Women's rights awareness drive: Murals at college against harassment

Many women who have faced harassment at the workplace or elsewhere shared their experiences and voiced their thoughts that were then depicted in murals in a government college.

The wall art at Barasat Government College, inaugurated on Tuesday, is on sexual harassment of women at workplaces.

It is an initiative of Swayam, a feminist organisation committed to advancing women’s rights and ending inequality. Swayam has often used art as a means to communicate social messages.

“Murals act as a medium for communicating a social message. We have seen that it stays in a place for a long period, maybe for months or even years. It’s simple, easy to understand and interactive,” said Amrita Dasgupta, director, Swayam.

The organisation has earlier used wall art as a medium in Diamond Harbour and Metiabruz.

Dasgupta said they have been taking this awareness drive beyond the city, like to Barasat. “This will help more women reach us and simultaneously make them more aware.”

The organisation conducted two workshops — one with survivors of abuse and violence and another with students of the college — who were asked to express their opinions on what they consider a safe space.

“The experiences, opinions and voices of both groups have been projected on the wall,” said a Swayam official.

One wall talks about women employees of an organisation discussing among themselves that their male boss addresses them as “darling”, “dear” and other such words instead of using their names, which he does for the male employees. They protest and tell their boss that it amounts to harassment.

Another wall shows how a cook who was harassed protested against her employer.

Conducting a workshop not just raises awareness but also helps students connect with the issue, said the official.

Swayam in a press note said through this partnership with Barasat Government College, their internal complaints committee wants to create awareness among the students and employees of the college about the pervasive effects of sexism and gender discrimination in the workplace in particular and in society at large.

“We want to give our students a free space to express themselves,” said Samar Chattopadhyay, principal of the college.

Every year, Swayam observes 16 days of international awareness against gender-based violence. This year, Swayam is focusing on raising consciousness against sexual harassment against women at the workplace.

The programme started on November 25 and ends on December 10.