Every time we think we as a whole, as a unit, as a country are taking one step forward, it only takes one mindless action to remind us that we’re also taking two steps back. 

A realisation that hit us yet again after we came across a circular for a counselling session by JNU on sexual harassment, which made us cringe more than the latest Matrix Resurrections.

A circular that was supposed to spread awareness on the matter, ended up doing something completely opposite and counter-productive, considering the only thing it was able to spread was sexism. 

The circular that has drawn a lot of ire on social media reeked of victim shaming as it said things like, “girls are supposed to know how to draw a tangible line between them and their male friends."

JNU's circular on counselling sexual harassment victims causes outrage; students protest https://t.co/cMwqTkSNxR

— Republic (@republic) December 28, 2021

This was in accordance with the session on sexual harassment the internal complaints committee (ICC) of the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) is supposed to host on January 17. 

The uploaded circular even spoke about how such sessions will be organised on a monthly basis with the intention of making students aware of what consists of sexual harassment.

However, after seeing the kinds of things the circular was promoting in the name of spreading awareness, students decided to have none of it and lashed back at them. 

In today's episode of #victimblaming,

"...women are supposed to know how to draw a line between themselves and male friends to 'avoid harassments'."

Girls Should 'Draw Tangible Line' to Avoid Sexual Harassment, Says JNU ICC Circular https://t.co/vxP6zjd5Hq via @thewire_in

— Shruti Jain (@shrutz01) December 28, 2021

Jawaharlal Nehru University Students' Union president Aishe Ghosh called the statement a ‘victim shaming remark’. She said, “The ICC in JNU makes a blatant victim-blaming remark where it asks 'women to draw a tangible line to not get harassed by their male members'. The ICC time and again in JNU has passed such regressive remarks or conducted itself in a way to moral police the survivor.”

Ghosh went on to say, “Such a remark, creates a space where harassment in such lines will become rampant and will lead to become an unsafe space for women.” Meanwhile a lot of people on social meda also called out the JNU circular for perpetuating a victim blaming mentality.

Why all the teachings are always for girls only? Time to teach harassers not the victims. The misogynist circular of #JNU should be withdrawn. Internal commattee should have Victim-Centered approach and not otherwise. pic.twitter.com/Z6x4h7L351

— Rekha Sharma (@sharmarekha) December 28, 2021

True that. Coming from JNU this is unacceptable. They talk of equality, high morals but below shows their real mindset.

— Krushna (@govindagopala) December 28, 2021

NCW Chairperson Rekha Sharma wrote, “Why all the teachings are always for girls only? Time to teach harassers not the victims. The misogynist circular of #JNU should be withdrawn. Internal committee should have a Victim-Centered approach and not otherwise.”

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