Archives for January 2013

USA: ESPN Commentary About Alabama Player’s Girlfriend Unnecessary

January 8, 2013 By Contributor

By Lauren Duhon, Baton Rouge, La., Stop Street Harassment Correspondent

Image from Katherine Webb’s Twitter Account

As the nation watched the Bowl Championship Series National Championship game last night between the University of Notre Dame and University of Alabama, I’m sure fans only expected to watch a football game between the top two teams in the nation. What they also saw, however, was a continuous string of remarksby ESPN commentators about Alabama quarterback A.J. McCarron’s girlfriend Katherine Webb.

During the first quarter of the game, commentator Brent Musburger made remarks about Webb, who is also Miss Alabama, like she was a trophy. “You quarterbacks get all of the good looking women,” he said, as he urged young boys watching to play football in order to date attractive women.

Throughout the game, the camera did close up shots of Webb, bringing more and more attention to the Auburn University alumna.

I watched the game with some of my friends who contributed to the commentary while practically drooling every time she appeared on the screen. When I got angry and asked why they thought that was okay, they answered, “Because she is hot” numerous times.

I couldn’t understand their behavior. The unnecessary comments and explicit names they called her continued until the end of the game (ending in a victory for Alabama).

Then the sexist comments moved online. Webb’s Twitter account went viral in a matter of hours and gained nearly 170,000 followers and there were many creepy tweets directed at her.

Webb hasn’t made a comment about the coverage, but today ESPN released a statement:

“We always try to capture interesting storylines and the relationship between an Auburn grad who is Miss Alabama and the current Alabama quarterback certainly met that test. However, we apologize that the commentary in this instance went too far and Brent understands that.”

Despite the apology, this isn’t the first time Musburger has made inappropriate comments during a game, nor do I think it will be the last time that a sports commentator does so, especially since few people have spoken out against his behavior. On the contrary, I’ve read multiple comments on websites like Bleacher Report from people saying they love him for his antics.

So I am speaking out: no one should be gawked at on national television without their permission, including by ESPN commentators. No one should have to virtually be catcalled by teenage boys and middle-aged men online without their consent.

Our society needs to stop justifying these actions. They help shape a society in which many men think it’s okay to say disrespectful things to women on the streets, on television, and online without much consequence. If I were Webb, I would come out with a statement to discourage these men, because I wouldn’t want to be pinned as anyone’s prize.

Lauren Duhon is a student journalist from LSU in Baton Rouge, La.

Two white men harass, sexually assault, strangle Native Woman

January 8, 2013 By HKearl

**Trigger Warning**

Because of racism + sexism, women of color often face really vile and frequent harassment on the street and the rates of sexual assault are higher overall for women of color than they are for white women.

This story, published by Indian Country Today, is a very, very upsetting example. Please read with care.

“In a telephone interview, Christi Belcourt, representing the victim’s family, elaborated on the police report and a statement issued by the family. She said the attack began at around 9 p.m. on December 27, when the victim was walking to a store in the north end of the city [Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada]. Two Caucasian men in their mid-30s pulled up alongside her in a green two-door sedan and began yelling at her, allegedly calling her a ‘dirty squaw’ and other racially tinged profanities.

When she ignored them and walked faster, they reportedly began throwing things at her, including trash. She says the passenger then jumped out of the car and grabbed her by her hair—pulling her so violently she lost clumps of hair—and shoved her into back seat, where he sat on her and began beating her.

She tried to fight back, but was unable to escape as she was driven to a nearby wooded area, where she says she was brutally sexually assaulted, strangled and beaten.

During the attack the men allegedly told the victim it wasn’t the first time they had committed this type of crime and ‘it wouldn’t be the last.’ She told police they also told her, ‘You Indians deserve to lose your treaty rights,’ making a reference to the recent Idle No More events in Thunder Bay.

Left for dead in the woods in freezing temperatures, the victim walked for nearly four hours to get back to her home. From there, she was taken by ambulance to the hospital for treatment and forensic tests. ‘The only thoughts that came to my mind were my children,’ the victim later said in a statement. ‘I thought I would never see them again.'”

Heartbreaking. Maddening. Brave. I’m glad she lived.

The Thunder Bay City Police are investigating the harassment and assault as a possible hate crime (which it clearly is – a hate crime against Native women), and no suspects have been found so far.

The woman and her family bravely came forward with the painful story to show what kind of racism and misogyny exists in their community and to make sure the perpetrators are held accountable.

“First Nations leaders want police to know the public is watching. ‘These cases often are not taken seriously enough and we don’t want this to get swept aside,’ said Chief Peter Collins of the Fort William First Nation, who noted there have been many cases of missing First Nations women that remain unresolved.”

The Native Youth Sexual Health Network issued a statement after the attack: “Violence against indigenous women and girls has been, and continues to be used as a weapon of colonialism and a way to undermine the strength of our leadership. NYSHN sees raising our voices together against sexual violence and making change for violence against women to stop as an integral part of any movement.” You can help support their work here.

I hope the two perpetrators are found and prosecuted quickly, before they hurt anyone else.

#ShoutingBack Stories Flood Twitter

January 8, 2013 By HKearl

Trigger Warning –

@Stephanie_Fiems Running local park while a guy followed me in his truck parking every few exits masturbating as I passed #ShoutingBack“

@VintageRoseJaz walked home when I was 14.Man said “hello pretty lady” ignored him and he replied with “Well fuck you then” #ShoutingBack

@khavipuri sat on the bus at 5pm and looked up to c the man in front wanking was so shocked I had no reaction jus got off #shoutingback!

@SamanthaIles trying to leave train, bloke pushes me back on, grabbing my boobs, saying ‘this isn’t your stop love’ #shoutingback

These are just a few of the most recent tweets about street harassment people are sharing during @EveryDaySexism‘s tweet chat today. It began hours ago and hundreds of stories are flowing in, mostly from the UK, where Everyday Sexism is based.

You can search for the hashtag #ShoutingBack on twitter to read the stories (but be warned, many could be triggering and collectively, they are very depressing and angering). You can also share your own.

Tweet chats like this one help people who share their stories feel less alone and it does a lot to raise awareness about just how rampant street harassment is.

@Nick_Pettigrew As a man, the @EverydaySexism feed today has been disturbing, disgusting and – hand on heart – a total surprise. Had no idea it was this bad

@ChrChristensen Want a sobering view of how we men behave on the street? Follow the current #ShoutingBack hashtag via @EverydaySexism

Last week, a dieting firm in the UK published findings from a study of dieters that found that for many of them, mild street harassment is a good weight-loss motivator. (HA). But this thread shows what street harassment actually looks like. I doubt anyone would be motivated to lose weight if it meant experiencing more of it.

Street harassment is not a compliment. It’s a hate crime. It’s a human rights violation. It’s gender violence. It must stop.

“What could possibly happen out in the open with people around?”

January 8, 2013 By Contributor

I was on the LIRR train going home from work and started to fall asleep while reading. A huge guy sat across from me but I didn’t really think anything of it since there was another guy sitting two seats away from me. I mean, what could possibly happen out in the open with people around?

The guy started bumping his foot into mine, which I moved twice away from him. Then he reached down to presumably tie his shoe and he “accidentally” brushed his fingers against my shin (I was wearing a dress)… I got mad and started to move like I was going to get off the train. Then the coward suddenly bolted and got off the train before I could make my next move.

Infuriating! Especially since I am a health professional and was working on something related to my career— it seems some creeps treat all women with disrespect.

– Leia

Location: LIRR train leaving Penn Station

USA: New Year, New Challenges

January 7, 2013 By Contributor

By: Carla C. Avenia, Stop Street Harassment Correspondent and Social Media Volunteer

The year 2012 has been full of achievements for Stop Street Harassment and the anti-street harassment community.

But the new year is just a few days young, and women and activists have already had to do a lot of work.

Our first challenge arose as soon as the clock struck midnight on the 31^st, when Republican politicians allowed for the Violence Against Women Act to expire, which means that domestic abuse survivors across the country will receive much less help until a new plan is in place.

The mass protests in India after a young woman was harassed and then brutally gang-raped and then died from her injuries are still ongoing. Although a most horrific case, she has not been the only victim of attackers trying to intimidate the anti-street harassment protesters. Another young protester was also gang-raped, and after police tried to convince her to drop the charges and marry one of her attackers, she committed suicide.

Back on our own soil, young men from Steubenville High were caught on camera mocking a rape victim. Parents and other responsible adults surrounding the culprits have engaged in a high-scale cover up operation rather than admit at their failings as parental and authority figures and prosecute these young men.

Just before the new year, the Department of Veterans Affairs published a study in which it is revealed that as many as 48.6% of women who served in war zones claim to have been sexually harassed, while 22.8% of them said they were sexually assaulted or raped.

As you can see from just the last seven days of news, sexual violence against women – whether on the streets, in the workplace, at school, even at home – is still endemic, everywhere. Women of all ages, social backgrounds, races, and religious beliefs are victimized every day.

We have a lot of work ahead of us this year. So what can you do?

Get involved. There are many ways to contribute to the cause!

* Submit your street harassment story and share your experience.

* Report harassers

* Learn how to take action.

* Raise awareness and participate in International Street Harassment Awareness Week, April 7-13, 2013. Go one step further and get your community or your local activist group involved.

Don’t forget to stay in touch with us via Twitter or Facebook!

Carla is a proud feminist originally from Texas, who strongly believes in creating safer spaces for women. She holds a Master’s in Local Development, and she runs her own translation company from France. She is also a travel blogger. You can find her on Twitter.

Her photo was taken by Norman Acosta.

________________________________________________________________________

El año 2012 estuvo repleto de éxitos por parte de nuestra organización, Stop Street Harassment, tales como los que Holly – nuestra intrépida coordinadora – ha detallado en nuestro blog hace unos pocos días.

Aunque el nuevo año recién ha empezado, ya se han presentado varios retos para el 2013 que tanto mujeres como activistas deberán sobrellevar.

Nuestro principal desafío se originó apenas las campanadas dieron la medianoche el 31 de Diciembre, cuando los políticos Republicanos permitieron que la Ley de la Violencia Contra la Mujer caducara, lo cual significa que las mujeres víctimas de maltrato familiar y violencia doméstica en Estados Unidos recibirán menos asistencia hasta que se instituya una nueva Ley para protegerlas.

En la India, protestas masivas han congelado el país luego que una joven fuera sometida a un ataque bestial en el cual fue torturada y violada en banda. Aunque éste ha sido uno de los ataques mas terroríficos, la joven en cuestión no ha sido la única víctima de agresores decididos a intimidar los y las manifestantes que denuncian el acoso sexual en las calles. Otra joven también ha sido victima de una violación en banda, y al ir a declarar los hechos y presentar cargos ante las autoridades, la policía misma intentó convencerla de retirar los cargos y contraer matrimonio con uno de sus agresores. Poco después, se suicidó.

Volviendo a nuestro propio territorio, jóvenes alumnos de Steubenville High fueron filmados burlándose de una joven, víctima de una violación. Los padres y funcionarios escolares dentro del entorno de los agresores intentado encubrir el hecho en vez de admitir públicamente sus falencias en sus respectivas funciones, y hacer lo correcto enjuiciando a los autores del crimen.

Asimismo, a fines del mes de Diciembre, el Departamento de Asuntos de Veteranos publicó un estudio en el cual se reveló que el 48,6% de las mujeres que han prestado servicios en zonas de guerra sostienen haber sido víctimas de acoso sexual, mientras que el 22,8% de ellas declaran haber sido agredidas sexualmente o violadas.

Como se puede deducir a través de las noticias de los últimos siete días, la violencia sexual contra la mujer – sea en la calle, el entorno laboral, la escuela o hasta en el hogar – todavía es un problema endémico a nivel mundial. Mujeres de todas las edades, entornos sociales, razas y religiones siguen siendo víctimas de la violencia sexual día a día.

Tenemos mucho trabajo para hacer este año. Y seguro que te preguntas… “Y yo ¿qué puedo hacer?”.

Fácil: involúcrate. ¡Existen varias maneras en las que puedes contribuir a nuestra causa!

* Envíanos un relato de cualquier instancia de acoso sexual en las calle que hayas sufrido. Anímate a compartir tu experiencia.

* Denuncia a un acosador.

* Infórmate sobre como actuar frente a una instancia de acoso sexual en la calle.

* Únete a nuestra campaña de sensibilización y haz frente al acoso sexual: participa de nuestra Semana Internacional de Sensibilización Sobre el Acoso Sexual en la Calle, del 7 al 13 de Abril, 2013. Y ya que estás, ¿por qué no ir un poco más allá e involucrar a tu comunidad o a un grupo activista local?

Y claro está, puedes mantenerte al tanto de todas nuestras novedades a través de Twitter y Facebook.

Carla es una feminista Tejana, dedicada a la causa de crear espacios seguros para las mujeres. Obtuvo su Máster en Desarrollo Local, y es la dueña de su propia compañía de traducción basada en Francia. También relata sus aventuras internacionales en su blog de viajes. Síguela en Twitter.

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