#Metoo and the line of consent

I work with companies, from small startups to large corporates, to build safe and inclusive workplaces. When training people and conducting inquiries into harassment cases, from verbal harassment to rape, I hear questions, scepticism and outrage. While there are many nuances to this topic, the one that generates the most discussion is the issue of consent. From dates gone wrong to stalking on Facebook to chatting on WhatsApp— the line is absurdly thin, never black and white.

Maybe doesn’t mean yes: In my conversations with women (and men) who have faced harassment, I have found that saying no is an incredibly difficult thing to do. When asked out on a date, many women make excuses or agree to ‘one harmless coffee’ just to avoid the awkwardness with a colleague. Sometimes they do it out of fear of retaliation; harassment is at its core a power game. But in all these instances, at no point of time does the women actually say “Yes, I want to go on a date with you."

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This is an excerpt from an opinion piece for LiveMint. Read the full piece here.