#INeverAskForIt: People uniting against Victim Blame culture

After the 2018's MeToo Movement where women shared the stories of the sexual harassment faced by them, men and women across the countries are once again uniting against the prevalent victim-blaming culture in society. 

Women from all walks of life are sharing their experiences of being blamed for the harassment they faced under the #INeverAskForIt: United to End Victim Blame, a virtual social campaign presently trending on Twitter. 

In a ‘tweet-a-thon’ Monday, organised by Blank Noise — a community organisation working to eradicated gender-based and sexual violence — several people pledged to tackle victim-blaming and even shared video statements of solidarity.

Jasmeen Patheja, founder of Blank Noise, began the campaign against victim blaming in 2018 under the ‘I Never Ask For It’ banner. The primary aim of the campaign is the construction of an exhibition made up of the clothes women were wearing when they experienced any form of sexual violence.

Patheja plans to display 10,000 such items of clothing at India Gate by the year 2023.

“We envision 10,000 garments standing united at India Gate, knowing fully that it calls for being monumental,” said Patheja in an email statement.

Shiv Sena leader Priyanka Chaturvedi, Aam Aadmi Party MLA Atishi, singers Sona Mohapatra, Ankur Tewari, and journalist Barkha Dutt were among the hundreds of people who expressed solidarity to end victim-blaming and shaming in crimes against women, as part of the social media campaign #INeverAskForIt.

The social media users are coming forward and recalling what they were wearing when they faced harassment.