Recognize Forms of Sexual Harassment on Public Transportation

Understanding the various forms of sexual harassment on public transportation is very important so that the public can distinguish which actions are acceptable and which should be rejected. According to the 2024 Annual Notes of Komnas Perempuan, sexual harassment on public transportation modes still occupies a high position in the category of gender-based violence. One form of harassment that is often considered trivial is whistling or whistling sounds aimed at teasing passengers, even though this can trigger feelings of humiliation and make victims feel unsafe. Comments that highlight physical appearance, as explained by Prof. Dr. Siti Musdah Mulia, can objectify the body and degrade the dignity of individuals in public spaces. In addition to verbal harassment, taking photos or recording without permission with sexual intent is also a serious violation of privacy and often occurs in crowded public vehicles. Physical contact such as groping passengers' body parts without consent is also often carried out by perpetrators by taking advantage of the crowd. It is also not uncommon for perpetrators to deliberately rub their intimate body parts against the victim, under the pretext of crowded conditions on public vehicles. In some extreme cases, perpetrators even display obscene acts in front of the victim, which causes deep psychological pressure even if there is no direct contact. These various forms of harassment have a significant impact on the sense of security of public transportation users and can trigger prolonged trauma if not handled properly.