Archives for February 2013

* ActionAid released a new report: “The report, ‘Women and the City II: Combating violence against women and girls in urban public spaces’ is based on research from six cities in Brazil, Cambodia, Ethiopia, Kenya, Liberia and Nepal. It reveals that women face a constant threat of violence, including rape and sexual harassment, in public spaces, preventing them from living and working in cities without fear of attack.”

* Groups in more than 50 cities met with local governments to discuss women’s safety issues in public spaces. Stop Street Harassment participated.

* An Everyday Occurrence: women and street harassment. Free seminar on March 6. Coventry University. http://twitpic.com/c5ndx1

Reminders:

* METRAC released a free “Not Your Baby App” to provide responses you can use when experiencing harassment

* elliehutch7 <25 and live in Edinburgh? Here’s a survey on #streetharassment http://svy.mk/14V3XbH via @HollabackEDIN

15Tweets from the Week:

1. @kasumihrkw The same creep who popped out & grabbed my arm earlier muttered something just when i was about to exit. #streetharassment #everydaysexism

2. @Bristol_Jane Workmen on a roof hidden from my view. So they shouted: “You can’t see us, but we can definitely see you, love. Ha ha.” #streetharassment

3. @speakout93 To the big Oaf i met last night…..Don’t whistle at me, I am not a dog! #endrapeculture #streetharassment pic.twitter.com/VnogDbDth9

4. @juliemastrine Third incident of #streetharassment at Penn State today. I really shouldve planned to leave town today!

5. @NirvanaSaid “A strong Woman stands for herself.. A stronger Woman stands up for everyone else..” #women_quotes #egypt #مصر #endsh

6. @Habeebakhattab #SexualHarassment reach the point that the #Police who are suppose to protect you are the ones who actually harass you #EndSH #Egypt

7. @MoElMalt The Circle of Hell”. A graffiti painting by Mira and Zeft addressing the sexual harassments at Tahrir Square. #EndSH http://www.facebook.com/pages/Revolution-Graffiti-Street-Art-of-the-New-Egypt/313913465299751?fref=ts …

8. @thetrudz I have to tell you all that other than street harassment, I rarely encounter men as ignorant as the relationship theorists on Twitter, IRL..

9. @Beltrew After being mobbed by 40 men near #Tahrir last year,I sometimes wear swim suit under my clothes when I report as its harder 2 rip off #EndSH

10. @AleenaSay #ifihadglass, I’d report crime and street/subway harassment to the police and media. Kids can report bullying in schools that they see.

11. @Elazul Again, in case you only read headlines. Cabinet’s proposed AntiSH law has zero mention of street harassment/Assault. #Egypt

12. ebonymarshman Lord. This kid just tried to tell my roommate that street harassment doesn’t occur in the U.S. Sit down, guy. Sit down.

13. @TahrirBodyguard Pick your battles. If someone gropes you, Yell. Make a scene. Embarrass them. Hitting can cause a whole other battle. #EndSH

14. @alisonturkos From my 7th floor office I just heard construction workers whistle at someone. I am disgusted. #rapeculture #streetharassment

15. @craftgasm Dealt with #streetharassment in my dreams last night, too. FANTASTIC.

“I’ve been harassed for several years now”

February 24, 2013 By Contributor

I am a 58 yr old female & I’ve been harassed for several years now. At first I didn’t think much about it, but as I continued to cut my grass in my back yard, each time I started I heard a shotgun being fired. Then I would hear shots almost every time, even when I would come home & park at my front door at night, as soon as I would get out of my car.

I have many details but most recently as of 1/18/13 I went out in the backyard to wash the wheels on my car & suddenly I hear the familiar shots again at which time I was very frustrated & stuck my finger up. To say the least the person was watching because different men have been following me since then, every place I go. I am constantly harassed because someone is feeling very insecure unstable about themselves & must feel threatened by the ” finger”. I have no idea why anyone is watching me with all these different people making gestures & faces at me but will not approach me because I have someone with me every time I go out. I no longer feel secure in America, why should this be happening to me? I’ve never committed a crime or anything why are men such bullies harassing innocent people?

– Ja

Location: Fayetteville, NC

“I hate men who leer and stare”

February 24, 2013 By Contributor

Men in Asheville, North Carolina, are upsetting. I hate men who leer and stare and smile at me, even while I fire back looks of disgust or stare them right back down. I want to carry around a carton of eggs with me so I can fire them at nasty perverts who won’t stop making me uncomfortable with their stares- either from the safety of their cars or their posses.

Men in Buenos Aires are just as bad. They don’t hide their stares, but at least most men down there are more chivalrous and hold the door open for all women and let her onto the bus first.

– H.A.D.

Wanted: More Social Media Volunteers!

February 22, 2013 By HKearl

The annual week of awareness, Meet Us On the Street: Street Harassment Awareness Week 2013, will be here soon (April 7-13) and I need more help spreading the word through the various social media accounts.

If you’re interested in helping me and the existing volunteers manage the Twitter and Facebook accounts and help contribute to the Tumblr and Pinterest accounts through mid-April, please email stopstreetharassment AT yahoo.com by Monday, Feb. 25.

When you email me, please let me know your name, where you’re located (state/country), send links to social media accounts you manage, and write 2-3 sentences about why you care about ending street harassment.

Thanks!

Holly

USA: How the Media Normalizes Street Harassment

February 22, 2013 By Contributor

By: Erin McKelle, SSH Correspondent

As we know, street harassment is a serious problem and the vast majority of women will experience street harassment at some point in their lives. It’s a product of sexism and bigoted attitudes that say women are sexual objects. But not everyone sees it this way; in fact, many people accept it as a normal experience and something that is just part of being a woman.

The media is one of the worst perpetuators of street harassment normalcy. There are so many instances on television that show women wanting to experience harassment or who are disappointed at not being catcalled or leered at. Think about it….the classic scene of two women walking by a construction site, one being harassed and one not. The one who’s not then proceeds to think she isn’t attractive, is getting old, etc. I’ve personally seen this particular scenario play out many, many times on television.

Just look the 2012 Fiat Super bowl commercial. A man is staring at a woman, she sees him and slaps him for his behavior. Then, she acts very seductive and is touching the man sexually. But the twist is as she leans in for a kiss, the woman in the commercial turns into a car! Advertisers trying to make this instance a joke perpetuates the idea that street harassment isn’t something to take seriously and that it’s perfectly acceptable to leer and gawk at women that you see on the street!

Or take a look at this Noxzema advertisement. Clearly, it is promoting the idea that there is something sexy about being harassed on the street. It’s not really anything to be concerned about, in fact, it’s flattering! This is clearly a very disturbing and infuriating ad, as it is selling the idea of being harassed. That is how they are trying to convince you to purchase their product. With Noxzema, you too can be harassed on the street!

Obviously, we have to eradicate these ideas and as a culture stop buying into the idea that street harassment is in any way normal or okay. It just perpetuates the harassment by making people think that there is nothing wrong with harassment when clearly, there is. It’s called harassment for a reason. Normalizing it is going to make the problem not seem like much of a problem and from this, will ultimately make it worse. Let’s stop street harassment and let’s stop consuming or buying into media that has other ideas.

Erin is an e-activist and blogger based in Ohio. You can find more of her work here and here.

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