Women's encounters with street sexual harassment in India: A photovoice study

Street sexual harassment (SSH) is a global public health and gender inequality problem. It appears in many forms, disproportionately affecting young girls and women in public places, but scholarship lacks a comprehensive understanding of women's SSH experiences, especially in India. This study examined young women's experiences and perspectives of SSH in Southern India. A photovoice qualitative method was employed to collect data from 19 young women who captured photographs representing what it was like to experience SSH, followed by interviews to understand the phenomenon in detail. The photos, captions, and interview transcripts were analyzed thematically. The analysis revealed several themes. The findings imply the need for policy interventions, public awareness, family support, and strengthening women's trust in the legal system to address the issue and promote women's health and well-being. Making public places safer and accessible to women should be a policy priority.