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Archives for February 2012

Submit your street harassment art for exhibit

February 28, 2012 By HKearl

Stop street harassment by…                   My street harassment story is…                   A safe community would look like…

Use words, images, photographs to complete one of those sentences and submit it for inclusion in an art exhibit!!

The art exhibit will be at MOCA DC in Washington, DC, on Sunday, March 18, 3 – 9 p.m. as part of International Anti-Street Harassment Week. But you don’t have to be in DC or even in the USA to submit something. The main organizer is the Deaf Abused Women’s Network and they will accept submissions from anywhere, you just need to either mail or scan/email it in by March 16.

Here is information about submission process. You can also submit art work on a separate 11 x 14 piece of paper, just email a scanned file to earl@deafdawn.org.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Filed Under: anti-street harassment week, street harassment Tagged With: art, deaf abused women's network, exhibit, moca dc, street harassment

Interview: Alan Kearl’s efforts to stop street harassment

February 27, 2012 By HKearl

Alan Kearl with his wife Beckie Weinheimer (center) and daughters Mary Kearl (left) and Holly Kearl (right)

Fathers can be natural allies in ending street harassment. I’m lucky to have a wonderful father who is one, and he’s organizing action in New York City for International Anti-Street Harassment Week.

He agreed to do a quick interview about why he’s involved and what’s going on in NYC. We hope this will inspire other men, especially fathers, to become involved, too!

1. Stop Street Harassment (SSH): Why are you involved with International Anti-Street Harassment Week?

Alan Kearl (AK): I was involved in last year’s activities in New York City and when I learned that in one of the largest cities of the world and found that there were just a few efforts in such a big city, I decided that this year, I could help encourage, organize and facilitate a lot more activity.  New York City, a leader in so many facets of culture and life in the world, should be among the forefront of educating, speaking out and inspiring change that improves life for women and makes daily life safer for women.

2. SSH: What are you doing this year?

AK: Here in New York City, there are about 13 groups of activists who are working together to coordinate activities during International Anti-Street Harassment Week.  We are trying to have activities that engage, men and women of all ages and demographics in all five of the boroughs of New York. Confirmed events include a self-defense class for middle schoolers, a fabulous performance art event that will engage attendees in understanding the street harassment, educational workshops held in public school classrooms, a viral video of men talking to men about the consequences of street harassment, a brilliant new program that will offer bystanders a way to help victims and others.  Our efforts will culminate with a rally on Saturday, March 24th at which we’ll have several passionate, articulate speakers.

3. SSH: Why does speaking out on this issue matter to you?

AK: Why I’m speaking out on this issue — I have an amazing daughter who has exposed me to the fact that virtually every female, more than half of the world, is subject to harassment for no other reason than that they are female.  I have learned from her that this harassment causes all sorts of problems from obvious things like hurt, anxiety, fear, anger, and humiliation; to worse things like bodily and emotional injury; to changing habits, limiting activity and even moving and changing jobs.  This is a huge toll on more than half of the people in the world and it is sobering to think that this is caused by the other half of the world’s populations, males and to think that I’m a male.  I have come to know that I need to do something to make up for, curtail and hopefully stop the horrific acts intended or not, of the males of this world. I want the world to be a safe place for all females.

Update: Here is a video of both my parents talking about why they’re involved in International Anti-Street Harassment Week.


Alan Kearl is the proud father of three daughters and has been happily married to his sweetheart for the past 32 years. He lives in New York City and is the Chief Operating Officer of a cosmetics manufacturing company. Much of his adult life has been spent surrounded by women and involved in women’s issues.  He operates by the maxim that making the world a better place starts by being aware of, interested in and respectful of the very next person he encounters.

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Filed Under: Activist Interviews, anti-street harassment week, street harassment Tagged With: alan kearl, anti-street harassment week, street harassment

Myanmar’s “Whistle for Help” Campaign

February 27, 2012 By HKearl

Volunteers distribute whistles and pamphlets near Sule Pagoda on February 21. Pic: Seng Mai

Women in Myanmar launched a creative campaign to fight the problem of sexual harassment on their transit system.

Their campaign is called “whistle for help” and “about 150 volunteers have been distributing whistles and pamphlets to women at eight busy bus stops in Yangon each Tuesday morning in February. The group plans to continue the weekly program for another nine months.”

Via The Myanmar Times:

“The pamphlet instructs women to blow the whistle when they experience sexual harassment on the bus.

“Please go and help the women who blow whistle and let’s stop this unacceptable behaviour,” the pamphlet said. “The campaign and advocacy is not directed against all men but only those who commit these acts.”

The group has also requested support for its campaign from the Myanmar National Human Rights Commission.

Daw Htar Htar, a member of the campaign committee, told The Myanmar Times that women regularly experienced sexual harassment on the city’s bus network but they were usually too afraid or shy to report it.

“Our country is famous for Theravada Buddhism and its related culture and customs but this behaviour brings shame on all of us. We should not accept it anymore and have to stop it from now on,” she said.

“Our body is not their sex object. Why should we keep silent with our head down? It is time to go against it. We can’t work alone but need all helping hands to go against it so that we can create a beautiful, safe and secure environment.”

“Over the past 30 years I myself faced this awful event sometimes and I always thought it was my fault, and kept silent even though I hated it so much. I am now over 40 so … I don’t have to worry as much about this problem but I am worried for my daughter, nieces and younger sisters. What if they meet these kind of detestable men?”

The whistle campaign is so popular, riders regularly ask for extra whistles to pass out to their friends and family and some have requested the organizers expand their campaign to other regions.

The bus drivers are supportive too: “U Tun Aung, a driver one the No 51 line, said sexual harassment had been tolerated on buses for too long and he praised the “whistle for help” organisers for devising an effective, non-violent campaign to stop it.”

Also, on Feb. 14, the Parami bus line and its Adipati subsidiary began offering women-only services during the morning and evening rush hours, when buses are crowded and women more likely to experience sexual harassment. They haven’t said if that would be a permanent measure or not.

I really like the whistle campaign and its community grassroots activism feel. It encourages bystanders to get involved and help out when they hear a whistle so the harassed person does not have to deal with it all on their own. Plus, it’s a simple idea and whistles are cheap and easy to use!

Do you think a similar campaign could work in other cities/countries?

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Filed Under: News stories Tagged With: Myanmar, street harassment, transit harassment, whistle for help

Snapshot of street harassment stories, news, announcements & tweets: February 26, 2012

February 26, 2012 By HKearl

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 street harassment stories on the Web at:

Stop Street Harassment Blog

HarassMap Egypt

Resist Harassment Lebanon

Many of the Hollaback sites

In the News, on the Blogs:

* The New York Times, “Sex Crimes Pass Under the Radar on Public Transit“

* Huffington Post, “International Anti-Street Harassment Week: 10 Things You Can Do To Stop Street Harassment“

* Jezebel, “How to Be a Good Guy on the Sidewalk“

* ABC 7, “Sexual harassment on Metro trains, buses a problem“

* Fox 5, “Riders Complain of Sexual Harassment on Metro“

* WAMU, “Women’s Group Targets Harassment On Metro“

* Greater Greater Washington, “End sexual harassment on Metro“

* Washington City Paper, “Holla Back, Metro“

* TBD.com, “D.C. Metro grapples with how to talk and confront sexual harassment“

* The Mooring Mast, “Catcalling crosses line into harassment“

* Ecofeminism, “My Gendered Body and Me“

* ABC News, “Girl Power!“

* Daily News & Analysis, “Run for a cause: Let’s stop gender-based violence“

* Egypt Independent, “Citing harassment complaints, travel agencies threaten to suspend Luxor flights“

* Daily Targum, “Activist looks to stop street harassment“

International Anti-Street Harassment Week Updates:

* Huffington Post coverage

* Founder Holly Kearl talks about why she’s organizing/participating in the week of action on March 18-24

* What were you wearing when you got stared at or street harassed? Submit your photo

* Start planning for International Anti-Street Harassment Week, March 18-24

Activism Announcements:

New:

* Activists in Washington, DC, testified at a city council hearing about harassment on the transit system and made recommendations to the transit authorities.

* Watch a video about efforts in Afghanistan to address street harassment and other gender issues


Reminders:

* College men in the USA share tips on how men can stop street harassment

* SSH founder Holly Kearl is quoted in the March 2012 issue of Cosmo magazine with advice on dealing with gropers. Read an extended version of her advice on the blog.

* The Adventures of Salwa campaign has a hotline for sexual harassment cases in Lebanon: 76-676862.

* In Bangalore, India, there is a helpline for street harassment 080 – 22943225 / 22864023

10 Tweets from the Week:

1. ‏ @sakshichopra5 Street harassment knocks closer to home! Younger sister’s best friend eve teased in her colony, moti bagh! Thank heavens neighbors helped!

2. @NadaHKandil Walking to the bus stop with my neighbour,got followed by a construction worker who only stopped when a taxi driver shouted at him :/ #EndSH

3. ‏ @_nowimgold @AfroSinTrick I’ve worked w/street harassment orgs. ALL women experience it. Women of color are more exposed though, especially Black women.

4. @DeeRmY2020 March 8 is the Women World day, and March 18-24 is International Anti-Street Harassment Week and it should be taken seriously!

5. @JessiDG @gibblertron: Nothing sets me off like when a man passes me and tells me to “smile!” #streetharassment

6. @Karnythia @ebonstorm @ZerlinaMaxwell Challenge the meme that black women are here for the amusement of men. Push back against #streetharassment.

7. ‏ @SabaEm just adjusting to the fact that while being back at home, when a car honks it means someone made a mistake on the road #streetharassment

8. ‏ @Karnythia There needs to be a call from black men to black men to fight #streetharassment, #rapeculture, & #abuseculture. #WeAreThe44

9. @BangsandaBun Nothing like a but of Hackney street harassment to kick start your day the right way. *sigh*

10.‏ @TaraMonstah I’ve already told one heckler to go fuck himself today. Who’s next? Because I’m getting really sick of this shit. #StreetHarassment

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Filed Under: anti-street harassment week, News stories, street harassment, weekly round up

Two incidents in Lima, Peru

February 25, 2012 By Contributor

Two things that have marked me happened. One was when I was 13, a neighbour came up to me and said “I want to fuck you.”

I was near my house and started shouting at him. My father came out and talked to this man’s mother. I don’t know what happened next.

Another time, I was on the bus and next to it was a car. It almost hit the bus, and when I looked at the driver, I realized he was masturbating with both windows open. It was disgusting.

– Anonymous

Location: Lima, Peru

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