Stop Street Harassment

Making Public Spaces Safe and Welcoming

Archives for November 2011

16 Days of Activism: My Name is NOT Chikni!

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It’s the fourth day of 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence. Here is the fourth name that women do NOT want to be called by men they do not know when they’re in public places. (All 16 names were submitted via Twitter or Facebook.)

Ending the social acceptability of men calling women these names takes us one step closer to creating a culture where gender violence doesn’t happen. Read more about the connection between gender violence and the inappropriate and demeaning names that men call women they don’t know.

Don’t let harassers off the hook: respond | report | share your story.

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“Street harassment of women is violence. Break the silence.”

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Young Women for Change poster: Street harassment of women is violence. Break the silence.

20-year-old Noorjahan Akbar is one of the most inspirational people I’ve ever met. In May 2011, she co-founded Young Women for Change in order to improve the economic, social, and political opportunities of women in Afghanistan.

Street harassment is one of their main issues because it limits how involved women are in public activities. As the poster to the right says, “Street harassment is violence. Break the silence,” and breaking the silence is exactly what Akbar and YWC are doing.

To name just a few of the many anti-street harassment actions they’ve taken since May, they held the first-ever march against street harassment through the streets of Kabul in July and they’re working on a documentary about street harassment. Most impressive, they are spearheading a 4,000 person survey on the topic and the results will be released in February.

Right now they are soliciting posters about gender violence issues, including street harassment, and on December 14, volunteers will physically post them all over Kabul.

It’s amazing how much they’ve accomplished since May.

After months of online correspondence, I made a special road trip to Philadelphia last weekend to briefly meet with Akbar. During the conversation, she mentioned that she was “so happy, the last time I went home I went a month without being groped” on the streets of Kabul. I can’t imagine how unsafe the streets are for women if that is her reality — and it also speaks to her bravery in organizing against it. (Akbar noted that street harassment is still quite bad for her when she is at college in Pennsylvania, but it’s usually verbal.)

Akbar kindly allowed me to videotape her talking about YWC’s anti-street harassment efforts and how you can become involved (sorry the setting was a bit noisy).

I’ve donated to help YWC continue their work and I hope you will, too.

Website: Young Women for Change
Donate: wepay.com/donate/youngwomen4change
Email: info@youngwomenforchange.org
Facebook: Young Women for Change & Stories of Harassment of Women in Afghanistan

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70 percent face harassment on public transportation in Sri Lanka

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More than 70 percent of women aged 15 to 45 surveyed in Sri Lanka said they’d experienced sexual harassment on public transportation. The survey was conducted by the Legal Aid Commission.

Via Lankasri News:

“[Chairperson of the commission] Mr. Wijeratne said that the victimized women in public transport were reluctant to complain the matter to the bus conductors, bus driver or the police. “The bus drivers and conductors alone cannot stop this menace, and the male commuters themselves should be shameful of doing such kind of bad habits. He further told the bus drivers and conductors were reluctant to give evidence against the culprits in Courts as it was effecting to their daily income.

LAC chairman further said the LAC with the participation of Road Passenger Transport Authority have allocated a two-week period to make the public aware to deter sexual harassment in public transport from last Friday (25) to December 10.”

This is not new information. More than 95 percent of women feel it’s unsafe to travel alone in public spaces in Colombo, Sri Lanka, and one in four women report sexual harassment on public transportation in the country, according to a new report from the Transport Ministry.

In response, goups like Reach Out and  Beyond Borders are doing important work to address and stop street harassment. One of my favorite initiatives was the “Man Up” event held over the summer.

I’m glad that the Legal Aid Commission is bringing attention to harassment on public transportation during the 16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence, and I hope they will continue to address it more long-term, or support groups that are, like Reach Out and Beyond Borders.

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Snapshot of Street Harassment Stories, News, & Tweets: November 27, 2011

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Read stories, news articles, blog posts, and tweets about street harassment from the past week.

** Sign up to receive a monthly e-newsletter from Stop Street Harassment ***

Street Harassment Stories:

Share your story! You can read new street harassment stories on the Web from the past week at:

Stop Street Harassment Blog

HarassMap Egypt

Resist Harassment Lebanon

Many of the Hollaback sites

Activism Alert:

* Hollaback West Yorkshire (UK) is undertaking the first ever survey of street harassment in West Yorkshire. If you live in the area, take it by Dec. 10.

* Young Women for Change (Afghanistan) launched Poster in the City. All Afghan artists are encouraged to submit their art work that focuses on women’s rights, gender equality, and the elimination of violence against women. It can be in any form such as drawing, water painting, black and white charcoal drawing- or digital pictures. Full details available online.

* In India, Must Bol is running a Men Say No Blogathon for the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence

In the News, on the Blogs:

* New York Times, “Women Take a Stand in Kabul“

* Haaretz.com, “Vast majority of Tel Aviv women report sexual harassment, survey finds“

* Young Feminist Wire, “‘Reaching out’ in Sri Lanka“

* BARCC Blog, “Street Harassment & Comedy“

* Jezebel, “Can Parents Be Convinced To Want Baby Girls?“

* Hindustan Times, “Street plays to educate people about eve-teasing“

* The Hindu, “Young man stabbed as he objects to eve-teasing of cousin“

* Women’s Views on News, “HOLLABACK! West Yorkshire launch survey into street harassment” and Yorkshire Evening Post, “Hollaback! West Yorkshire: Women at war on street insults“

* Hindustan Times, “Sexual harassment to be non-bailable in state, says govt“

* The Globe and Mail, “Bloody scenes from Tahrir: ‘It is horrible,’ says Egypt’s only female presidential hopeful”

* Poynter, “Women journalists confront harassment, sexism when using social media“

* The American Prospect, “The Internet Miniskirt“

* Storyful, “Female Egyptian protesters highlight sexual harassment“

Announcements:

New:

* Togo’s sandwich shop in California (USA) pulled an offensive television ad after an email campaign launched on this blog.

* During the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence, Stop Street Harassment is featuring 16 names women do NOT want to be called by strangers on the streets. Ending the social acceptability of men calling women these names takes us one step closer to creating a culture where gender violence doesn’t happen.

Reminders:

* You can purchase the Stop Street Harassment book for 50% off right now!

* Sign the Zero Tolerance Campaign’s petition calling for stronger enforcement of laws banning street sexual harassment in India.

* Watch the new anti-street harassment video from The Adventures of Salwa folks and download their guide for fighting all forms of sexual harassment

* Sign the petition to tell Toronto Police to stop blaming victims for street harassment and sexual assault!!

* Contribute to the Monday “Street Respect” series that highlights the type of stories we want to see instead of street harassment stories!

15 Tweets from the Week:

1. AlyaaGad @haivri Sir, sexual harassment happens every minute of the day in every street, workplace & sometimes house. How can we stay safe like that?

 2. harassmap If you would like to volunteer to secure the square plz come at Bena2 tent next to Omar Makram, discuss ideas how to face harassment #tahrir

3. Rouelshimi Girls: Make a scene when someone harasses u in #tahrir. #endsh

4. Leglessfrog @cairowire we need to battle harassment everywhere in Egypt not just tahrir!enough is enough!#EndSH

5. sallyzohney All females in #tahrir, pls share with me ANY harassment or assault, I am doing a report on this! very important !! #women #EndSH

6. hollabackWY Street harassment response no.2 describe harraser&behavior loudly for others to hear. e.g “Tall man in blue hat,stop touching my arse”

7. @morninggloria will know I finally look and sound like a grown ass woman when strangers stop calling me “sweetheart.” #iamanadultdammit

8. monaeltahawy #Tahrir & every other square rising up in #Egypt needs women & men. We all must fight sexual harassment so that our revolution succeeds..

9. End_Harassment #takebackthetech RT @Saba_Imtiaz Walked down the road. Cars that stopped – 0 Suggestive comments-2 Leers-4 Car drivers offering lifts-2 #VAW

10. hollabackWY Possible street harassment response no.1 ask harasser if their mum/partner/sister knows they speak to women in the street like that? #16days

11. SuzeMorrison Seriously though! Why do men still think its okay to catcall profanities at me out their cars!! What would your mother say if she saw you!

12. abzzyy What’s with the all the violence that’s been targeting women in the streets? both Verbal and Physical. #EndSH #Lebanon

13. steffingnie Whenever guys whistle/catcall/otherwise try to holla at me, I’m tempted to tell them I’m 13 and see if they still think I’m so attractive!

14. jillogc HarassMap = brilliant idea that empowers women to speak out against street harassment harassmap.org @harassmap

15. JEVastyan After being in SS, I realize that while I miss some things, I don’t miss the street harassment and get why my ex would not live here

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16 Days of Activism: My name is NOT Light-Skinned

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Welcome to the third day of 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence. Here is the third name that women do NOT want to be called by men they do not know when they’re in public places. (All 16 names were submitted via Twitter or Facebook.)

Ending the social acceptability of men calling women these names takes us one step closer to creating a culture where gender violence doesn’t happen. Read more about the connection between gender violence and the inappropriate and demeaning names that men call women they don’t know.

Don’t let harassers off the hook: respond | report | share your story.

Share