My research focus during this fellowship was how negative societal perceptions of women in India can manifest into violence against women, and what viable actions can be taken to prevent this violence. I had the privilege of visiting the Odanadi safe house for victims of human trafficking which is located in Mysore. I was also able to watch a lecture hosted by Stanly Kv, one of the founders of Odanadi, and chat with him after the lecture.

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Throughout the lecture, Stanly discussed how human trafficking is a major problem in India and the various consequences it has for victims. Although it is well-known that victims of human trafficking often need counseling for the traumatic experiences they have been through, it is less known that these same victims need counseling in order to face their own families. In India, there is a massive stigma against women who have survived human trafficking, despite the fact that they are the victims in these situations. Survivors are often fearful of returning to their home cities or villages because they expect judgment from their communities. Many people still have the misconception that survivors were somehow “asking for it” or that they are not “pure” because they have been through sexual abuse. Facing this prejudice is one of the biggest obstacles that survivors must face.

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It was comforting to hear Stanly discuss the work that is being done at Odanadi in order to rehabilitate these survivors. After survivors are rescued from these dangerous situations, they are then given food and shelter. Over time, they also have access to psycho-social interventions (ex. karate, dance, art therapy, etc.), educational resources, and social-economical programs. I thought this was one of the most effective parts of the program since it would prepare survivors to eventually leave the Odanadi home and start living independently. 

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Although Stanly discussed how victims of human trafficking are affected, I was still curious about the other angle of this issue. One of my major research questions is the following: “What causes men to perpetuate these crimes against women?”. It is clear that cultural beliefs regarding women can play a role in these violent crimes, but what other factors are motivating the perpetrators? 

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After the lecture was completed, I asked Stanly a few questions regarding what factors he believes can influence people to become human traffickers. Stanly stated that one of the pressing issues in India is the fact that men do not receive counseling and are hesitant to go to therapy due to the stigma associated with it. By avoiding counseling, men are more prone to having repressed emotions and mental health issues that are not dealt with in a healthy way. Men are also more likely to die by suicide than women since severe mental health issues like depression are not treated. Stanly discussed how, “Society needs to treat, not teach, boys and girls equally at home. Give them equal counseling and a scientific way of orientation about the sex.” This points to another issue: sex education. Sex education is not taught in schools, and many girls and boys grow up with limited knowledge about anatomy. This can lead to misconceptions about sex, especially since teenagers might seek sex education from unreliable sources like pornography. 

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Ultimately, to fix the problem of violence against women, the problem of the “male psyche” must also be fixed. This means to work on changing the way that men think about women and resolve internal conflicts. To combat this, an effective action could be to advocate for counseling for men and destigmatizing mental health in general. It is important to dispute cultural and societal misconceptions about women that further perpetuate violence or disrespect. 

I think that this lecture and conversation would be viewed similarly in the United States. Although there is less of a patriarchal system in the United States, sexism and violence against women is still a rampant problem. I think the United States could learn a lot from the work that is being done at the Odanadi home, and it would be beneficial to try to replicate it in similar grassroots organizations. I have learned that compassion is one of the best ways to help survivors of human trafficking. Although there is still much work to be done, it is comforting to see that organizations like the Odanadi home are making meaningful improvements at the community level.

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References

 

Kv, Stanly. Interview. Conducted by Sofia Flores. June 1, 2023.