Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Against Women (SGBVAW) in India can be traced to structural inequity between women and men based on gender stereotypes and discriminatory norms. Within this context, the spaces that women and girls can safely occupy are limited from childhood through adulthood. These restrictions on mobility adversely affect both education and employment opportunities for females. This paper focuses on the continuous threat of daily harassment and violence, including lewd comments, obscene gestures, groping, and stalking, that influence the decisions and opportunities of women and girls (and their families). The cause of these limitations is layered, but a common link emerges as the generic “fear of safety” articulated by families and other community members. The paper also focuses on the strategies women use to maximize their safety in public spaces.
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