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Capability Approach to Public-space Harassment of Women: Evidence from India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan

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  • Günseli Berik, Haimanti Bhattacharya, Tejinder Pal Singh, Aashima Sinha, Jacqueline Strenio, Sharin Shajahan Naomi, Sameen Zafar, Sharon Talboys

Abstract

Sexual harassment of women and girls in streets and other public spaces is often trivialized by the label of “eve teasing” in South Asia. While there exists a volume of research on intimate partner or domestic violence in South Asia, the literature on public-space harassment (PSH) is sparse. Based on 2021-22 surveys in Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan this paper examines the prevalence and consequences of public-space harassment using the Capability Approach. We used an online survey and snowball sampling through social media to generate both quantitative and qualitative information. We analyzed the data descriptively and coded the open-ended responses based on human capability themes. The responses to questions about twelve specific forms of harassment indicate that the experience of at least one form of PSH is ubiquitous in all country samples. We find that women are not only unable to lead lives free of violence but also deprived of a range of additional capabilities: to enjoy emotional wellbeing, to be physically mobile, to seek educational opportunities, to earn a living, and to be free of restrictions overall. Respondents also articulated future directions for action to reduce experiences of PSH, including legal measures, education, awareness.

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  • Günseli Berik, Haimanti Bhattacharya, Tejinder Pal Singh, Aashima Sinha, Jacqueline Strenio, Sharin Shajahan Naomi, Sameen Zafar, Sharon Talboys, 2023. "Capability Approach to Public-space Harassment of Women: Evidence from India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan," Working Paper Series, Department of Economics, University of Utah 2023_05, University of Utah, Department of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:uta:papers:2023_05
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Joni Hersch, 2015. "Sexual harassment in the workplace," IZA World of Labor, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA), pages 188-188, October.
    2. Martha Nussbaum, 2003. "Capabilities As Fundamental Entitlements: Sen And Social Justice," Feminist Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 9(2-3), pages 33-59.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Sexual Harassment; Human Capabilities; Gender; India; Bangladesh JEL Classification: B54; D63; I31;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • B54 - Schools of Economic Thought and Methodology - - Current Heterodox Approaches - - - Feminist Economics
    • D63 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - Equity, Justice, Inequality, and Other Normative Criteria and Measurement
    • I31 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - General Welfare, Well-Being

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