[Script Info] Title: [Events] Format: Layer, Start, End, Style, Name, MarginL, MarginR, MarginV, Effect, Text Dialogue: 0,0:00:00.96,0:00:03.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Talking about empowerment is odd, Dialogue: 0,0:00:03.66,0:00:05.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because when we talk about empowerment, Dialogue: 0,0:00:05.76,0:00:08.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,what affects us most are the stories. Dialogue: 0,0:00:08.97,0:00:12.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So I want to begin with an everyday story. Dialogue: 0,0:00:12.18,0:00:16.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,What is it really like to be a young woman in India? Dialogue: 0,0:00:16.70,0:00:18.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, I've spent the last 27 years of my life Dialogue: 0,0:00:18.97,0:00:21.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in India, lived in three small towns, Dialogue: 0,0:00:21.07,0:00:22.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,two major cities, Dialogue: 0,0:00:22.89,0:00:26.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I've had several experiences. Dialogue: 0,0:00:26.12,0:00:27.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,When I was seven, Dialogue: 0,0:00:27.97,0:00:29.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a private tutor who used to come home Dialogue: 0,0:00:29.93,0:00:34.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to teach me mathematics molested me. Dialogue: 0,0:00:34.65,0:00:37.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He would put his hand up my skirt. Dialogue: 0,0:00:40.79,0:00:43.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He put his hand up my skirt and told me Dialogue: 0,0:00:43.97,0:00:47.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,he knew how to make me feel good. Dialogue: 0,0:00:47.93,0:00:51.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,At 17, a boy from my high school Dialogue: 0,0:00:51.06,0:00:52.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,circulated an email Dialogue: 0,0:00:52.51,0:00:54.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,detailing all the sexually aggressive things Dialogue: 0,0:00:54.94,0:00:57.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,he could do to me Dialogue: 0,0:00:57.70,0:01:01.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because I didn't pay attention to him. Dialogue: 0,0:01:01.79,0:01:05.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,At 19, I helped a friend Dialogue: 0,0:01:05.50,0:01:08.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,whose parents had forcefully\Nmarried her to an older man Dialogue: 0,0:01:08.59,0:01:12.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,escape an abusive marriage. Dialogue: 0,0:01:12.26,0:01:14.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,At 21, when my friend and I were walking Dialogue: 0,0:01:14.40,0:01:18.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,down the road one afternoon, Dialogue: 0,0:01:18.73,0:01:20.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a man pulled down his pants Dialogue: 0,0:01:20.27,0:01:23.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and masturbated in front of us. Dialogue: 0,0:01:23.48,0:01:27.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We called people for help, and nobody came. Dialogue: 0,0:01:27.91,0:01:32.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,At 25, when I was walking home one evening, Dialogue: 0,0:01:32.90,0:01:35.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,two men on a motorcycle attacked me. Dialogue: 0,0:01:35.73,0:01:37.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I spent two nights in the hospital Dialogue: 0,0:01:37.84,0:01:41.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,recovering from trauma and injuries. Dialogue: 0,0:01:41.08,0:01:46.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So throughout my life, I've seen women — Dialogue: 0,0:01:46.30,0:01:48.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,family, friends, colleagues — Dialogue: 0,0:01:48.17,0:01:50.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,live through these experiences, Dialogue: 0,0:01:50.96,0:01:54.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and they seldom talk about it. Dialogue: 0,0:01:54.14,0:01:58.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So in simple words, life in India is not easy. Dialogue: 0,0:01:58.78,0:02:02.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But today I'm not going to talk to you about this fear. Dialogue: 0,0:02:02.30,0:02:04.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I'm going to talk to you about an interesting path Dialogue: 0,0:02:04.05,0:02:08.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of learning that this fear took me on. Dialogue: 0,0:02:08.43,0:02:11.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So, what happened one night in December 2012 Dialogue: 0,0:02:11.93,0:02:13.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,changed my life. Dialogue: 0,0:02:13.70,0:02:17.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So a young girl, a 23-year-old student, Dialogue: 0,0:02:17.00,0:02:21.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,boarded a bus in Delhi with her male friend. Dialogue: 0,0:02:21.90,0:02:24.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There were six men on the bus, young men Dialogue: 0,0:02:24.51,0:02:27.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,who you might encounter every day in India, Dialogue: 0,0:02:27.59,0:02:29.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the chilling account of what followed Dialogue: 0,0:02:29.92,0:02:31.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,was played over and over again Dialogue: 0,0:02:31.67,0:02:34.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in the Indian and international media. Dialogue: 0,0:02:34.49,0:02:37.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This girl was raped repeatedly, Dialogue: 0,0:02:37.76,0:02:40.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,forcefully penetrated with a blunt rod, Dialogue: 0,0:02:40.74,0:02:43.100,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,beaten, bitten, and left to die. Dialogue: 0,0:02:43.100,0:02:46.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Her friend was gagged, attacked, Dialogue: 0,0:02:46.00,0:02:49.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and knocked unconscious. Dialogue: 0,0:02:49.58,0:02:53.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,She died on the 29th of December. Dialogue: 0,0:02:53.76,0:02:55.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And at a time when most of us here Dialogue: 0,0:02:55.74,0:02:58.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,were preparing to welcome the new year, Dialogue: 0,0:02:58.24,0:03:01.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,India plunged into darkness. Dialogue: 0,0:03:01.48,0:03:04.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,For the first time in our history, Dialogue: 0,0:03:04.64,0:03:06.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,men and women in Indian cities Dialogue: 0,0:03:06.82,0:03:09.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,woke up to the horrific truth Dialogue: 0,0:03:09.01,0:03:12.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,about the true state of women in the country. Dialogue: 0,0:03:12.54,0:03:14.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, like many other young women, Dialogue: 0,0:03:14.96,0:03:17.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I was absolutely terrified. Dialogue: 0,0:03:17.15,0:03:18.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I couldn't believe that something like this Dialogue: 0,0:03:18.42,0:03:21.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,could happen in a national capital. Dialogue: 0,0:03:21.59,0:03:24.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I was angry and I was frustrated, Dialogue: 0,0:03:24.14,0:03:28.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but most of all, I felt utterly, completely helpless. Dialogue: 0,0:03:28.25,0:03:30.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But really, what do you do, right? Dialogue: 0,0:03:30.39,0:03:32.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Some write blogs, some ignore it, Dialogue: 0,0:03:32.41,0:03:34.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,some join protests. Dialogue: 0,0:03:34.14,0:03:36.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I did all of it. In fact, that was what everyone was doing Dialogue: 0,0:03:36.71,0:03:38.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,two years ago. Dialogue: 0,0:03:38.39,0:03:41.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So the media was filled with stories about Dialogue: 0,0:03:41.37,0:03:43.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,all the horrific deeds Dialogue: 0,0:03:43.13,0:03:45.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that Indian men are capable of. Dialogue: 0,0:03:45.24,0:03:46.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They were compared to animals, Dialogue: 0,0:03:46.47,0:03:48.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,sexually repressed beasts. Dialogue: 0,0:03:48.66,0:03:52.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In fact, so alien and unthinkable was this event Dialogue: 0,0:03:52.66,0:03:53.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in an Indian mind Dialogue: 0,0:03:53.98,0:03:56.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that the response from the Indian media, Dialogue: 0,0:03:56.39,0:04:00.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,public and politicians proved one point: Dialogue: 0,0:04:00.30,0:04:02.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,No one knew what to do. Dialogue: 0,0:04:02.18,0:04:04.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And no one wanted to be responsible for it. Dialogue: 0,0:04:04.78,0:04:07.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In fact, these were a few insensitive comments Dialogue: 0,0:04:07.26,0:04:08.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which were made in the media Dialogue: 0,0:04:08.44,0:04:10.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,by prominent people Dialogue: 0,0:04:10.47,0:04:14.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in response to sexual violence\Nagainst women in general. Dialogue: 0,0:04:14.62,0:04:17.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So the first one is made by a member of parliament, Dialogue: 0,0:04:17.83,0:04:21.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the second one is made by a spiritual leader, Dialogue: 0,0:04:21.22,0:04:23.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the third one was actually\Nthe defendants' lawyer Dialogue: 0,0:04:23.93,0:04:25.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,when the girl was fighting for her life Dialogue: 0,0:04:25.78,0:04:28.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and she passed away. Dialogue: 0,0:04:28.63,0:04:32.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, as a woman watching this day after day, Dialogue: 0,0:04:32.48,0:04:34.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I was tired. Dialogue: 0,0:04:34.28,0:04:35.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So as a writer and gender activist, Dialogue: 0,0:04:35.93,0:04:39.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I have written extensively on women, Dialogue: 0,0:04:39.18,0:04:41.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but this time, I realized it was different, Dialogue: 0,0:04:41.82,0:04:43.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because a part of me realized Dialogue: 0,0:04:43.40,0:04:45.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I was a part of that young woman too, Dialogue: 0,0:04:45.75,0:04:47.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I decided I wanted to change this. Dialogue: 0,0:04:47.93,0:04:51.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So I did something spontaneous, hasty. Dialogue: 0,0:04:51.96,0:04:54.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I logged on to a citizen journalism platform Dialogue: 0,0:04:54.51,0:04:55.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,called iReport, Dialogue: 0,0:04:55.96,0:04:58.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I recorded a video talking about Dialogue: 0,0:04:58.71,0:05:00.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,what the scene was like in Bangalore. Dialogue: 0,0:05:00.69,0:05:02.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I talked about how I felt, Dialogue: 0,0:05:02.38,0:05:03.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I talked about the ground realities, Dialogue: 0,0:05:03.72,0:05:09.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I talked about the frustrations of living in India. Dialogue: 0,0:05:09.23,0:05:12.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In a few hours, the blog was shared widely, Dialogue: 0,0:05:12.84,0:05:14.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and comments and thoughts poured in Dialogue: 0,0:05:14.68,0:05:16.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,from across the world. Dialogue: 0,0:05:16.34,0:05:20.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In that moment, a few things occurred to me. Dialogue: 0,0:05:20.02,0:05:23.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,One, technology was always at hand Dialogue: 0,0:05:23.74,0:05:26.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,for many young women like me. Dialogue: 0,0:05:26.96,0:05:30.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Two, like me, most young women Dialogue: 0,0:05:30.50,0:05:33.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,hardly use it to express their views. Dialogue: 0,0:05:33.92,0:05:37.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Three, I realized for the first time Dialogue: 0,0:05:37.85,0:05:40.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that my voice mattered. Dialogue: 0,0:05:40.71,0:05:43.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So in the months that followed, Dialogue: 0,0:05:43.44,0:05:45.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I covered a trail of events in Bangalore Dialogue: 0,0:05:45.49,0:05:49.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which had no space in the mainstream news. Dialogue: 0,0:05:49.47,0:05:52.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In Cubbon Park, which is a big park in Bangalore, Dialogue: 0,0:05:52.24,0:05:53.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I gathered with over 100 others Dialogue: 0,0:05:53.84,0:05:55.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,when groups of young men came forward Dialogue: 0,0:05:55.75,0:05:57.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to wear skirts to prove that clothing Dialogue: 0,0:05:57.56,0:06:01.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,does not invite rape. Dialogue: 0,0:06:01.24,0:06:03.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,When I reported about these events, Dialogue: 0,0:06:03.08,0:06:06.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I felt I had charge, I felt like I had a channel Dialogue: 0,0:06:06.17,0:06:10.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to release all the emotions I had inside me. Dialogue: 0,0:06:10.34,0:06:12.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I attended the town hall march Dialogue: 0,0:06:12.41,0:06:14.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,when students held up signs saying Dialogue: 0,0:06:14.34,0:06:16.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"Kill them, hang them." Dialogue: 0,0:06:16.87,0:06:20.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"You wouldn't do this to your mothers or sisters." Dialogue: 0,0:06:20.70,0:06:22.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I went to a candlelight vigil Dialogue: 0,0:06:22.18,0:06:24.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,where citizens gathered together Dialogue: 0,0:06:24.28,0:06:28.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to talk about the issue of sexual violence openly, Dialogue: 0,0:06:28.24,0:06:30.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I recorded a lot of blogs Dialogue: 0,0:06:30.28,0:06:32.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in response to how worrying the situation was Dialogue: 0,0:06:32.98,0:06:34.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in India at that point. Dialogue: 0,0:06:34.25,0:06:35.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,["I am born with sisters and cousin who now live in cities and abroad but they never talk to me or complain about their daily difficulties like you say"] Dialogue: 0,0:06:35.90,0:06:37.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, the reactions confused me. Dialogue: 0,0:06:37.36,0:06:40.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,While supportive comments poured\Nin from across the world, Dialogue: 0,0:06:40.23,0:06:42.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as did vicious ones. Dialogue: 0,0:06:42.24,0:06:43.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So some called me a hypocrite. Dialogue: 0,0:06:43.68,0:06:46.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Some called me a victim, a rape apologist. Dialogue: 0,0:06:46.44,0:06:49.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Some even said I had a political motive. Dialogue: 0,0:06:49.40,0:06:51.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But this one comment kind of describes Dialogue: 0,0:06:51.52,0:06:56.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,what we are discussing here today. Dialogue: 0,0:06:56.33,0:06:59.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But I was soon to learn that this was not all. Dialogue: 0,0:06:59.44,0:07:01.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,As empowered as I felt Dialogue: 0,0:07:01.43,0:07:02.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,with the new liberty that this Dialogue: 0,0:07:02.88,0:07:05.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,citizen journalism channel gave me, Dialogue: 0,0:07:05.24,0:07:08.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I found myself in an unfamiliar situation. Dialogue: 0,0:07:08.57,0:07:11.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So sometime last August, I logged onto Facebook Dialogue: 0,0:07:11.74,0:07:13.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I was looking through my news feed, Dialogue: 0,0:07:13.14,0:07:15.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I noticed there was a link Dialogue: 0,0:07:15.18,0:07:16.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that was being shared by my friends. Dialogue: 0,0:07:16.86,0:07:19.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I clicked on the link; it led me back Dialogue: 0,0:07:19.04,0:07:23.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to a report uploaded by an American girl Dialogue: 0,0:07:23.11,0:07:25.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,called Michaela Cross. Dialogue: 0,0:07:25.32,0:07:26.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The report was titled, Dialogue: 0,0:07:26.71,0:07:29.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"India: The story you never wanted to hear." Dialogue: 0,0:07:29.95,0:07:33.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And in this report, she recounted her firsthand Dialogue: 0,0:07:33.10,0:07:36.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,account of facing sexual harassment in India. Dialogue: 0,0:07:36.80,0:07:40.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,She wrote, "There is no way to prepare for the eyes, Dialogue: 0,0:07:40.76,0:07:42.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the eyes that every day stared Dialogue: 0,0:07:42.85,0:07:45.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,with such entitlement at my body, Dialogue: 0,0:07:45.57,0:07:47.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,with no change of expression Dialogue: 0,0:07:47.42,0:07:50.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,whether I met their gaze or not. Dialogue: 0,0:07:50.07,0:07:53.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Walking to the fruit seller's or the tailor's, Dialogue: 0,0:07:53.21,0:07:55.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I got stares so sharp Dialogue: 0,0:07:55.31,0:07:58.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that they sliced away bits of me piece by piece." Dialogue: 0,0:07:58.75,0:08:02.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,She called India a traveler's\Nheaven and a woman's hell. Dialogue: 0,0:08:02.64,0:08:04.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,She said she was stalked, groped, Dialogue: 0,0:08:04.66,0:08:06.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and masturbated at. Dialogue: 0,0:08:06.25,0:08:08.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, late that evening, the report went viral. Dialogue: 0,0:08:08.69,0:08:12.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It was on news channels across the world. Dialogue: 0,0:08:12.30,0:08:13.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Everyone was discussing it. Dialogue: 0,0:08:13.91,0:08:15.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It had over a million views, Dialogue: 0,0:08:15.02,0:08:16.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a thousand comments and shares, Dialogue: 0,0:08:16.92,0:08:18.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I found myself witnessing Dialogue: 0,0:08:18.84,0:08:21.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a very similar thing. Dialogue: 0,0:08:21.40,0:08:24.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The media was caught in this vicious cycle Dialogue: 0,0:08:24.10,0:08:26.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of opinion and outburst Dialogue: 0,0:08:26.40,0:08:29.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and no outcome whatsoever. Dialogue: 0,0:08:29.70,0:08:32.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So that night, as I sat wondering Dialogue: 0,0:08:32.10,0:08:33.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,how I should respond, Dialogue: 0,0:08:33.44,0:08:35.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I found myself filled with doubt. Dialogue: 0,0:08:35.85,0:08:39.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You see, as a writer, I approached this issue Dialogue: 0,0:08:39.21,0:08:41.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as an observer, Dialogue: 0,0:08:41.59,0:08:45.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as an Indian, I felt embarrassment and disbelief, Dialogue: 0,0:08:45.96,0:08:50.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and as an activist, I looked\Nat it as a defender of rights, Dialogue: 0,0:08:50.44,0:08:52.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but as a citizen journalist, Dialogue: 0,0:08:52.58,0:08:55.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I suddenly felt very vulnerable. Dialogue: 0,0:08:55.85,0:08:58.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I mean, here she was, a young woman Dialogue: 0,0:08:58.18,0:08:59.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,who was using a channel to talk about Dialogue: 0,0:08:59.58,0:09:01.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,her experience just as I was, Dialogue: 0,0:09:01.73,0:09:04.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and yet I felt unsettled. Dialogue: 0,0:09:04.54,0:09:06.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You see, no one ever tells you Dialogue: 0,0:09:06.47,0:09:09.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that true empowerment comes from giving yourself Dialogue: 0,0:09:09.41,0:09:11.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the permission to think and act. Dialogue: 0,0:09:11.78,0:09:14.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Empowerment is often made to sound as if Dialogue: 0,0:09:14.24,0:09:17.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it's an ideal, it's a wonderful outcome. Dialogue: 0,0:09:17.44,0:09:19.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,When we talk about empowerment, we often Dialogue: 0,0:09:19.27,0:09:22.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,talk about giving people access to materials, Dialogue: 0,0:09:22.56,0:09:25.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,giving them access to tools. Dialogue: 0,0:09:25.30,0:09:27.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But the thing is, empowerment is an emotion. Dialogue: 0,0:09:27.74,0:09:29.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's a feeling. Dialogue: 0,0:09:29.21,0:09:31.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The first step to empowerment Dialogue: 0,0:09:31.94,0:09:34.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is to give yourself the authority, Dialogue: 0,0:09:34.82,0:09:36.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the key to independent will, Dialogue: 0,0:09:36.79,0:09:38.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and for women everywhere, Dialogue: 0,0:09:38.39,0:09:40.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,no matter who we are or where we come from, Dialogue: 0,0:09:40.94,0:09:44.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that is the most difficult step. Dialogue: 0,0:09:44.26,0:09:46.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We fear the sound of our own voice, Dialogue: 0,0:09:46.87,0:09:49.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,for it means admission, but it is this that gives us Dialogue: 0,0:09:49.66,0:09:52.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the power to change our environment. Dialogue: 0,0:09:52.74,0:09:54.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now in this situation where I was faced Dialogue: 0,0:09:54.58,0:09:57.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,with so many different kinds of realities, Dialogue: 0,0:09:57.27,0:09:58.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I was unsure how to judge, Dialogue: 0,0:09:58.75,0:10:01.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because I didn't know what it would mean for me. Dialogue: 0,0:10:01.84,0:10:04.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I feared to judge because I\Ndidn't know what it would be Dialogue: 0,0:10:04.84,0:10:08.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,if I didn't support the same view as this girl. Dialogue: 0,0:10:08.12,0:10:09.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I didn't know what it would mean for me Dialogue: 0,0:10:09.49,0:10:14.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,if I was challenging someone else's truth. Dialogue: 0,0:10:14.37,0:10:15.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But yet, it was simple. Dialogue: 0,0:10:15.86,0:10:17.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I had to make a decision: Dialogue: 0,0:10:17.31,0:10:20.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Should I speak up or should I stay quiet? Dialogue: 0,0:10:20.50,0:10:22.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So after a lot of thought, Dialogue: 0,0:10:22.79,0:10:25.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I recorded a video blog in response, Dialogue: 0,0:10:25.28,0:10:27.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I told Michaela, well, Dialogue: 0,0:10:27.25,0:10:29.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,there are different sides to India, Dialogue: 0,0:10:29.96,0:10:35.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I also tried to explain Dialogue: 0,0:10:35.36,0:10:37.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that things would be okay Dialogue: 0,0:10:37.42,0:10:40.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I expressed my regret for what she had faced. Dialogue: 0,0:10:40.09,0:10:42.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And a few days later, I was invited to talk Dialogue: 0,0:10:42.69,0:10:44.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,on air with her, Dialogue: 0,0:10:44.06,0:10:48.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and for the first time, I reached out to this girl Dialogue: 0,0:10:48.18,0:10:50.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,who I had never met, who was so far away, Dialogue: 0,0:10:50.98,0:10:53.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but yet I felt so close to. Dialogue: 0,0:10:53.82,0:10:56.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Since this report came to light, Dialogue: 0,0:10:56.35,0:10:58.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,more young people than ever Dialogue: 0,0:10:58.66,0:11:02.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,were discussing sexual harassment on the campus, Dialogue: 0,0:11:02.01,0:11:04.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the university that Michaela belonged to Dialogue: 0,0:11:04.80,0:11:08.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,gave her the assistance she needed. Dialogue: 0,0:11:08.64,0:11:10.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The university even took measures Dialogue: 0,0:11:10.99,0:11:13.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to train its students to equip them Dialogue: 0,0:11:13.05,0:11:14.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,with the skills that they need Dialogue: 0,0:11:14.68,0:11:18.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to confront challenges such as harassment, Dialogue: 0,0:11:18.16,0:11:22.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and for the first the time, I felt I wasn't alone. Dialogue: 0,0:11:22.45,0:11:24.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You see, if there's anything that I've learned Dialogue: 0,0:11:24.53,0:11:27.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as an active citizen journalist Dialogue: 0,0:11:27.17,0:11:30.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,over the past few years, Dialogue: 0,0:11:30.25,0:11:34.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it is our dire lack as a society to actively find Dialogue: 0,0:11:34.22,0:11:37.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,avenues where our voices can be heard. Dialogue: 0,0:11:37.22,0:11:41.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We don't realize that when we are standing up, Dialogue: 0,0:11:41.53,0:11:43.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we are not just standing up as individuals, Dialogue: 0,0:11:43.37,0:11:46.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we are standing up for our communities, Dialogue: 0,0:11:46.60,0:11:48.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,our friends, our peers. Dialogue: 0,0:11:48.46,0:11:51.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Most of us say that women are denied their rights, Dialogue: 0,0:11:51.84,0:11:54.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but the truth is, oftentimes, Dialogue: 0,0:11:54.21,0:11:57.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,women deny themselves these rights. Dialogue: 0,0:11:57.61,0:12:00.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In a recent survey in India, Dialogue: 0,0:12:00.25,0:12:04.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,95 percent of the women who work in I.T., Dialogue: 0,0:12:04.78,0:12:08.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,aviation, hospitality and call centers, Dialogue: 0,0:12:08.20,0:12:10.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,said they didn't feel safe returning home alone Dialogue: 0,0:12:10.76,0:12:14.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,after work in the late hours or in the evening. Dialogue: 0,0:12:14.15,0:12:15.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In Bangalore, where I come from, Dialogue: 0,0:12:15.55,0:12:18.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,this number is 85 percent. Dialogue: 0,0:12:18.02,0:12:20.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In rural areas in India, Dialogue: 0,0:12:20.56,0:12:23.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,if anything is to go by the recent Dialogue: 0,0:12:23.72,0:12:26.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,gang rapes in Badaun and acid attacks in Odisha Dialogue: 0,0:12:26.29,0:12:28.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and Aligarh are supposed to go by, Dialogue: 0,0:12:28.31,0:12:31.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we need to act really soon. Dialogue: 0,0:12:31.88,0:12:33.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Don't get me wrong, Dialogue: 0,0:12:33.58,0:12:36.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the challenges that women will face Dialogue: 0,0:12:36.28,0:12:39.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in telling their stories is real, Dialogue: 0,0:12:39.08,0:12:41.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but we need to start pursuing Dialogue: 0,0:12:41.78,0:12:44.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and trying to identify mediums Dialogue: 0,0:12:44.27,0:12:45.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to participate in our system Dialogue: 0,0:12:45.76,0:12:50.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and not just pursue the media blindly. Dialogue: 0,0:12:50.12,0:12:53.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Today, more women than ever Dialogue: 0,0:12:53.12,0:12:54.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,are standing up and questioning Dialogue: 0,0:12:54.77,0:12:56.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the government in India, Dialogue: 0,0:12:56.15,0:12:59.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and this is a result of that courage. Dialogue: 0,0:12:59.17,0:13:02.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There is a sixfold increase in women Dialogue: 0,0:13:02.22,0:13:03.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,reporting harassment, Dialogue: 0,0:13:03.78,0:13:05.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the government passed Dialogue: 0,0:13:05.17,0:13:08.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act in 2013 Dialogue: 0,0:13:08.15,0:13:11.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to protect women against sexual assault. Dialogue: 0,0:13:11.97,0:13:13.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,As I end this talk, Dialogue: 0,0:13:13.92,0:13:16.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I just want to say Dialogue: 0,0:13:16.04,0:13:21.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that I know a lot of us in this room have our secrets, Dialogue: 0,0:13:21.62,0:13:23.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but let us speak up. Dialogue: 0,0:13:23.57,0:13:26.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Let us fight the shame and talk about it. Dialogue: 0,0:13:26.24,0:13:29.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It could be a platform, a community, Dialogue: 0,0:13:29.76,0:13:33.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,your loved one, whoever or whatever you choose, Dialogue: 0,0:13:33.65,0:13:35.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but let us speak up. Dialogue: 0,0:13:35.74,0:13:38.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The truth is, the end to this problem Dialogue: 0,0:13:38.80,0:13:40.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,begins with us. Dialogue: 0,0:13:40.54,0:13:42.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Thank you. Dialogue: 0,0:13:42.19,0:13:45.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Applause)