Stop Street Harassment

Making Public Spaces Safe and Welcoming

Archives for April 2014

The Process Behind Stop Telling Women to Smile

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Watch.

Stop Telling Women To Smile from Dean Peterson on Vimeo.

“It’s important for me to show the process behind creating these pieces. Each portrait is an actual woman who has a story, who goes through this treatment daily, who has something to say about it that deserves to be heard.

I initially decided to portray the women as drawings instead of photographs because it was my natural inclination as a portrait painter. But also, drawing someone’s portrait makes you really look at them. You have to recognize their humanity not just physically but personally. And I hope that’s what comes across when people see these portraits in the street.” -Tatyana Fazlalizadeh

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Conversation about the Monument Project

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By: Rebecca Nagle, Codirector of Force: Upsetting Rape Culture

A group of community members came together at the Martin Luther King, Jr Memorial Library in downtown Washington on Wednesday, April 2nd, to have a conversation about the Monument Project: a call to create a national monument to survivors of rape and abuse in the United States.  The group strategized about concrete next steps for the Monument Quilt, which will be both a precursor to and way of getting buy-in for the Monument Project itself. The Monument Quilt is a collections of stories from survivors of rape and abuse that creates public healing space.

Attendees also discussed why we want a permanent monument, including the presence of permanent healing space for survivors, public education, and having a representation of the power we can have when we come together.  Last, the group brainstormed ways in which the Monument Quilt can support current and future policy initiatives to improve response systems that support survivors as well as prevention efforts.

The event was organized by Collective Action for Safe Spaces and Force: Upsetting Rape Culture as part of International Anti-Street Harassment Week.  CASS helped organize the advocacy effort that led to the recent passing of landmark sexual assault reforms in DC.  Read more about the effort here.

Force just announced a 10-city tour for the Monument Quilt and are currently hosting a Kickstarter to fund the tour.  Pitch in if you can!

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“I want to feel safe enough to take the train home”

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Saturday night at 1:30 a.m., I was walking to my apartment from the train. It’s about a 10 minute walk, so I was already very alert and armed with pepper spray just in case. I experienced 4 (4!!!) different incidents of harassment on my way home. I think what upset me the most about it was that I was alone and already nervous about my walk home, but to add disgusting sexual catcalls in the mix just enraged me. How dare these strangers make me feel so afraid and nervous walking through my own neighborhood in my own city. I want it to stop. I want to feel safe enough to take the train home instead of paying for a cab that I can’t afford.

– Ellen

Location: New York City – Harlem

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“Proceeds to kiss my hand”

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I was sitting on the bus and this scary man who had clearly been chasing the bus for a few blocks runs on to the bus goes in for the kill aka me and tells me ” I’m the most perfect thing he’s seen” then proceeds to kiss my hand and run off screaming “GOD DAMN F***ING BEAUTIFUL!”

Do you have any suggestions for dealing with harassers and/or ending street harassment in general?

Learn to make your permanent bitch face on point and wear it proud and everywhere.

– TM

Location: The bus in MKE

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“Why do they think leering at another person is okay?”

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I have been harassed on the street many times, but this is my most recent story:

Last night, I was waiting outside a pub for some of my friends, and I was harassed twice within ten minutes.

Guy #1 came up to me as I was waiting for my friends, and started commenting on how I looked “gorgeous”. He got right into my personal space, and was easily 50 or older (I’m 23 – not that that matters!) I told him that I was waiting for friends, and wanted to be left alone. He eventually walked away (slowly) but kept turning back, and saying things like “But you look so gorgeous! I know I don’t look as good as you…” I stayed where I was, and made a point of looking straight ahead, and checking my phone to show that I was not going to engage further.

Guy #2 came out of the bar I was waiting outside of with his buddy (both were in their forties). I heard him say “LET’S ASK THIS BEAUTIFUL LADY”, and I braced myself, as I knew what was coming next. He came up and asked if I had a lighter. I told him no, as I don’t smoke. He replied with “I can see that, if you did, you wouldn’t be nearly as hot.” I told him (coldly), “I’ll keep that in mind.” He went back to his friend, and although I couldn’t hear them, it was clear that they were talking about me.

My friends arrived, and we went into the pub. And two tables away from us was Guy #1! For the first five minutes, he just stared at me, smiling. I was with a group of six people, so I felt fairly safe, but still uncomfortable. Why do they think leering at another person is okay?

Neither of these are horrifying situations, but I didn’t want to talk to either of these people, and as a result, came across as rude. I don’t owe them my time or attention, and I know this, but I hate that I have to be this way just to feel safe in my own city!

– Becca

Location: Calgary, Canada

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