Archives for November 2014

Harasser threatens to shoot woman who ignores him

November 19, 2014 By HKearl

Trigger Warning.

Despite what some people think, ignoring a harasser can lead to escalation too. There is no magic response that can keep everyone safe. That’s why we have to focus on stopping harassment in the first place. I am so glad she was able to get away safely!!

Via Komo News:

“SEATTLE — A woman was threatened at gunpoint in a convenience store parking lot last Tuesday after she ignored two men calling out to her and trying to get her to talk to them, according to the Seattle Police Department.

According to the police report for the incident, the victim was walking into a convenience store in the 12300 block of 15th Avenue Northeast around 2 a.m. when two men hanging out by a black or dark blue Cadillac repeatedly yelled “hey” at her to get her attention.

The victim ignored the men, but they were still there when she left the store. They reportedly asked the victim what she was doing and if she wanted to hang out with them.

The victim continued to ignore the men and got into her car. Unfortunately for her, the men didn’t take the hint, according to the report.

The men approached the victim’s car and one of them reportedly opened her door and wouldn’t let her close it. The victim later told officers she was afraid, so she put the car into reverse and started to back out of the parking lot.

According to the report, that’s when one of the men said, “[Expletive] this; I’m going to shoot you,” pulled a handgun out of his pants and pointed it at the victim.

Terrified, the victim continued to back out of the parking lot and was able to drive home and call 911. Officers went to the convenience store, but the men were already gone.”

“The first time I experienced street harassment I was 9”

November 18, 2014 By Contributor

Over the last few weeks alone:

* A boy no older than 10 pulled my top down in a public park.
* An elderly man groped and verbally harassed me on the bus
* Men of varying ages have repeatedly leered at and catcalled me on the street (I am 16)
* When serving at the pub where I work upon occasion men have told me to ‘smile darling’, ‘show some more skin’ and ‘get back in the kitchen’ (I’m a waitress)

The first time I experienced street harassment I was 9, in a junior school uniform and it has not stopped since.

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

Educate men, there is a widespread culture that passes off any harassment towards women as ‘banter’, its not ‘banter’ it is a jail worthy offence.

– Anonymous

Location: Consett, Newcastle, UK

Share your street harassment story for the blog.
See the book 50 Stories about Stopping Street Harassers for more idea

Saudi Arabia: A Ban on “Seductive Eyes”

November 17, 2014 By HKearl

Well if you thought women’s bodies couldn’t be policed any further… in Saudi Arabia women can’t have “tempting eyes” showing….

Via Pakistan Today:

“A new law in Saudi Arabia banning ‘tempting eyes’ has become the latest example of female oppression in the country.

The law states that women with alluring eyes will be forced to wear a full veil… Sheikh Motlab al Nabet, spokesman of the Saudi Arabian Committee for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice, said they ‘had the right’ to force women to cover their face.

‘The men of the committee will interfere to force women to cover their eyes, especially the tempting ones,’ he said.‘We have the right to do so.’

Many commentators wondered how the word ‘tempting’ would be applied. One unnamed journalist in the country suggested it referred to ‘uncovered eyes with a nice shape and makeup.’

‘Or even without makeup, if they are beautiful, the woman will be in trouble,’ they added.”

This outrageous mindset is not new. In 2008, I wrote about this story on the blog:

“A Muslim cleric in Saudi Arabia has called on women to wear a full veil, or niqab, that reveals only one eye.

Sheikh Muhammad al-Habadan said showing both eyes encouraged women to use eye make-up to look seductive.”

No law was passed at that time and it is disappointing to see that Saudi Arabia has gone backward and has codified this form of body policing.

“It’s horrible to be made to feel vulnerable when doing something perfectly normal”

November 17, 2014 By Contributor

I was travelling for work in Basel, walking down the street in the evening looking for a suitable place to get dinner. For no particular reason that attracted several stares/ leers from the passing blokes. There does not seem to be many women on their own in this town. I was then followed down the street by a bloke hissing something at me under his breath. It scared me, I turned around and walked away as fast as I could, ignoring him. I saw another woman getting harassed by a different man on the way back. At home I might be tempted to say something but here in another language I don’t feel confident. It doesn’t help that every second shop window has sexy lingerie on display or there are lap-dancing bars on street corners. I’m a 40 year old professional woman and it’s horrible to be made to feel vulnerable when doing something perfectly normal.

– Anonymous

Location: Basel, Switzerland

Share your street harassment story for the blog.
See the book 50 Stories about Stopping Street Harassers for more idea

Suspect Charged in Spears’ Murder

November 15, 2014 By HKearl

Trigger Warning!

Via Huffington Post

“A suspect has been charged in connection with the death of Mary “Unique” Spears, aDetroit woman shot to death after allegedly rejecting the man’s sexual advances.

Mark Dorch, 38, was charged with first degree murder and assault with intent to murder, among other charges. His trial is scheduled to begin February 9….

Though the circumstances that surround Spears’ death are not entirely clear, her story has been shared frequently online at a time when street harassment has been at the forefront of feminist conversations. It’s served as an extreme example of the danger women can face when they receive unwanted attention from men, and a powerful refutation of the argument that such harassment is harmless.

Writer, activist and social worker Feminista Jones began using the #YouOKSis hashtag on Twitter earlier this year in an effort to shine a light on black women’s experiences with street harassment and discuss solutions, namely non-confrontational intervention from bystanders. She told The Huffington Post that Spears’ tragic death also illuminates racial disparities in conversations about street harassment and its consequences.

“Often, black women and women of color are subjected to more harsh or harsher forms of street harassment,” Jones said. “I think that black womanhood has been devalued so much that we are more likely to be treated as property or as objects than maybe other woman, [though] that’s not to say that other women aren’t treated that way.”

Spears had a fiancé and three sons, ages 8, 4 and 1.

“I hope that her family finds some sort of reprieve from this tragic, tragic death that should never have happened,” Jones said. “No woman should lose her life because she declines a man’s advances.”

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