Readers of this blog know that most women worldwide have experienced gender-based street harassment, including unwanted leering, “catcalls,” sexually explicit comments, demands for a smile, groping, stalking, public masturbation, and assault. Some men experience street harassment too, especially in the LGBQT community.
Despite how widespread this problem is, it’s rarely discussed or taken seriously outside of communities like Stop Street Harassment. We need solid national data documenting its prevalence and how it negatively impacts people’s lives before we will see policy changes and cultural attitude adjustments.
I plan to conduct the first-ever nationally representative survey of 2,000 women and men ages 18-30 in the USA to collect the data. I have an advisory team of PhD-level sociologists, demographers, and anti-street harassment activists who will provide feedback on the survey instrument. The acclaimed surveying firm GfK Custom Research LLC has agreed to conduct the nationally representative survey.
I strongly believe without this data, most policy makers, educators, law enforcement and the general public will continue to refuse to take this issue seriously.
If you’re tired of street harassment, please donate $10 (or more) to help make this street harassment study possible.
You can also help spread the word about the study.
Suggested Tweet:
“We need national data on #streetharassment. Pls donate 2 help fund a study that will make this possible http://www.razoo.com/story/National-Street-Harassment-Study #EndSH”
Suggested FaceBook Post:
“[your street harassment story] This is not okay. Please donate to make a national street harassment study possible so no one else has to experience this. http://www.razoo.com/story/National-Street-Harassment-Study”
More about the Study:
Once the survey is complete, I will release a short report with the study findings and recommendations. The report will also include information from discussion groups I am facilitating this fall with under-represented groups, including Native American young adults, sex workers, and transgender individuals. I started these already and flew to South Dakota to conduct two focus groups with Native Americans.
I will use the data and report to create curriculum for schools and colleges, launch targeted awareness-raising campaigns, and work with policy makers to improve the laws that can protect people from street harassment.
Let’s work together to make sure the next generation has safe access to public spaces. Thank you for your help!
