Stop Street Harassment

Making Public Spaces Safe and Welcoming

Archives for March 2016

“Hey Ho” The Lumineers Catcalling Parody

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“The Inspiration for this video was my complete ignorance as to how much of a problem catcalling is for women. If I had people chirping at me all day when I walked in public, I would have a metal breakdown in a month. We are releasing this video on the first day of spring to keep awareness high on this issue as women will surely be wearing less in public as the weather gets warmer. I hope this video can contribute to ending the terrible social practice of catcalling while entertaining at the same time.”

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Street Harassment Support Group in Iowa City

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By artist Samantha Callahan
By artist Samantha Callahan

International Anti-Street Harassment Week is an opportunity to raise awareness and protest the gender-based violence that occurs in our communities year-round. This year, in addition to a chalk-the-walk, op-ed writer’s workshop, several community-wide art projects, and a concert/bystander intervention training, End Street Harassment – Iowa City has organized a support group where victims of harassment can share their experiences in a safe space. The group will be facilitated by professional social workers and counselors. During the event, participants will have the option to create posters protesting harassment, which will then be displayed throughout our community.

I co-facilitate a weekly music and art support group at an emergency shelter for survivors of domestic violence. Since starting the group, I’ve witnessed how cathartic and empowering it can be for victims of trauma to voice their stories and vent in a comfortable environment. We laugh, cry, and practice grounding and mindfulness exercises, such as deep breathing, stretching, and progressive muscle relaxation techniques. We also color, paint, make crafts, journal, write poetry, and rewrite popular songs so that they are about our personal experiences. This work served as the inspiration for a street harassment support group.

Some dismiss street harassment as a trivial issue. To me, street harassment is an every-day occurrence that reinforces the detrimental power dynamics that lead to gender-based violence. Street harassment is terrifying because victims do not know if the encounter will end in sexual or physical assault. Street harassment disproportionately affects women, LGBT* individuals, and people of color. It reinforces power inequalities and prevents those who are affected from moving through public space safely and with dignity.

Stella Hart
Stella Hart

When someone characterizes street harassment to me as “harmless” – or, even worse, a “compliment” that I should receive gratefully – I share a story about an abuse survivor I worked with who fled her home and community to save her life. While walking in public in a new city, a man in a car honked at her and catcalled her. Her first thought was “my abuser has found me,” followed by “could he have paid someone to follow me?” She had an intense panic attack as a result of being catcalled and she was unable to accomplish any of her goals that day related to securing housing or employment, which caused her stress and further anxiety. Perpetrators of harassment shouldn’t need to hear stories like this to cease their behaviors.

Our support group will hopefully give victims of harassment a place to process their experiences and know they are not alone. Actions protesting harassment that will occur in Iowa City – and around the world – this April can help make our communities safer for everyone. Together, we can end street harassment.

Stella Hart is a writer and activist who lives in Iowa City, Iowa. She is a founding member of End Street Harassment – Iowa City.

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5 Cosas para prepararse para la Semana Internacional Anti-Acoso Callejero

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(gracias Mariana Diaz Fernandez)

5 Cosas para prepararse para la Semana Internacional Anti-Acoso Callejero

4.5.14 Observatorio Contra el Acoso Callejero Chile 5Hola!

Como ya saben, el acoso sexual en espacios públicos, o el acoso callejero a partir del género, es un gran problema.

Desde el 10 de abril hasta el 16 de abril, Stop Street Harassment está organizando la sexta anual Semana Internacional Anti-Acoso Callejero (International Anti-Street Harassment Week) y distintos grupos en 30 países se han unido para participar. Gracias por ser uno de ellos!

El propósito de esta semana es la de permitirnos un espacio para juntarnos en solidaridad y amplificar nuestras voces para que el mundo escuche.

INFORMACIÓN IMPORTANTE:

  1. Cuéntenos qué están haciendo!

Queremos saber qué están haciendo! Por favor completen esta forma o bien, escribanme por correo (hollykearl AT yahoo.com), dirigido a Holly. Esto es importante. Nos va a ayudar a dirigir individuos a los eventos importantes en su área. También nos va a ayudar a conseguir más atención de los medios de comunicación para la Semana así como para el conflicto en general si logramos correr la voz para eventos específicos que estarán ocurriendo. De antemano muchas gracias por su ayuda.

  1. Ideas para acción.

Todavía necesitan ideas sobre qué pueden hacer? Aquí hay algunas. También, pueden ser estas fotografías de nuestras acciones concretas del año 2015, o bien, leer nuestro reporte de cierre, que contiene eventos de 41 países y 24 Estados de Estados Unidos.

Nosotros y nosotras especialmente esperamos ver discusiones más allá del Internet, para incluir a miembros de las comunidades diversas de todos los géneros y de distintas procedencias. Necesitamos que todos y todas nos involucremos para que las comunidades sean más seguras!

Sin embargo como mínimo, cualquier individuo puede participar simplemente a través de actos como contar su historia o experiencia del acoso callejero, escribiendo mensajes con tiza y compartiendo información en redes sociales.

  1. Herramientas.

Tenemos una seleccion de imagenes y panfletos descargables en nuestro sitio web y estaremos agregando mas articulos actualizados para el 2016. Están disponibles en distintos idiomas pero nos gustaría tener más. Por favor escribanme a Holly, hollykearl AT yahoo.com si estan dispuestos o dispuestas a traducir algunas imágenes a su idioma.

  1. Escribe un Blog!

Si te interesa escribir una entrada en nuestro blog o quieres que compartamos uno escrito desde otra página, puedes hacerlo! Puede ser para la Semana específicamente o para anunciar o que estarás haciendo durante la semana y porque. Puedes escribirle a Holly con la idea de tu blog y la fecha estimada que preferirias publicarlo.

  1. Tweet Charts.

El 12 de abril tendremos nuestro tweetalon. Tweetea sobre acoso callejero utilizando el hashtag #EndSH durante el dia. Estamos trabajando para realizar charta en twitter. Si estás planeando un pero no te has acercado todavía, por favor escribenos para que podamos agregarte en la lista oficial. Tambien, si quieres ser parte de algún chart, escribemos! Y en general, por favor utiliza el hashtag durante la semana.

Sientanse libres de escribirnos en cualquier momento para preguntas, sugerencias o información! Muchas gracias por ser parte de nuestro evento para trabajar en crear espacios públicos seguros para todos y todas!

Gracias,

Holly Kearl, Fundadora de Stop Street Harrassment
Preguntas? Escriban a Holly a hkearl@stopstreetharassment.org

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“If you see someone being harassed, intervene”

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I had just gotten to my local train station, which is in the suburbs of Philadelphia, when I heard this man yelling. He was screaming at a young woman who was smoking. She was young and attractive and he was in his 50’s maybe. She was a good 30 or 40 feet away from everyone else on the platform. The stop is completely outside. I know there are signs prohibiting people from smoking around there. She had removed herself from everyone else so her cigarette use shouldn’t have bothered anyone. This man was pointing his finger, shouting that she was a criminal for smoking, and driving the point home with all sorts of other obscenities.

I was surprised at how angry he was. I was like, “Excuse me sir. You need to back up and leave her alone.” He tried to continue his tirade. I calmly, but firmly said, “Stop. I don’t care about the smoking rule, I care that you are harassing her. You don’t have the right to do that. Now stay away from us.” I sat down next to her.

He went back to the rest of the people waiting for the train. She told me he had followed her around the train stop several other times, doing the same thing. She’d tried to stay in the area where smoking was allowed but she didn’t want to be completely isolated after he harassed her the first time. She said I was the first person to ever say anything to him. He also apparently was with his wife.

He targeted this girl because she was alone, her smoking distanced her from everyone else. He felt like he could insult her and get away with it. If it had truly been about a cigarette, he would have asked politely for her to move farther away, or complained to a conductor once on the train. He was a bully and backed down once he realized she wasn’t alone.

Once on the train we did tell the conductor about him. He gave her some advice as to how she could file a complaint, and I believe he said something to the man. I wish we had taken a picture of him, to show the conductor or even the police. There is a police station right behind the train station.

– Megan

Location: Prospect Park, PA

Optional: What’s one way you think we can make public places safer for everyone?

I think if you see someone being harassed, intervene. You don’t have to yell at the harasser, you can just start a conversation with the person they are bothering. Bullies want an easy target and they rely on other people not stepping in.

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

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Obama Talks about Online and Offline Public Sexual Harassment

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Yesterday, President Barack Obama talked about both online & offline sexual harassment in public spaces!! I believe this is the first time he has publicly done so regarding street harassment, so this is big.

ObamaSHMarch2016

Here is a short excerpt, but to read or watch more, jump to around minute 40 of the video (for online harassment) and 50 (for offline harassment).

“…’Obviously, this is not unique to the Internet,’ Obama added. ‘Women have been up against this kind of nonsense since the beginning of time. As long as women have dared to enter the public space — whether they’re fighting for their rights or simply walking the streets, there have been times where they’ve been harassed by those who apparently see the mere presence of women as a threat.’

Obama said that while it’s important for women to continue to speak up about online harassment, it’s also integral that men join in. ‘This is not just the role for women,’ he said. ‘It’s about men speaking up and demanding better of themselves and their peers, their sons, their friends, their coworkers. Because we’re all in this together.'”

Thank you so much, Obama!!

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