Stop Street Harassment

Making Public Spaces Safe and Welcoming

Archives for July 2011

Win for bicyclists in Los Angeles

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A week ago, the Los Angeles (CA) City Council passed a pioneering new law making it a crime for drivers to threaten cyclists verbally or physically, and allows victims of harassment to sue in civil court without waiting for the city to press criminal charges.

While the main purpose of the law is to try to protect cyclists from dangerous or aggressive drivers, the verbal threat part intrigues me. Could someone who is sexually harassed in a threatening way be able to sue under the law? It seems plausible.

This is not the first time a broader law meant to protect folks outside of cars from those inside could potentially give people who are street harassed legal recourse should they choose to take it. Last year in Independence, Missouri, lawmakers passed an ordinance making it illegal for people in cars to harass pedestrians and cyclists.

I’m interested to see what happens and how people use the new Los Angeles law.

 

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Builders in the UK Suspended for “Wolf-Whistling”

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The building site Fish Hill Square, via Daily Mail Online

Ahh, so classic and stereotypical…

Two builders (construction workers) in the UK were suspended from work for harassing a woman walking by their work site at Fish Hill Square. The woman felt so uncomfortable, she told her husband how she didn’t want to walk past there again. That led him to write a complaint to the construction company.

This part is less stereotypical and very laudable on the part of the company: the men were identified and taken off the job for a few days.

Via the Daily Mail Online:

“They will now be allowed back after their accuser decided not to take matters further, although they are still facing a ‘discussion’ with bosses today. Maylim yesterday insisted sexist behaviour was ‘terrible for the company image’ and it was taking the allegations seriously.

Managing director Thomas O’Mahony said: ‘We acted within half-an-hour of being alerted to the complaint. It’s company policy to immediately suspend anyone who is made the subject of a complaint by the public.

‘We don’t tolerate wolf-whistling or any form of sexual harassment. It’s unacceptable – we are in the public eye and our image is important.

‘The two men are in their mid-20s and they have been invited in for a discussion. They denied the allegations and were frustrated to be off work. Now we know that the complainant doesn’t want to take this further the men will be allowed to go back to work.’”

It’s great to hear that sexual harassment is not tolerated at that workplace, by that company. A few local residents were interviewed for the Daily Mail article and everyone cited agreed with the harassers:

“Hairdresser Jane Westley said: ‘I don’t think wolf-whistling’s too much of an issue. If I got wolf-whistled I think I’d find it a compliment. It’s just what builders do.’

Another woman, who asked not to be named, said: ‘I guess it’s their bit of harmless fun while working – to admire girls walking past in the summer.’ A 34-year-old man added: ‘Everyone thinks it’s a strange complaint to make. I feel bad for the guys off work.’”

I find the comments from the residents to be unsurprising since so many people construe sexual harassment as a compliment (in neighboring Ireland, they even had a wolf-whistling contest a few years ago) or not a big enough deal for men to have to lose pay over. But it IS a big deal. Sexual harassment in public places has a very real impact on women’s lives and their perceptions of themselves and of their worth. It needs to stop.

I hope the construction company will stand firm to its policy and that the men will stop harassing women in the future!

(Many thanks to Vicky Simister at the UK Anti-Street Harassment Campaign for the story tip!)

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ECWR says no to women-only taxis in Egypt

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Via Al-Masry Al-Youm

“The Egyptian Center for Women’s Rights on Wednesday rejected a project approved by Local Development Minister Mohamed Attiya to designate taxis exclusively for women in an attempt to counter sexual harassment.

The project would be implemented over three stages, starting with 15 taxis in each coastal city at a cost of LE15 million.

In a statement, the center said the project pulls Egypt 100 years backwards, isolates women within society and hinders their freedom of movement. It warned that the concept could be extended to include universities, workplaces and public places.”

Agreed. The Egyptian Centre for Women’s Rights rejected the introduction of women-only taxis in Alexandria, Egypt last year, too. Countries like Lebanon and Mexico already have women-only taxis to prevent drivers from sexual harassment or assaulting female passengers.

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Guarnateed harassment in Dhaka, Bangladesh

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I do not own any car so whenever I have to go somewhere I have to wait for public transports and frequently walk on the street. I feel really queasy to walk on the road (which is pretty common in Bangladesh) knowing it is very bad but I can not help it as walking on the footpath guarantees harassments like sleazy comments, nudging and poking breasts and making filthy gestures. This is irrespective of how old the victim is or the possibility of the victim to being like their daughter or sister.

– Neera

Location: Dhaka, Bangladesh

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Waiting for a ride to work turns into a street harassment nightmare

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Last year there were a few concentrated incidents that all happened in the same place. I used to get a lift to work and had to wait on a busy road for my pick-up. Bearing in mind this was before 8 a.m. in the morning, I would still get harassed.

Sometimes it would just be a beeping horn, but it started to concern me when men would stick their head out of windows and shout comments at me. One time it was a bus driver who wolf-whistled and shouted at me, which shocked me even more. The men would usually leer, make a comment about the way I was dressed or the way I looked and then laugh.

One morning a man stuck his head fully out the window and made gestures suggestive of oral sex.

It really bothered me because I didn’t feel free to do what I want, or wear what I want. I didn’t want to stop wearing dresses to work, but it really put me off. I can’t really describe accurately how angry or upset I was about it all, it didn’t make me feel respected as a person at all.

– FW

Location: Durham, UK

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.

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