Thread by @povmumbai

Good morning to you all! @saysnidhigoyal and @nidsitis are on their way to Dombivali for a workshop on sexual harassment and consent with hearing and speech impaired women. Join us as tweet some interesting observations from the training. #SexDis

@saysnidhigoyal @nidsitis We have begun with a quick recap of our previous workshop - outlining the topics covered. Including that fact that women have ovaries and get pregnant!

Now discussing menstruation. Many of them are saying they get happy when the period is not coming - aren’t we all! But discussing the need for regular periods and does skipping a period mean pregnancy?

After clearing the doubts from the previous session, we have moved on to discussing sexual harassment. #SexDis

We are talking about consent between friends, colleagues and of course even strangers. One of the girls just shared, ‘I am the only disabled person in my office and often my colleagues touch me without asking me. One day, I broke down and feel helpless.’ #consent

Many of them are sharing their experiences of sexual harassment which include abusing them and the subsequent difficulty in communicating the discomfort with the person harassing. #consent

Many of them say that their hearing friends help them communicate with others. #communicate

Moving on to discussing how certain touch makes you feel safe and comfortable while there is some that makes you feel scared, terrified and ashamed. #consent

@saysnidhigoyal highlighting: ‘Focus on what you feel. It is important to centre your own feelings and what you feel.’ #consent

Understanding the difference between kisses you want and kisses that make us feel uncomfortable/ashamed. Even after you communicate that you are uncomfortable. #consent

One of the women shared that a stranger once held her hand for long and touched her palm and she felt weirded out. This conversation is being used to understand how we navigate #consent. Both among known persons and unknown persons.

Trainer, Kanika gives an example of child sexual abuse within the family and opens up the discussion about consent and touch. Centering the child’s reaction, she explains how abuse can happen within homes. #consent

Our trainer Sunita explains the term sexual harassment #consent

The women have now been divided into groups to discuss difference scenarios of child sexual abuse @saysnidhigoyal #consent

The larger group is now discussing how to convey their discomfort to others when they find themselves in situations of harassment. One of the women recommended attempting to take videos/writing it down. #consent

The trainer discusses the effect of harassment and how many women are depressed because of continuous harassment.

Trainer tells the group about the magnitude of the number of women across the world who have experienced sexual harassment. She raises the point that we need to be able to tell others or share with others about our experiences too.. #metoo #harassment #womenwithdisabilities

Onto the law! Sexual harassment (everything we just discussed) is a criminal offence. #ustoo #complaintsarefeminist #womenwithdisabilities

The trainer explained what is a law/rule - by illustrating that like we wear pants from below (a rule), there are a few laws in our society, which we need to follow. And when people violate these laws, we can take action against them. #understandingthelaw #sexualharassment #WWDs

Group discussing now how do we navigate when a man undresses in front of you, when ‘proving it is hard’.

Such difficult conversations in this room, this morning. #sexualharassment #metoo #womenwithdisabilities

Sunita goes through the sections of the law, highlighting that stalking, staring and showing pornography are all criminal acts.

Sunita suggesting that the women in the room must be worried about communicating with others, or even the police. ‘Sending text messages or typing out our complaint can be done.’ #womenwithdisabilities

We are now debunking myths on harassment including: women enjoy harassment; harassment goes away when ignored or if covering up reduces sexual harassment.

‘Do not think that problem is with women. Women don’t need to adjust or change their behaviour. Especially if wearing certain clothes gives you pleasure. It is men who need to change their gaze and reflect on harassment.’ #womenwithdisabilities

Trainer gives a few tips to handling sexual harassment in public, especially since the group is speech impaired. ‘Make loud sounds, slap the abuser, you can even clap.’ #speakingup

@nidsitis closes the session by explaining consent and how often in the guise of help, women with disabilities are sexually harassed. She also raised the issue of talking about consent from childhood and inculcating the habit of saying ‘no’ and accepting the response. #SexDis

The group is now filling up the feedback form. Thank you for joining us! On behalf of @saysnidhigoyal, @nidsitis and our key trainers, Sunita and Kanika, goodbye! #SexDis #womenwithdisabilities

Here is our group photo from the event!