“The day a daughter can walk home alone at night…”: Kriti Sanon raises concerns over women’s safety
Bollywood actor Kriti Sanon shares a powerful message on Daughter's Day, highlighting the constant fear and precautions women face in public spaces.
Bollywood actor Kriti Sanon has used a poignant moment to address the pressing issue of women's security in India. Reflecting on the complexities of being a woman in modern society, the actress shared a deeply moving message that urges the public to contemplate the constant state of vigilance women must maintain to stay safe.
A haunting reality for daughters
Marking the occasion of Daughter's Day, Sanon didn't just offer celebrations; she offered a stark reality check. Through a heartfelt post, she asked people to step into the shoes of a daughter living in fear. She painted vivid, unsettling pictures of scenarios that many women face regularly.
"Imagine your daughter calling you saying, ‘I think I’m being followed by some men’," she wrote. She further described the anxiety of a woman walking home under the cover of darkness, constantly glancing behind her, or the sheer panic that sets in when a mobile phone battery dies before she reaches the safety of her home.
The invisible burden of precaution
The actor pointed out that what many might consider "normal" behavior is actually a collection of survival tactics. She noted that women have been forced to integrate specific safety measures into their daily lifestyles, such as:
- Sharing live locations with family or friends at all times.
- Carrying pepper spray as a standard necessity.
- Choosing cabs over walking, even for short distances.
- Staying on the phone with someone while traveling alone.
Sanon argued that these are not mere choices, but essential precautions that have become part of the very fabric of a woman's existence in public spaces.
Redefining what we celebrate
For Sanon, true celebration should not be about rituals, but about fundamental rights and freedom. She suggested that the real reason to celebrate Daughter's Day would be when the environment changes entirely.
"The day a daughter can walk home alone at night, sit in a park after dark, wear whatever the hell she wants, take public transport without fear, or simply exist in a public space without calculating the risk of being assaulted… That is the day we should celebrate Daughter's Day,"
She concluded her message with a tribute to every daughter who feels compelled to call home just to say, "I've reached safely." Sanon expressed a profound hope for a future where such constant reassurance is no longer a requirement for survival, stating that such a world is what daughters truly deserve and what society owes them.