This Article is written by Prachi Kumari, a Law Graduate of N.B.Thakur Law College, Nashik

INTRODUCTION

From time to time in the course of human history, women's safety has been more of an issue that cuts across various sensitive layers and is developed by social, cultural as well as technological changes. As thing stands now, notwithstanding these achievements that thus far have been recorded regarding women's rights and the possibility of safer surroundings, there are nevertheless so many challenges. This article tracks the evolution of women's safety across generations, marking its milestones and setbacks to find areas that need attention.

1. The Past: Early 20th Century and the Fight for Basic Rights

The early 20th century saw the beginning of significant movements in which women sought to redefine their standards in society. Before then, women in most societies often dwell in domestic roles. Their safety control is protected mainly within the family unit.

Suffrage Movement: This very revolutionary movement placed on the table their right to vote on social status in society. However, after winning their voting rights, harassment public violence and discrimination went on in the lives of the women.

Public Harassment and Workplace Discrimination: The women entering into the early workforce faced various issues like waste, disparity, Sexual harassment, and discrimination with little to no legal recourse.

The lack of. Legal protection.- Throughout all these years, women endured violence in the form of battering the exploitation at work and even in their homes, with a lack of any kind of legal protection to shield them. For instance, marital rape laws were only in existence in most of the countries which propelled the notion That a wife was some sort of property to her husband rather than an individual. [1]

2-The mid-20th century: Rights movements and legislative change.

There were various waves of legislative changes that impacted women's rights in the mid-20th century. This also saw social changes aimed at reforming issues of safety both within and outside these constraints set within the confines of the home.

Civil rights and feminist movements. - Feminist women rarely gather steam during the 1960s and 1970s by mobilizing for women's rights in many arenas such as reproductive rights, workplace equity, etc. Concepts such as domestic abuse, marital rape, and workplace harassment became public issues that could be and were protested for the first time.

Safety laws for women. - Women's safety laws were enacted by Western countries at this time It was a period when domestic violence and sexual harassment in the workplace and all forms of discrimination began to be legislated. Other examples of such early registration include the. The United States Equal Pay Act of 1963. Most countries also established women's shelters and opened them to accumulate more women coming to realize that the extent of shelter would have to be much greater to express such great support to victims who needed it and added another layer of shelter to what was initially thought necessary.

Awareness campaigns. -During this phase, public awareness campaigns on the issues of sexual assault and gender-based violence also started which brought these very issues to the fore and altered the perceptions in societies.

3- Late 20th-century growing awareness and structural reforms.

Awareness increased in the second half of the 20th century and saw a change in the method adopted to address the issue of women's security through education and structural reforms.

The Programmes in Schools and Media Representations. - Curriculum-based programs that advocate women's rights and denounce violence against women were introduced within these goals. Moreover, the media also started to play a greater role in showing women are strong and capable people. This enables the women to raise the issues concerning their safety and rights.

The Rise of Self-Defense Training.- With personal safety concerns, female self-defense classes started going out, and women were encouraged to take greater care of their surroundings and to learn about the simplest defense techniques causing a trend towards individual empowerment.

Legislation and higher accountability - The legislation relating to harassment in the workplace, in the community, and at home where strengthened in several countries, the perpetrators were increasingly organized and brought to the court with better success, providing women with legal recourse that had not existed before. In some countries, police units and institutions dedicated to services for victims of violence based on gender were established. [2]

4- The New Century: Technological and #Metoo Change Ongoing Issues

The 21st century has witnessed some significant shifts in the awareness of women. Set the roles and tools available to address this.

# Metoo Movement - The Metoo movement in 2017 was a turning point. Survivors of sexual harassment and abuse began going public with their stories. It brought the pervasiveness of sexual violence into the public eye and calls for accountability come flooding in.

Digital safety tools and apps - Technology has been simultaneously a blessing and a curse in the pursuit of women's safety, while on the other hand, social media and the Internet have allowed the fostering of voices from women who share their experiences and ignite a woman movement towards positive change. On the other hand, emerging risks include cyber stalking, harassment online, and data privacy issues.

Cellular app for safety. - A host of mobile applications has been developed to enhance the safety of women. Apps like Bsafe, Circle of 6, and NoonLight offer services that enable users to share their locations with Trusted Contacts to make emergency calls and even record dangerous encounters as proof.

Cyber safety issues. - Now the Internet further has to provide new channels for harassment. Women suffer from issues like revenge Stalking, and cyberbullying, and thus digital safety becomes an ongoing issue that needs to be noticed and adjusted constantly.

Educational and corporate policies. - Contemporary schools and workplaces greater emphasis on creating sexual harassment policies and constructing safer environments. Human resources departments, for instance, now have established processes in place to address harassment cases. Thus, liberating greater numbers of women to comfort their harassers. [3]

5 - Ongoing issues and Persistent issues - Much progress notwithstanding, women are better placed to remain at risk in the range of safety issues in the 21st century.

Violence in public places. - Women are still threatened by safety concerns within public places, even if a lot of the time places. Around the world implement Atomos security According to research conducted, a large percentage of women claim that they don't feel safe within public areas, particularly at Dimly lit or secluded locations.

Domestic violence remains rampant in society although, across all the backgrounds of women, there are legal inputs for the protection of women against domestic abuse in most parts of the world. However, The enforcement remains very weak. And social stigma seems to be a stronger factor preventing some women from receiving help. The issues could also be intersectional as a woman who is a member of marginalized groups characterized as women of color, lesbians, bisexuals, transgender, queer women. Or with layers of discrimination making the issue of safety more complicated. Thus, any attempt to ensure a safer and more inclusive approach regarding the safety of women must consider these intersectional issues.

6 - The Future: For a Safer World for All Women

Thus, Women's security in the future would require universal and sustained efforts, combined with diversification regarding policy reform, technological innovation, education, and social change.

Improvement of international laws.- All the governments have to fight to combine their country laws integrating one form of protection of women from violence and harassment. The countries that do not have quality legal support for women must reform to save against the abuse aid the survivors and prevent potential offenders.

Extending digital literacy - The Growing Severity of cyber harassment requires educating women and womanhood on digital safety in general. This would require teaching women how to maintain their online privacy, safe communication practices, and resources that could protect them from cyberbullying or stalking.

Incorporating men in safety programs -Women's safety is a two-way street. And not solely the obligation of women. Interpreting men in this will be a great way to enforce mutual respect and create more secure environments for all.

Harnessing technology for Prevention and Support - Identification and reporting of suspicious behavior on social media can be announced through AI and machine learning. Moreover, law enforcement and individuals can be trained in the effective handling of dangerous situations through virtual reality and simulation technology. [4]

7-Conclusion.

Women's safety has come a long way, yet this journey is far from being over. A new generation has added their challenges and triumphs to an ever-growing legacy of resilience empowerment and advocacy. They cannot only be paved with policy, education, technology, and societal changes but also ensure that future generations of women can live without fear, having the freedom to reach their fullest potential. This struggle towards a safer world for women has continued to advance incrementally with each generation that pushes the boundaries of what is safe and empowering for women. Building forward a multilateral approach should include legal reforms and Technological advancement. Only through gaining solutions to these problems at their very root level can certainly generate a future in which women live from the fear of many life-threatening and unimaginable events and therefore be able to accomplish their fullest potential. [5]

References

[1] Ananya Bhattacharaya, ‘India’s Domestic Violence Problem is Becoming Public Health Crisis’ Quartz India

( New,10 May 2020)

https://qz.com/india/1846354/indias-domestic-violence-problem-is-becoming-a-public-health-crisis accessed 18 Oct 2024

[2] Anuja Jaiswal, ‘India's battles against sexual harassment in the workplace ‘The Times of India (Delhi,

15 October 2021.) https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/indias-battle-against-sexual-harassment-in-the-workplace/articleshow/87002631.cms accessed 18 October 2024

[3] Ishita Mishra, ‘ Cybercrimes against women in India rise by 28%’ Hindustan Time (New Delhi, 18 September 2022) https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/cyber-crimes-against-women-in-india-rise-by-28-101663504732332.html accessed 18 October 2024

[4] Tanushri Venkataraman, ‘Laws on women's safety have improved but implementation still Lags,’ The Indian Express, (Mumbai, 8 March 2023). https://indianexpress.com/article/india/women-safety-laws-india-implementation-8470307 accessed 18 October 2024

[5] Rina Chandran, ‘India's new domestic violence Laws: Have they made women safer?’ Thomson Reuters Foundation news. ( Delhi ,25 November 2021 )https://news.trust.org/item/20211125101522-9k9bv accessed 18 October 2024.