Why Goa is creating women-only zones on its popular beaches

For decades, Goa has been a haven for free-spirited travellers, a place where women could sunbathe, swim, and stroll along the shoreline without a second thought. But a disturbing change is creeping into this coastal idyll.And the reason is men, some of them at least. These beaches have now become spots for some to ogle women. Unnerved by this, some women have convinced the state’s tourism department and the state-appointed lifeguards to demarcate stretches of the beach where they can swim comfortably, in bikinis and swimsuits, without men for an audience.“I was groped, catcalled, and stared at incessantly at Arambol,” said a woman in her mid-30s who is a frequent traveller to the state. “A few years ago, the crowd was buzzing with foreigners and domestic tourists who minded their own business. Now it’s replaced with pervy uncles. Women, be cautious if you are planning to visit. Never coming to Arambol again.”The woman’s post on Reddit triggered a flood of ‘Me too’ experiences from other women.The stories are alarmingly similar: groups of men visiting Goa’s beaches — not for the sun and the sea — but to leer at women in bikinis. Some pretend to take selfies while sneakily clicking photos of women. Others lurk nearby, humming songs, passing lewd comments, or cracking crude jokes. medium120686635Swim zones for men, women, familiesTo ‘solve’ this problem, Drishti Marine, the government-appointed lifesaving agency, is in the process of demarcating 65 swim zones along Goa’s most popular beaches.“Forty swim zones are already in place across 10 beaches, including the Calangute, Baga, Arambol and Colva stretches. Each zone is divided into three areas, one each for families, men, and a third exclusively for women,” said Navin Awasthi, chief executive of Drishti Marine. “We aim to have more than 100 swim zones during peak season.”The agency said that the creation of “clearly designated swimming areas” is aimed at reducing risks and making swimming safer and more comfortable for all.“In the past, everyone shared a common swimming area. This often led to issues, as some individuals would drink, cause disturbance, and engage in inappropriate behaviour,” said Pooja Bude, a lifesaving instructor at Drishti Marine. “While patrolling, I have seen men deliberately toss balls at women, brush against them, or approach them in the water. We used to get complaints all the time.”Each zone has mooring partitions to maintain clear boundaries for safe swimming. Proper signage will be installed at all swim zones to indicate stretches only for women. Water sports are prohibited in these swim zones to prevent accidents.“When women come with their families, they prefer staying together. However, when they are alone, they prefer the women-only zone, where they feel comfortable and secure. The response has been overwhelmingly positive. Free from interference, women are able to fully relax and enjoy the sea,” said Shashikant Jadhav, Drishti Marine lifesaver and operations manager for North and South Goa. medium120686582‘It’s the wrong approach’Not everyone is on board with the idea of segregated swim zones. Albertina Almeida, a human rights activist, lawyer, and the co-founder of a women’s rights group, Bailancho Saad, said, “Today you have separate zones for women, then later it will be separate zones for locals and tourists. Then what will happen is that the fisher-people will lose their zones. I don’t agree with this idea. This is a slippery slope to exclusivist zoning… The tourist police should protect tourists from being harassed… The errant people are the ones who need to be kept separate.”Dr Pratiksha Khalap, a doctor and president of the Goa Pradesh Mahila Congress, agrees. “If we want to look at women’s safety, I don’t think the answer is to separate women. What happens once they leave the zone? The solution is to have a police constable or special security personnel at different locations. That would be a more practical solution than having a separate swimming zone for women.” medium120686663First state with separate zonesTourism director Kedar Naik said that when the fresh tender was floated for the lifesaving contract, demarcated zones for swimming were introduced. “This was aimed at boosting confidence among women. Goa is the first state to do this,” said Naik.The idea isn’t without precedent, though. Several countries, including the UAE and Turkey, have designated women-only beach areas.However, given that this is a new idea being implemented in the country, some teething issues are expected, and the change in mentality will take some time. Officials, too, acknowledge that the rollout will take time to settle in.“Whenever men approach the swimming area, we have two boards outside clearly stating the rules, along with floats marking the boundaries on both sides. If a man tries to enter, we politely inform him that it’s a woman-only zone. With designated spaces, men have no choice but to respect the rule. In fact, they tend to stay away, avoiding any conflict,” said Jadhav.“Everyone should have a safe and enjoyable experience while visiting Goa’s beaches and stepping into the water for a swim,” said Awasthi of Drishti Marine. medium120686712Voyeuristic videosSocial media has played a key role in amplifying Goa’s beach culture and turning it into a magnet for men whose idea of a holiday is less about sunsets and sea breezes, and more about voyeurism. Instagram reels and YouTube videos have drawn some young and middle-aged men to beaches like Arambol, Ashwem, Keri and Palolem, not for the sea or serenity, but for securing front-row seats to gawk at women in bikinis.A quick search on YouTube shows that there are 7,660 videos that talk about “girls wearing bikinis on Goa’s beaches”, and about 2,710 videos have been uploaded with clickbait titles such as Goa’s “famous”, or “hidden nude beaches”.“Women in swimwear used to feel safe in Goa till the early 2010s. That has changed now,” said a shack operator at Benaulim, a sentiment echoed by many locals who have noted a shift with the rise of mass domestic tourism over the past decade.Some of the most affected beaches include Arambol, Ashwem, Keri and Palolem. Once known for their tranquil atmosphere, these are now increasingly turning into hotspots for unwarranted attention. Foreigners, too, have reported that they were groped or attacked in the dark.This December, a video of a YouTube vlogger filming a Russian woman sunbathing went viral, prompting Goa police to initiate a probe through cyber police.Now, women are calling for substantial change, including British tourist Zoe Featherstone, who suggested, “Goa should have some kind of beach police that will make girls feel safer.”