stop and sat next to her. “After a while I felt something brushing against my arm.

I though it was the boy’s arm.” Although Oshini sensed that the guy wasn’t sitting properly she had not felt like looking at him directly. When she glanced at her arm - to her horror - she realized that he was rubbing his exposed genitals on her arm. She started yelling but to no avail, none of the older men on the bus stepped forward to help her. “It was near my stop so I got off the bus in a haste and rushed to school. I remember washing my arm repeatedly at school that day!”

It is important to understand what makes these perverts tick. Dr. Priyanga De Zoysa, medical doctor and best selling author, claims that for teenagers - due to lack of sexual exposure - it arises out of a need to derive sexual pleasure or to experiment. “For an older person it could be habitual.” The doctor explained that if a man continues this from his teenage, he may continue to do this out of habit and an urge for it. This should be avoided at all cost.

The knowledge that there’s a law out there and the indulgence in such an activity is in violation of the law may compel the guys to keep their hormones in check. “This would teach them that any physical contact without a woman’s consent should not be attempted.” But what causes some men to go berserk at the sight of a skirt? The doctor says that the access to sexually stimulating material could force these men to indulge in any form of sexual activity. But added that we should not go into discussion on what the causes are. “Let’s not justify the action by delegating causes. Prevention and action should be given priority. While young men should also be educated on the requirement of having the consent of both parties to engage in any form of sexual activity.”

He explained that the first thing a woman - if in a public place like a bus - should do is get away from it physically. If that’s impossible she should try her best to make the man uncomfortable by staring at him, pinching, hitting or by any means, hurting him. “Making an attempt - from the start - to discourage the physical harassment is very significant. You should make clear that you do not condone such behaviour.”

So what can a women faced with such a situation do? Complain says the doctor. He indicated that the blame partially falls on women. In the case of teenagers the only way of stopping it is through the enforcement of law. “They don’t kill or shoplift for the same reason, because they are scared of the law.” He explained that women are reluctant to report such incidents out of sheer embarrassment. “They turn this to their advantage.” If women put aside their reluctance and bring these incidents out in the public and if this became a topic of public interest, men would surely be wary of the consequences and these attempts would definitely decrease.

He held the opinion that women should stick together and support each other to bring perverts to the attention of the law. And claimed that through the vigilance of women, authorities and the society in general this can be effectively put a stop to.

Chief Inspector Buddhika Balachandra, Officer In Charge, Women and Children’s Bureau, is of the same view. According to the Penal Code sexual harassment - including whatever that happens on buses - is a punishable crime that can lead to five years in prison. The OIC said that in order to make a complaint that the perpetrator has to be in the scene. If it takes place inside a bus, the victim has to advise the bus driver to take them to the nearest police station or check point.

“Or someone has to catch the perp and bring both, him and the victim to the nearest police station.” If the perpetrator is the conductor of the bus, the bus number alone is enough to incriminate him. “But the complaint must be made as soon as possible, preferably within a few hours.”

The OIC held the view that these people should be publicly humiliated. “This would no doubt reduce the temptation.” But as he observes the new tendency is for other men to just ignore completely when a woman is being harassed by another man. “This is probably due to the commercialization of the society.”

But that doesn’t mean that perverts can getaway with it. Women who are bothered by jack-asses please don’t hesitate to dial 2444444

Some names have been changed.