Stop Street Harassment

Making Public Spaces Safe and Welcoming

Archives for March 2012

Who does this to a pregnant woman?

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I was leaving one of the WIC (Women, Infant, and Children – I’m 30 weeks pregnant, which makes this even worse) clinic and walking to the parking lot. I had to pass this big black suv which was just idling in the alley way. The passenger side window rolls down and the guy inside leans out and says, “Hey, how’s it going?”

Now while this might sound innocent enough when you read it, I have been harassed enough times to tell the different between a sleezy inquiry and a genuine inquiry and this one just made me feel uncomfortable. I just kept walking and I said, “I’m married and you’re not worth my time.”

Who does this to a pregnant woman? I felt really exposed and I just wanted to get in my car and lock the doors.

– Melissa B.

Location: Milwaukee, WI

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Find suggestions for what YOU can do about this human rights issue.

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Snapshot of street harassment stories, news, announcements & tweets: March 4, 2012

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

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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:

* Daily News & Analysis, “80% women in Mumbai face sexual harassment“

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

* Maps4Aids, “Nalgonda: Student kills herself unable to cope with Street Sexual Harassment“

* The Bay Citizen, “Why Transit Riders Don’t Report Unwanted Sexual Behavior“

* The Myanmar Times, “Whistle campaign a hit on city buses“

* Hindustan Times, “DU prepares for a safe Holi“

* The Tower, “Silent No More: Women Deserve Respect On and Off Campus“

* A Safe World for Women, “‘This is My City Too‘”

* Jezebel, “Rich white dudes can be gropers too“

* Daily News & Analysis, “‘Eve-teasing is a frivolous term’”

* The State, “Man arrested, named person of interest in string of Shandon flashings“

* NotEnoughGood.com, “Gender Discrimination: Ending Street Harassment in the US“

* University of Minnesota Women’s Center Blog, “Hollaback!: Why I’m Engaged in Fighting Street Harassment“

* Jessica Dickinson Goodman, “Yesterday, I was talking about street harassment“

* The Zeros Before, “Lookin’ Good, Baby: Why I Don’t Mind the Catcall“

International Anti-Street Harassment Week Updates:

*97 organizations, groups and college campuses are co-sponsoring Anti-Street Harassment Week. Any group is welcome to become a co-sponsor.

* Watch videos where several participants of Anti-Street Harassment Week talk about why they’re involved.




* Artists anywhere: submit your artwork to be included in an art exhibit on street harassment in Washington, DC on March 18, 3-9 p.m. Details.

* Plan for International Anti-Street Harassment Week, March 18-24…register your event

* Find out what’s happening in your area.

* Many NYC events are being finalized and so far you can RSVP for: a dance performance and a rally!

* Several DC events are being finalized and so far you can RSVP for: From Cairo to DC: A Discussion on Street Harassment (3/19) and Feminist Food for Thought: Stop LGBTQ Street Harassment (3/21)

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

* Huffington Post coverage

Activism Announcements:

New:

* @WMATAHarassment launched this week on twitter to track and speak about about sexual harassment on the transit system in Washington, DC.

* Women in Myanmar launched a creative campaign to fight the problem of sexual harassment on their transit system called “Whistle for Help” campaign

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. ‏ @f7lsamra I demand my right as a citizen, by walking in MY streets safely. #EndSH

2.‏ @AAAbdelhamid The awkward moment when you start your day by an anti-harassment campaign and you lash out at the first guy who says “eh ya 3asal” #EndSH

3. @DaliaHosny Got verbally harassed by a 9 year old boy. He was surprised by my reaction as I screamed at him.He freaked out and ran away. Speak up #endSH

4. @hollabackWY Both of @hollabackWY just got shouted “Eastern European birds” at us outside the pub. Puzzling #streetharassment

5. @mencanstoprape #Its2012WhyYouStill calling rape, domestic violence, stalking, and street harassment a “women’s issue.”

6.‏ @BLANK_NOISE #itsTimeForYouToRealize #streetharassment #eveteasing is your issue. u could be- survivor. harasser. witness

7. @HollabackBXL #IfMyLifeWereAMovie I would stop street harassment immediately. Cut! Stop! And now once again – without whistles. Thank you!

8. @HollabackOttawa #ItsTimeForYouToRealize that #streetharassment isn’t flattering and DOES NOT WORK AT GETTING YOU LAID.

9.‏ @AlexGriffith While I’m sure your statement, “I love me a ginger” is quite accurate, I’m young enough to be your son, sir. #catcall #generationgap #fb

10.  @SHThesis #iWannaGiveAShoutoutTo everyone planning events for international anti-street harassment week next month! meetusonthestreet.org #EndSHWeek


@WMATAHarassment

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80 percent of women in Mumbai experience street harassment

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We The People Foundation interviewed 1,000 women in Mumbai, India, about their experiences with street harassment. Eighty percent had experienced some form of street harassment on a regular basis. Mumbai is supposed to be one of the safer cities for women in India and perhaps that’s why the statistic was “only” 80 percent, while in Delhi, over 90 percent of women feel unsafe leaving home alone.

The majority of the harassment takes place on crowded trains and railway platforms, and 60 percent had faced harassment while commuting by train and 40 percent while commuting by another public transportation system, like a bus or taxi.

Via Daily News & Analysis:

“The statistics are worrying especially as women do not take concrete steps to stem the menace,” said Jason Temasfieldt, founder-member of the organisation, which addresses the issue of women’s safety in public places in Mumbai.

Only one out of 10 women lodges a police complaint, and not more than two confront the perpetrator or attempt to stop him.

“Only two out of every 10 women glare angrily at the offender. The rest just ignore him or worse, feel embarrassed or ashamed of themselves,” said Sacha Lobo, a college students who joined the organisation after being interviewed during the survey.

Another worrying finding was that most women do not consider catcalls or lewd comments as sexual harassment, but an “unfortunate drawback” of being a woman.

“Any unwanted physical or verbal action by a man is nothing but harassment. And it is high time both men and women did their bit to stop this menace,” said Temasfieldt.

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Less access to public spaces for women in Afghanistan?

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“A resolution passed by the Ulema Council of Afghanistan prohibits women from traveling without a male family member and studying, working, or communicating with strange men in the society, and it allows only men to seek divorce. The Presidential Palace, Arg, welcomed this resolution. Has Afghanistan failed its 50%?….As for as it remains a resolution it will have no binding affect. If the Ulema Council give a Fatwa then it will be binding and will have to be enforced.”

This was the Facebook status update of Noorjahan Akbar, co-founder of Young Women for Change, yesterday.

It is upsetting to see women’s rights under this kind of attack in Afghanistan. If the Ulema Council does give a Fatwa, one of the many, many negative outcomes will be an even greater restriction of access to public places for women and likely more harassment and assault should they dare go outside without a male family member.

Afghanistan is the most dangerous place for women to live in the world (Iceland the best place and Yemen the worst place) and it’s initiatives like this that make it so. A society with few rights for women and where women’s free agency is not respected fosters violence. And that is not good for women or for men.

Young Women for Change is currently fundraising to raise enough money to build and run a women-only, safe and secure Internet Cafe and meeting place. As more and more public places become restricted to women and harassment increases, this space is vital because it will allow women to connect with each other and the outside world. Donate today.

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“It’s beyond time to take a stand…don’t let these harassers intimidate you.”

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“It’s beyond time to take a stand…don’t let these harassers intimidate you.” – Dienna Howard on why she’s involved in Meet Us On The Street: International Anti-Street Harassment Week.

What are you doing for the week of action, March 18-24?

Dienna is based in the Washington, DC area and she will join me and three other women in a discussion about street harassment internationally and locally. Dienna will share her advice on dealing w/harassers in Washington, DC on March 19 (and it may be live streaming so anyone w/internet access can view!). Details & RSVP form.


Also in Washington, DC, is Patrick McNeil is speaking at an event at George Washington University on March 21, 5 p.m. He is writing his master’s thesis on the street harassment of gay and bisexual men and will share his preliminary findings. RSVP to attend.

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