This study examines the paradoxical perceptions men hold regarding sexual harassment against women in public space in Nepal. Drawing from in-depth interviews with 48 men from diverse walks of life in Kathmandu, this research examines the underlying contradictions in their responses. On one hand, many men acknowledged the prevalence of sexual harassment and expressed rage when it affects their sisters, describing it as an attack on their safety, their family honor or their self-esteem. Many men also mentioned frustration and helplessness upon learning about their sisters’ experiences, with some admitting it “boils their blood”. They tended to express the view that it is simply not right. On the other hand, when discussing harassment against other women, these same men often justified harassment by attributing blame to the victims. This duality reflects cultural constructs of purity and pollution, as articulated by Bennett (1983), where sisters are perceived as “pure” and worthy of protection, while brothers are seen as strong protectors within the kinship bond of “brother–sister” (Philip, 2023). These findings also reflect patterns of “benevolent” patriarchy all over the world, in which men view women’s sexuality as their property and take on a protective role, even though men using such protective behaviors have been found to perpetrate relatively high levels of gender-based violence. The findings provide insights into how societal expectations of masculinity and honor contribute to these paradoxes. Men often engage in or excuse harassment as a form of peer bonding or fun which reinforces their masculine identity. However, they fail to reconcile this behavior when their own relatives are harassed. This illustrates the fragmented moral framework governing their actions.

This study employs thematic analysis to examine recurring patterns in the interviews by focusing on themes of blame, protection, rage, and cultural constructs of purity and provocateur. Situating these findings within Nepal’s sociocultural context where traditional norms intersect with shifting gender dynamics, the research sheds light on the broader implications of double standards surrounding the sisters and other women that offer critical insights into the cultural and social factors that influence gendered interactions. This study contributes to ongoing discussions about gender-based violence and calls for the re-examination of cultural narratives that perpetuate such contradictions.

References/Bibliography:

Bennett, L. (1983). Dangerous Wives and Sacred Sisters. New York, Columbia University Press.

Philip, S. (2022). Becoming young men in a new India: Masculinities, gender relations and violence in the postcolony. Cambridge University Press