STREET HARASSMENT AND DEPRESSION, ANXIETY AND STRESS AMONG GIRLS IN DISTRICT KALAT, BALOCHISTAN

Abstract

Violence against women has become a national issue cutting across all cultures, provinces, social, and
age groups. Street harassment is one of the leading gender based violence which women are facing
today in Pakistan. Girls are the victims of catcalling, whistles, and other forms of street harassment.
This quantitative study aims to investigate the level of street harassment among girls. The study was
conducted in District Kalat, where 260 respondents out of 698 girls, studying at government colleges,
were surveyed. The findings show that majority of the respondents’ experienced the problem of street
harassment. Normlessness, masculinity, media, socialization, gender gap, education, and weak social
control are the main causes of street harassment. Street harassment results in decreasing women’s
confidence and self-respect. Women would become more conscious with their physical appearance and
would feel less of a person whenever someone would attack their honour. On the other hand, media
and government officials ought to give more attention to the victims of street harassment and to
enforce the right laws against street harassment