Youth, disengagement & the crisis of masculinity

Pratigyan Das

Three disturbing cases of sexual assault, within a month, have once again put the growing threat women face in public spaces under the scanner. In Bihar’s Jamui, a teenage girl was allegedly molested after she and a male friend were surrounded by a group of men. In Samastipur, another girl was allegedly harassed in broad daylight on a bypass road. Similarly, in Delhi, three men posing as policemen allegedly sexually assaulted a teenage girl after separating her from her friend in a park. These three reported cases raise a disturbing question: what is happening to the social behaviour of young men and why is the public space increasingly becoming a site of intimidation and violence against women? Against this backdrop, a recent report by NITI Ayog is worth mentioning.

It estimates that 8.7 crore young people aged 15–29 are not in education, employment or training (NEET). Being NEET does not, by itself, mean being idle or prone to crime; the category includes young people engaged in household work and other activities. But behind the numbers lies a larger question: what happens when millions of young people remain outside the institutions that provide education, skills, employment and a sense of purpose? Though there’s no basis to draw a direct causal link between being NEET and committing sexual offences, it would be shortsighted to view youth disengagement, lack of opportunities, gender attitudes and rising violence as completely disconnected issues. In a society deeply entrenched in a patriarchal mindset, these factors can combine to feed a misplaced sense of male entitlement and ego. For some young men, boredom, peer pressure and a craving for recognition become a deadly mix.

With time in their hand, little or no purpose to occupy them and most importantly, social media rewarding shock, bravado and provocation, harassment can become a way of seeking attention and validation. Reel culture has made it possible to turn a so-called ‘macho’ act into likes, shares and instant notoriety with just a click on a smartphone. But then two minutes of fame can come at a lifetime of cost to another person’s dignity, safety and freedom. Interestingly, the digital revolution has also brought a darker, less discussed consequence. Cheap and easily available mobile data has put an enormous volume of content within the reach of young people, often without adequate guidance or digital literacy.

For some, prolonged exposure to pornography, misogynistic content and videos glorifying aggression can distort their understanding of relationships, consent and masculinity. The real problem is not cheap data, but unfiltered content, distorted attitudes and little guidance. Another concern is alcohol and substance use among the young. In fact, studies point to adolescent drinking, with patterns varying across gender and rural-urban settings. Growing affordability has aggravated the problem, especially in a society that is already grappling with youth disengagement and toxic notions of masculinity. The onus, therefore, lies with the government.

The government must engage the youth with skills, purpose and opportunity. Sports, community work and creative pursuits can provide constructive outlets by reducing their idleness and peer pressure. Focus must start from rural India, where large numbers of young people remain disconnected from education, skills and formal employment. Skilling centres, apprenticeships, sports facilities and livelihood op portunities need to reach villages. Dropouts must be tackled at the source by strengthening schools in rural areas, improving teaching, infrastructure and retention. Gender sensitisation and consent must become part of everyday education. Digital space needs attention too. Digital literacy must go beyond teaching young people how to use technology; it must teach them how to consume content, recognise misogyny and understand the consequences of online behaviour. Laws should be made more stringent by taking strict action against the offenders swiftly. Youth’s energy should be channelised in proper direction. Otherwise, the demographic dividend can become a social challenge.

 The writer is a journalist.