The concept of “no means no” has become a significant motto in the quest for gender justice across various demographics in India. Recent data from a survey conducted for India Today indicates that societal attitudes towards consent, particularly regarding females, are evolving. Approximately 60 per cent of respondents now affirm that the principle of “no means no” should be respected, showing a notable shift in awareness among men as well.

Despite this encouraging statistic, variations in awareness levels exist geographically. Awareness is reportedly higher in northern and western regions compared to southern and eastern areas, where improvements are still necessary. This disparity highlights an ongoing journey toward gender equality that is not uniformly experienced across the country.

While the consent perception score stands at a noteworthy 60 out of 100, the score reflecting real-life experiences drops significantly to 44 out of 100. This discrepancy underlines the gap between how consent is perceived and how it is experienced in everyday situations.

Challenges Faced by Young Women and Low-Income Groups

A deep dive into the survey data reveals concerning trends, particularly for young women aged 18 to 25. A stark difference of 21 per cent exists between the perception score—59 per cent aware of the principle of consent—and the corresponding experience score, which is only 38 per cent.

The issue is exacerbated for women engaged in lower-income jobs, who face an even wider experience perception gap of over 20 per cent. In contrast, this gap shrinks to about 10 per cent for those in higher income brackets, indicating that economic empowerment plays a crucial role in shaping personal experiences of consent.

Additionally, women in semi-urban areas appear to be more vulnerable compared to their rural counterparts. The perception and experience scores indicate that, while urban and rural women face similar challenges, those in semi-urban settings experience greater difficulties in achieving autonomy and consent.

Societal Norms and the Need for Continued Empowerment

Education remains an important factor in discussions of empowerment. However, the survey indicates that economic independence is key to converting educational attainment into real-world agency. A woman from a rural background with strong economic agency may experience significantly more empowerment than a highly educated urban woman lacking financial independence.

The findings further shed light on the sensitive issue of marital rape, which continues to generate serious conversations about consent within marriages and live-in relationships. A substantial portion of survey respondents acknowledged the occurrence of marital rape while calling for its criminalisation, albeit with reservations regarding how laws might be misused.

In examining the overall landscape of consent and empowerment in India, it becomes apparent that while significant progress has been made over recent decades, entrenched societal norms still impact women’s experiences. Factors such as marital status complicate perceptions of autonomy, particularly for divorced or separated women who may face stigma and be deemed more vulnerable.

The contrast between perception and reality in consent remains a critical issue requiring open dialogue and societal introspection. As discussions about gender empowerment continue to gain momentum, it is essential for Indian society to transform “no means no” from a mere slogan into a lived reality for all women.

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