“Bring Your Brother Day” workshop on street harassment

(Editor’s Note: This guest blog post was written by Nefertiti Martin, Community Organizer and Katie Bowers, MSW intern at Girls for Gender Equity.)

On March 16, youth organizers at Girls for Gender Equity (GGE), a small nonprofit organization in Brooklyn, New York, that addresses the issue of street harassment, invited male friends and family members to a “Bring Your Brother Day” workshop about gender equity and stopping street harassment. “Bring Your Brother Day” was a day of conversation, connection and consciousness-raising in a fun and safe space.

The young women of GGE felt strongly about the importance of bringing the young men in their lives into their work to counteract sexual harassment and gender-based violence. The workshop grew out of youth organizers’ concerns that the conversation around street harassment and gender-based violence is taking place primarily among women. By reaching out to the young men in their lives, youth organizers are working to build allies and strengthen GGE’s work in promoting gender equity.

GGE’s youth organizers led activities throughout the three-hour workshop that explored what gender stereotypes are, how they impact the lives of young people and how young men can be allies to young women. The young men were thoughtful, open and engaged throughout the workshop.  Their comments and opinions added new depth to the conversation and reflected the positive influence of the awesome young women in their lives.

The event was hosted in conjunction with International Anti-Street Harassment Week. GGE youth organizers and their brothers attended the Anti-Street Harassment Week Rally at the Judson Memorial Church in New York City on Saturday, March 24th.

The young women felt very proud of the workshop and their contribution to Anti-Street Harassment Week and the movement to end gender-based violence.  GGE looks forward to participating in Anti-Street Harassment Week next year!