Reevaluating Legal Protections for Men against Harassment through the Lens of Gender Equality

The Increasing number of suicides by men due to familiar disturbances especially by the spouse is the clear implication of harassment towards men in society. Men and their vulnerability are mostly under-explored in Indian culture for various reasons. Men are expected to embody emotional restraint, assertiveness, dominance, and physical toughness, with societal pressure emphasizing that they must never appear weak or vulnerable. However, The existing legal framework primarily focused on women's empowerment to uphold equality before the law and equal protection of the law. But there is a growing concern that in the name of protection, the increasing harassment and mental torture of men are being overshadowed. The instances of abuse of the law by women are raising questions about the fairness of the current Social Justice system. The Constitution of India upholds the principle of gender-based non-discrimination, ensuring equality for all. However, when it comes to issues like domestic violence, relationship blackmail, the threat of false FIR, and particularly the increasingly dangerous phenomenon of media and social media trail, the legal system reveals its inherent bias. This is a clear violation of Article 21 of Individuals. The paper seeks to identify the challenges for men in the legal system and the societal factor and find gaps in the legislative framework.