New Delhi: In light of the national outrage surrounding the tragic rape and murder of a Kolkata doctor, actress Celina Jaitly has come forward with a personal account that sheds light on the persistent victim-blaming culture in society. The former beauty queen took to Instagram on Saturday to share a deeply unsettling memory from her childhood when she was subjected to harassment and shamed for it.Harassment in grade sixCelina shared an image from her sixth grade, recounting the traumatic experiences she endured at such a young age. In this pic, I was in 6th grade when boys from a nearby university started waiting outside my school. They would follow the school rickshaw, catcalling all the way home every day, Celina wrote. Despite trying to ignore the harassers, the situation escalated when they began throwing stones at her in public. Shockingly, bystanders remained indifferent to her plight. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Celina Jaitly (@celinajaitlyofficial)Victim-blamed by her teacherWhat followed was an even more troubling experience of victim-shaming by those in authority. Celina revealed that a teacher blamed her attire and demeanor for attracting unwanted attention. I was told by a teacher: It was because I was too westernized, did not wear loose clothes, and didnt tie my hair in braids with oil. It was my fault, she recounted.Trauma of being flashedCelina went on to describe a particularly disturbing incident where a man exposed himself to her while she waited for her school rickshaw one morning. For years, she internalized the belief that it was her fault, influenced by her teachers words. I blamed myself for this incident, running the teachers words over and over in my mind, she confessed.Continued harassment in high schoolThe harassment didnt stop there. By grade eleven, university boys continued to target her, even going as far as cutting the brakes on her scooter because she ignored their advances. Despite being in physical danger, the blame was once again placed on her. My teacher told me, You come across as a FORWARD type of girl, riding a scooty and wearing jeans, thats why boys think youre of loose character. It was always my fault.Celina concluded her post by urging society to reject victim-blaming and stand up for the rights of women and girls. Its time to stand up and ask for our right to be protected. WE ARE NOT AT FAULT!
