Archives for June 2011

Man convicted after harassing under-cover female officers

June 30, 2011 By HKearl

A not-so brilliant street harasser who solicited two under cover policewomen during an anti-street harassment sting in New Delhi, India, has been convicted of “outraging the modesty of women,” and may face up to a year in jail, plus a fine. I’m not a fan of the description of the crime (women are not modesty but we do deserve respect, men do, too), but the outcome is refreshing.

Via MSN India:

“Metropolitan Magistrate Shunali Gupta convicted Haryana resident Vinod under Section 509 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) for outraging the modesty of women, saying, ‘From the evidence led, prosecution has been able to prove the charges against the accused beyond reasonable doubt.’ The court, which convicted Vinod, is yet to pronounce its sentence, which may be up to one year in jail besides the fine.

The eve-teasing incident dates back to September 23, 2005, when Vinod approached the two women head constables, waiting at a bus stand in Mangolpuri police station area. Vinod stopped his scooter near the bus stand and began uttering indecent and obscene words and making vulgar gestures.

“Aaj mausam bada suhana hai, tumme se kaun chal sakti hai, usko main paise de kar khush kar dunga, mere pas jagah bhi hai (Its a nice weather today, who among you can join me for a accompany? I will satisfy you with money. I also have a proper space for the purpose),” Vinod remarked when some cops waiting in plain clothes swooped upon him and arrested him.”

“How are you supposed to answer that?”

June 29, 2011 By Contributor

I was just thinking about the “first” time I was harrassed, and wondered if others might like to share the first time they experienced this rather bizarre behaviour.

I now think that the first time I was harassed in this way was not actually on the street, but while I was waitressing when I was only about 16. A customer waved me over and said, “Tell me, how did you get such broad shoulders?”

This weird comment still strikes me as a really odd thing to say to a person, let alone a young female. I didn’t know how to react. I still don’t, a decade on.

To me this sort of thing comes under the umbrella of street harassment because it is an assessment of the physical features of a woman by a complete stranger she hasn’t spoken two words to.

What’s bizarre, and perhaps more infuriating, is that this oaf decided to make his rude assessment in the form of a question, which demands to be dignified with a response, even though, on the surface it is entirely rhetorical. How are you supposed to answer that?

Do any other people remember their first experiences of street harassment? How did you feel about it at the time and how have your feelings changed over time?

– Amber

Location: A work

Share your street harassment story today and help raise awareness about the problem.
Find suggestions for what YOU can do about this human rights issue.

Lebanon:”Sexual harassment may just triple this summer”

June 28, 2011 By HKearl

Ivy, an anonymous blogger in Beirut, Lebanon, takes issue with a new Ministry of Tourism ad and feels it will promote street harassment.

The following is from her blog, opening with her street harassment experiences (which she has written about before):

“It could be an overtly–friendly smile from the old sleazy neighbor who may insist on inspecting your outfit as you step into your car.

It could be the big black tinted Range Rover that will drive parallel to you for a good ten minutes, blocking traffic only to pull down his window and graphically explain to you how we would like to have his way with you.

When he’s finally gone you somehow end up behind a pick-up truck full of men seated in the back, who won’t miss a chance to stare, wave, and laugh. Behavior similar to that of predators in a jungle informing the rest of the hungry pack that they spotted the prey of the day.

It could be the parking guy who leaves other parking cars struggling only to suddenly land right in front of your car door just in case you were to flash some skin as you made your rough exit. Sometimes you even swear he makes you park so close to other cars because he secretly enjoys watching you wrestle your way out.

It could be the nasty cab driver that won’t let you cross the street because he keeps honking at you for a ride, and when you finally tell him to MOVE, he’ll yell out a profanity.

It could be the car that finally stops to allow you to cross the street, only to see a guy and his buddy high-fiving each other and winking at you as you scruffily make your way to the sidewalk.

You finally enter the office, a big sigh of relief; you’re finally away from the zoo out there only to be greeted by the company driver who decides to give you the final inspection of the day as his gaze locks on your chest and says “ Bonjour Ya Amar keefna ilyom.?”

It could be you. So you hurry to the closest mirror, convinced you may be experiencing some sort of wardrobe malfunction, but you’re actually wearing a full-out pantsuit.

So thanks to our heroes at the Ministry of Tourism, sexual harassment may just triple this summer, since they’re now promoting Lebanese women in their campaigns to lure in more “hungry” male tourists!“

Boo, Ministry of Tourism, for using women as objects and creating an environment where it seems okay to objectify and harass them.

Activists in Lebanon recently participated in the June 20 day of blogging against street/sexual harassment and last year, the Lebanese League of Independent Activists launched cartoon character named Salwa who fights sexual harassment.

It sounds like these activists have their work cut out for them if the rest of the government’s attitude toward women is anything like that of the Ministry of Tourism!

Our Streets, Too! Post-DC Rally Wrap-Up

June 27, 2011 By HKearl

Note: Stop Street Harassment helped organize an Our Streets, Too, march and rally against street harassment in Washington, DC. Holla Back DC! was another co-organizer and this is their wrap-up of the events. The photos are courtesy of my partner.

Cross-posted from Holla Back DC!

What we love about DC is that it can be so unpredictable!! With only two weeks of preparation, and all the organizers organizing via email, we were scared if anyone would show up. The rally, Our Streets, Too! A Big Queer/Feminist/Allies Street Fest, started off at SunTrust plaza on 18th and Columbia. We never realized, until yesterday, under the blazing sun, how there really aren’t many places in DC to gather that aren’t related to parks (which, let’s be real, are mostly dog parks). People started making signs, assisting with the incredible banner, and sharing their stories of harassment.

Then at 2P, Batala started playing. If you haven’t heard them, man, you are missing out on an amazing group of sisters who can really rock a drum. Everyone was dancing and enjoying themselves, while more people started gathering.

Curious onlookers asked, “What is this about? Why are people gathering?” And, fliers went out to them with volunteers talking about street harassment in DC towards women and LGBTQ individuals. Watching and listening to some of these bystanders say, “Yeah, harassment does happen and it really shouldn’t,” made the rally planning and stress worth it.

Around 2:30, the march started down 18th Street. A la Rob Lowe on Parks and Recreation, we literally stopped traffic, as the march took over the streets. It was amazing. MPD stopped the protest a few times, but, no one was arrested and they didn’t give us much push back.

We made a left on U Street and marched up 16th Street towards Malcolm X park. While at Malcolm X park, we had our workshop leaders, Holly from Stop Street Harassment and Board member of Holla Back DC! and Dienna, an activist, talk about ways to address street harassment and share in the collective activism around this issue.

While they were skills sharing with a group of 20 to 25, others were mingling and talking about DC social justice activism, when a Park Police officer came over and told us to cut off the amplified music and asked if we were protesting. We told him that we weren’t, as our protest was done, and we were conducting workshops. H

e then walked up a set of stairs towards a group of people who were placing the anti-harassment banner on an over hang. He told them to take it down, and when all individuals left, he followed the two women and started yelling at them to take down the banner. He then proceeded to ask for their IDs, which they gave over, and detained them without telling them what they did wrong.

Because of the Park Police officer’s lack of knowledge around criminal law or lack of wanting to share why he was detaining these women, many rally goers started to get involved and ask the officer what these two women did wrong, since the banner was taken down. He said, “I had to ask them twice.” The officer proceeded to call in his unit, which included five other officers (including the captain/chief, and special ops). It was a sight for sore eyes and a lawyer’s dream.After that 30 minutes of that intense drama, the two women were not papered or arrested. It was all for show. And the irony is that many of our issues around street harassment come from people who abuse their authority. The two women remained calm through out the process, which was just amazing.

Lauren, from Defend Yourself, did a wonderful workshop which concluded the protest and rally. Seeing so many people gather in support of raising awareness on street harassment, stopping traffic, and getting some skills on how to address the harassment was a great way to start the summer.

Many thanks to the supporters and friends of Holla Back DC! who came out to the rally!

If you were at the rally or wanted to be, and feel inspired to get more involved in this issue, please fill out this volunteer form and we’ll get back to you!

Street Harassment Snapshot – June 26, 2011

June 26, 2011 By HKearl

*** TODAY at 2 p.m., activists in Washington, DC, will be marching to remind people that these are Our Streets, Too, and street harassment should end! ***

Read stories, news articles, blog posts, and tweets about street harassment from the past week and find relevant announcements and upcoming street harassment events.

Street Harassment Stories:

I accept street harassment submissions from anywhere in the world. Share your story! You can read new street harassment stories on the Web from the past week at:

Stop Street Harassment Blog

Street Harassment in the News, on the Blogs:

*Women’s E-News, “Time to Count Street Harassment as Hostile Acts“

* Bitch Media, “Takin’ it to the Streets: She Ain’t Me (The Problem of Self-Esteem)”

* Philadelphia Weekly, “Women Take a Stand Against Street Harassment“

* Mumbai Boss, “Holla To Be Heard“

* Daily News & Analysis India, “Eve-teasing could now land you in jail“

*Ahram Online, “International blogging day against sexual harassment ignites in Egypt“

* Christian Science Monitor, “Egyptians fight sexual harassment with June 20 Twitter campaign“

* Percolate Magazine, “Guest Blog: Street Harassment – Why Clothing Doesn’t Matter“

* Sian and Crooked Rib, “I am a hollaback girl“

* The Times of India, “Chennai: Std 10 girl harassed by four youths“

* BBC, “Guatemala estrena sus buses “sólo para mujeres”“

* Americas Quarterly, “Guatemala Debuts ‘Women Only’ Buses“

* Ahram Online, “‘Speak up!’ blogging on sexual harassment in Egypt just a start“

* Bikyamasr, “One reader’s stories of sexual harassment in Egypt“

* Pacific Free Press, “SlutWalk in Honduras“

* Christian Science Monitor, “Egyptian men explain their relentless catcalls“

* Press TV, “Egyptians tweet to end sexual harassment“

Announcements:

New:

* The UN launches a “Safe and Friendly Cities for All” campaign

Reminders/On-Going:

* There’s a new anti-street harassment group in Sri Lanka

*Learn about and help fund Hollaback’s bystander campaign, “I’ve Got Your Back“

* Sign Mend the Gap’s petition to address subway harassment in Delhi, India

* College students, enter the Hollaback essay contest, entries due August 1.

* Are you in Egypt? Use HarassMap to report your street harassers

* Have an iPhone? Download the Hollaback iPhone app that lets you report street harassers

10 Tweets from the Week:

1. CatCall “Ooh baby! I like that. So sexy.” Ave C Thanks. Now I feel gross.

2. RogueDancer Spend the day dancing and fighting #streetharassment at the #thewindowsexproject community workshop

3. PoshBirdGabi @Kiryatraber – I’ve stopped speaking 2 Men I don’t know unless it’s absolutely necessary & unavoidable. #StreetHarassment #VAW #WarOnWomen

4. Kiryatraber Like most women I’ve become hardened to street harassment. I’m generally dismissive or rude to men who approach me… #mysogyny

5. ashcampaign is en route to a meeting with a big production company who want to do a documentary on street harassment!

6. lilyorit Dear Creepy Men: Coming onto me just because my hair is fuchsia? Not cool. Being creepy about it? SO not cool. #streetharassment #notokay

7. FeistyFeminist1 My name is NOT baby! UGH. Screw you, old man in the car. I’m not gonna let you ruin my good day. #streetharassment

8. WriteAboutIt It’s the #firstdayofsummer, which must be why I got pssted at and cursed out by some ahole in Herald Sq this morning. #streetharassment

9. NadiaE Sexual harassment in #Egypt won’t stop until society as a whole rejects it #endSH

10. maggie87h I am grateful for men in the street, usually older, who intervene when they see harassment. More of them are needed #endSh