“In recent months, Blank Noise has launched several consciousness raising campaigns that center women’s experience on the street. One campaign is entitled “I Never Asked For It” and includes women taking photos of the clothing they were wearing while eve teased to put to rest the idea that only certain types of “promiscuously dressed” women are harassed. Alongside the photographs are the words “I Never Asked For It” in several Indian languages, including Bengali (ami kokhunoyi chai na), Malayalam (njaan aavashyapettilla), and Tamil (naan ketkamataen), as well as other languages around the world like French and Dutch.

When women start talking about issues of safety, they are either told to “stay in safe places” or wear “decent” clothes. A campaign titled “Did you ask for it?” by Blank Noise started by Jasmeen Patheja , sought to defy the assumption that women ask for trouble by wearing provocative clothes. They collected clothes worn by women when they were harassed on streets and found that they included salwar suits, school uniforms and saris.”

Published in Bitch Media. Read more