Abstract

Men are also affected by patriarchy and cultural norms. Increasing numbers, men are being targeted by their female superiors / colleagues at the job site in a way which would easily be qualified as sexual harassment as provided for by the legal definitions of women protection, but unfortunately, due to deeply embedded cultural assumptions about men, such instances never see light. Gender-neutral sexual harassment legislation is needed and should be enacted by the government in order to eliminate any accidental discrimination on the basis of gender and to provide equal protection to both sexes. However, the delay in its implementation may be linked to a lack of effective "Social and collective cry," as stated by the Supreme Court in dismissing the PIL on gender neutral laws. According to a research conducted by The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the United States (US), 1 in 17 men reported being forced to penetrate at some point in their lives, and 86.5 percent of these rape victims indicated that the attackers were male. If Indian legislation is adapting and changing in order to make India a prosperous country, why should they lag behind in provisions dealing to male rapes? As a result, the Indian parliament must pass gender-neutral rape legislation, as countries such as the United States, Bhutan, and the United Kingdom have. The Indian judicial system and its citizenry must understand that women can rape males. Men, not just perpetrators, should be recognised as victims by the law. There is a need to highlight the topic of sexual harassment of males to the government and society in order to modify society's stereotyped thinking.

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