Archives for July 2016

“Doesn’t make it right to say”

July 30, 2016 By Contributor

I was walking my aunt’s dog when a teenager yelled out the window of his van,” Lick my ****.”I was too shocked to say anything and it put me in a horrible mood. He came out of his van to apologize, saying that he meant to say it to the girl across the street. Just because it wasn’t particularly aimed at me, doesn’t make it right to say. I know that and I’m only 12, so why don’t guys understand?

– Anonymous

Need support? Call the toll-free National Street Harassment hotline: 855-897-5910

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

Upskirt Recordings Ruled Legal in Georgia – But They Shouldn’t Be

July 25, 2016 By HKearl

Here’s an excerpt from my article for TIME Magazine:

“Taking cellphone pictures or videos up a woman’s skirt without her consent is perfectly legal in Georgia, a Georgia Court of Appeals ruled this month.

A Georgia man confessed to taking cellphone video up a woman’s skirt in a grocery store. Yet the state’s voyeurism law did not prohibit his actions. Instead, the law prohibits such recording only if they “occur in any private place and out of public view.”

Typically, voyeurism laws like this were passed to protect people from non-consensual filming in private places like homes, dressing rooms and locker rooms—not in public spaces like a grocery store. In Georgia, the ruling came down to the interpretation of “place.” The court was divided, but ultimately, the majority opinion said that “place” referred to a physical location, not an area of the body, and thus the non-consensual photos taken were legal…

Some may wonder why it is important to prohibit such behavior, especially if many women are unaware that they are being recorded. Taking recordings up someone’s skirt, especially to share online or use in other ways for sexual gratification, does not add anything productive or positive to society. Instead it can make women as a whole feel less safe and comfortable in public spaces just knowing that they could be the target of such actions. If they have been recorded before or know someone who has, they may feel violated, upset and distrusting while in public spaces.

Upskirt recordings are a form of gender-based street harassment, and street harassment is a widespread problem in the United States, ranging from sexual comments to following and groping. It affects at least 65% of women and 25% of men (for the latter, the harassment mostly takes the form of homophobic slurs). Street harassment can make people feel less safe, affect them emotionally, and be re-traumatizing for survivors of sexual abuse.

Why do we need a law against upskirt recordings? While there are pitfalls to laws — including how hard it can be hard to enforce them and how the legal system is often fraught with racism, sexism, and victim-blaming — they can set the tone that certain behavior is not OK. Further, it is incongruent to have such recordings be legal in one state but not in the next.

I am not naïve enough to think a law will deter every upskirt recorder. But it may deter many.

And even if a law doesn’t deter everyone, there are other actions we can take to try to stop future violations. Just as people everywhere have been taking a stand against street harassment in recent years, there are a growing number of women who will not stay silent about upskirt photos and have used the power of social shaming and turning their devices back around on the man as a way to find justice.

Bystanders can play a role, too. If you see someone taking an upskirt photo and you feel safe to do so, call them out, videotape them, or take some other type of action that lets them (and everyone else nearby) know that this behavior is not OK. Social shaming can be a powerful deterrent.”

Harasser Shoots Man for Telling Him to Stop Disrespecting His Wife

July 25, 2016 By HKearl

Via Fox 13 News:

“Shortly before midnight on Sunday, officers say Bradley Mills was outside his home on Mason Avenue [in Florida] with his wife. Mills says he saw and heard two men two houses down staring and whistling at his wife, and told them to stop disrespecting her.

According to the police report, Mills’ wife went inside, and when Mills followed, he heard one of the men shout after him. He allegedly ignored him and kept walking, but turned when the man called out again and saw the man holding a gun, which he shot towards the ground. Then, Mills says the man shot several times at him while following him towards his house. Two of the bullets hit Mills, and he told his wife to call 911.

Authorities say they tracked down the shooter and identified him as Rolando Fernandez Rodriquez. He was arrested at his home on Pine Avenue in Haines City.

Mills was treated for two gunshot wounds at the Heart of Florida Hospital. He is expected to be okay. Rodriquez was transported to the Polk County Jail and charged with Attempted Murder in the 2nd Degree.”

Bradley Mills did everything right as a witness to street harassment. The scary reality is, you never know which harasser will escalate — some will escalate if you ignore, if you speak back assertively (as he did), or if you lash out. All we can do is make the best decision we can in the moment and try to stay safe.

I am grateful he told the harassers they were disrespectful and I’m relieved he will recover from his injuries.

“I was terrified the whole time”

July 24, 2016 By Contributor

I was walking around at night by myself. As I walked past this one house, two guys came out onto the porch. I’m sure they were drunk. They were also in their forties. I’m 23. I didn’t even acknowledge them, but one said, “Hello” and the other, “How YOU doin?!” in a really creepy sexy voice.

I never stopped walking, but I turned slightly and said, “F**k off.” Maybe not the best response, but I’m simply sick of guys using my being outside as an excuse to him on me. Especially since they’re twice my age. That’s super creepy and disgusting.

The one started screaming at me, “What the f**k did you just say to me?! Come back here!” I told him no and kept walking. He got off his porch and started coming after me. I yelled at him that I had mace and I’d mace him if he didn’t leave me alone, but he keeping coming after me. So I just walked away as fast as I could. He kept telling me to come back. He followed me for a block or two. Then we came up to an intersection where there were a few people across the street. At that point, I called back, “Just leave me the f**k alone!” And he finally said ok and backed off.

But I’m afraid the only reason he did was because those other people. I was scared out of my mind. I had no idea what would happen, what he would do if he got close to me. But I just knew I couldn’t let him get that close. I was disgusted that he had the audacity to try to flirt with me when I was just trying to walk. But once he started coming after me, I was terrified the whole time. I was terrified that he was going to beat the shit out of me, or worse rape me…

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

I’m not sure. I think one of the main problems is that women aren’t respected and are simply viewed as property. If we could change that view, I think the streets would be a lot safer.

– Irena

Location: Out on the street, Latrobe PA USA

Need support? Call the toll-free National Street Harassment hotline: 855-897-5910

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

“Oi, come on, get in the car”

July 23, 2016 By Contributor

Today as I was walking to meet my boyfriend, a car drove past me with two young men in and beeped at me. The car then did a U-turn and drove back down the road so that they could drive back up it again. They then drove onto the pavement, blocked my way and said, “Oi, come on, get in the car”. I backed away and began to ring my boyfriend. They then reversed and sped off.

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

Introduce a scheme “safety zones” which is a place that people can run to if they are being harassed (like a nearby corner shop) and can be comforted and be safe. There could also be things in the streets which you could run to if you’re being harassed and call the police and then this could spot the areas where street harassment is more common so more could be done about it.

– PB

Location: Leicester, UK

Need support? Call the toll-free National Street Harassment hotline: 855-897-5910

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