Chelsea Cloud, Michigan, USA, SSH Blog Correspondent
Every day that I suit up for running I am mentally preparing myself for what I am going to encounter out on the streets. No, I’m not worried about my route or the looming danger of shin splints. I am concerned about what street harassment I am going to face. As a solo runner, I often ask myself, “How am I going to respond?” or, “What if it turns physical?” Over the past year I have added pepper spray to the plethora of accessories I wear during a jog, just in case. Thankfully, it’s only served as a safety blanket, but how do I protect myself mentally and emotionally from the attacks that come in the form of honking, yelling and sexually explicit comments? I started running three years ago in response to major life changes. I quickly realized that running made me feel alive and in control of my life. I felt strong. Resilient.
Then I moved to a slightly more urban locale and began running in downtown Kalamazoo, Michigan. The harassment amped up considerably. My internal responses range from disgust to rage. On a good day, I am fueled by the harassers. I go faster, farther even. If the main source of street harassment comes from the harassers need to dominate and take the power away from women, than I will show them how powerful I can be. But on the bad days, I feel defeated. By the third honk or heckle I am ready to burst into flames from anger. I’m left wondering how other women do it. Especially women in a considerably larger city, with packed streets and sidewalks. There are horror stories all over the internet and in message boards about the harassment that is subjected upon runners in large cities. I am reminded of an article that went viral earlier this year by Katie Prout for The Toast.com in which she describes her worst experience with street harassment while running in Chicago, when a group of pre-teen boys threw debris at her head while telling her to suck their dicks.
So what advice are runners being given to combat street harassment? Women who run solo are often told to run in groups. But what if they don’t like to run in groups? And why should a runner have to change their routine? Victims of street harassment are often naively asked, “What were you wearing?” and the same goes for female runners. Personally, I’ve been harassed in the dead of winter, completely bundled up with a mask covering most of my face. The tumblr page But What Was She Wearing? is a place where women are submitting their actual outfits that they were wearing when they were catcalled. It’s become glaringly obvious that choice of outfit does not make or break whether or not you are harassed. I’ve read blog posts by women and members of the LGBT community that don’t want to wear bright colors for fear of harassment. Runners are told to wear bright colors so drivers can see them, but many may be opting to wear drab colors so they don’t stick out to potential harassers.
Women may also be choosing to run more trails to get off the streets, but this comes with another set of dangers. Just last month, a young woman in my community was dragged off of the Bicentennial Trail in Portage, Michigan and into the woods by a male attacker. Thankfully, she escaped and got help (runners are a tough bunch). This incidence just adds to the growing list of worries that come with the decision to run outdoors.
There is also much debate over HOW to respond to catcalls. If you read the comment section in most articles about street harassment you will see that there are many conflicting views on not only how to respond, but how we should feel about being harassed. I am shocked when people say, “Just ignore it”, “It’s just life” and “You’re too sensitive.” While I can physically ignore verbal harassment, and usually do, I cannot forget the man who pulls over to honk at me or the young boy who comments on my body as I run past him. These little everyday harassment incidents are insidious. We cannot ignore the fact that we are being treated like public property.
So what is a runner to do?
Remind your friends and family that you are dealing with harassment on your runs and you need some support and solidarity. Download a safety app, or buy a TigerLady. But maybe most importantly, keep running outside. You are in control of your own run and every time that you lace up your shoes you’re running with countless others that won’t let street harassment put them on a treadmill.
Chelsea is a full-time sales assistant for an advertising company in West Michigan and a part-time Graphic Design student. She is proud to call herself a feminist and feels passionately about speaking up for women’s rights. You can find her on twitter @LitSmitten.
