Correspondent, Author at Stop Street Harassment

The Bahamas: Interview with Founder of #LifeInLeggings

December 7, 2016 By Correspondent

Guest post by former Blog Correspondent Alicia Wallace

*Image via: https://redforgender.files.wordpress.com*

From #BlackLivesMatter in the U.S. to #SupportThePuff in The Bahamas, we’ve seen the power of social media, the rise of hashtag movements, and the propensity of new media to create change. Recently, #LifeInLeggings has gained the attention of the Caribbean region, giving women the space to share their stories of sexual violence ranging from harassment to rape. Started in Barbados by Ronelle King, the hashtag made its way to Guyana, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, and The Bahamas among among other countries.

King, founder of #LifeinLeggings, told me she was frustrated by her own experiences of sexual violence. “I had an idea to create a hashtag that would create a forum for Caribbean women to share their daily experiences of sexual harassment and abuse.” She recently worked with B-GLAD (Barbados Gays, Lesbians and All-Sexuals Against Discrimination), but has found social media and blogging to better suited forms of activism for her personality and schedule.

The launch of #LifeInLeggings on the first day of 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence was coincidental. “I wasn’t aware of the 16 days of activism until the hashtag took off and people starting mentioning it in correlation with the hashtag.” King noted the importance of the annual campaign, and said she is happy to have #LifeInLeggings play a role in bringing awareness to the issue of gender-based violence.

It is difficult to predict the success of a hashtag movement, whether by geographical reach or number of participants, but King was certain she would receive support from her friends and women in Barbados, knowing it’s an everyday reality for them.

“I did intend for it to spread through the Caribbean. Rape culture isn’t just a Barbadian issue; it’s a Caribbean issue as well as a global one, so I know that support would pour in from the other countries.”

Sexual violence is a pervasive issue in the Caribbean, as evidenced by statistics. In a survey conducted in nine Caribbean countries 48% of adolescent girls reported that their sexual initiation was “forced” or “somewhat forced.” The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and the Latin America and the Caribbean Region of the World Bank report noted, “While the worldwide average for rape was 15 per 100,000, The Bahamas had an average of 133, St. Vincent and the Grenadines 112, Jamaica 51, Dominica 34, Barbados 25 and Trinidad and Tobago 18.”

#LifeInLeggings has given Caribbean women space to put their names, faces, and stories next to those statistics, making them a visible reality for the people around them.

In Dominica, Delroy Nesta Williams and Khadijah Moore saw the effects of #LifeInLeggings and the potential to have a national conversation. The pair started #LévéDomnik to engage the country of less than 73,000, primarily on Facebook, in the discussion. Within days, they had collected over 400 stories, some of which were shared anonymously — sent to someone’s inbox and then posted on their behalf.

Williams said this is only the beginning of the conversation in Dominica. The #LévéDomnik has met with the country’s Bureau of Women’s Affairs and several NGOs, and is planning activities for 2017 that include advocacy training, yoga sessions, focus group meetings, and educational talks. “We want people to be more empathetic towards survivors, and we want to address institutional issues that act as emotional and psychological barriers to reporting sexual offenses and seeking redress through the judicial system.”

For King, #LévéDomnik is proof that #LifeInLeggings is serving its purpose. “The hashtag was created to not only show the realities of rape culture in Barbados, but in the Caribbean. It is a defiant cry for justice and a blatant refusal to be silent.”

Sexual violence is still a taboo subject, and survivors often find it difficult to talk about their experiences. In sharing our stories, we have the opportunity to sensitize people and bring attention to an issue that is often avoided in both private conversations and public discussion. Unfortunately, large numbers of people are unmoved by issues that do not directly affect them or people close to them. People participating in the #LifeInLeggings movement have commented on changes in attitudes of men around them who have been privy to the conversation. King shared that she personally received numerous messages from men who admitted they were a part of the problem, and intend to do better.

The Barbados team encourages those following #LifeInLeggings to reflect on their own experiences with sexual violence, and think of ways to keep the discussion going in family, peer, and community groups. It is also imperative that we consider the ways our words and actions contribute to women’s everyday experiences.

#LifeInLeggings started as a simple idea, and a group of dedicated women worked together to make it region-wide conversation. It caught the attention of two women in politics and Tanya Stephens among others, and is evidence of the power we all have to make a difference. In sharing our stories, women call upon men in The Bahamas and throughout the Caribbean to respect women as human beings, and take on the responsibility in engaging other men in these important conversations and holding them accountable for their actions.

We are not only responsible for what we do, but for what we allow to happen. Bystander intervention is critical to the creation of a new culture where sexual violence has not place. Bahamian women are invited to share their stories on Facebook and/or Twitter using #LifeInLeggings. Hollaback! Bahamas is accepting stories via an online form and will post on Facebook and/or Twitter for those who would like to remain anonymous.

Alicia Wallace is a women’s rights activist, public educator, and movement builder. She is the Director of Hollaback! Bahamas, produces The Culture Rush monthly newsletter, and tweets as @_AliciaAudrey.

Ireland: Breaking the Silence and Opposing Gender-Based Violence from Square One

November 30, 2016 By Correspondent

Grace Gageby, Dublin, Ireland, SSH Blog Correspondent

Trigger Warning – Sexual assault, rape

When gathering stories about harassment and sexual assault from my friends for my first article published on Stop Street Harassment, Beatrice told me about her first encounter:

“My uncle tried when I was four. It was only my mom who stood by me when I told my family the story. My dad and the rest of the men refused to let me speak. My great-grandmother resented my mother for speaking up”.

Sexual assault is a topic that is, of course, always difficult to talk about. Speaking up is just the start of a process that can take years, a journey through the justice system that won’t necessarily end in justice, and it can require repeated retelling of a traumatic event. Victim blaming is still rampant across the world, as is women’s fear of their claims being doubted or ignored. Speaking up about sexual assault is not only difficult because of the severe mental distress it causes, but because the abuser is often known to the victim, and a familial relationship can further hinder the victim from making their abuse known.

Too often sexual violence and harassment are viewed as something men do out of attraction, rather than a desire to dominate and hurt women. This is seen in the use of sexual violence as a weapon of war. For example, more than 20,000 Muslim girls and women have been raped in Bosnia since the fighting began in April 1992, according to a European Community fact-finding team. More recently, Islamic State has used rape as a weapon to terrorize communities, particularly across northern Iraq. In these cases, rape is used to traumatize victims, to control, to undermine individual’s autonomy, and to spread mass distress. Combating sexual assault in a global context requires an understanding of how gendered and socially constructed the world is.

Similarly, street harassment, something too often dismissed as a ‘compliment’, is really about displaying dominance. It is about reminding women of patriarchal power structures in our society, reminding subordinated groups of their vulnerability, and sending the message that public spaces do not belong to them. Men who harass women and members of the LGBT community also bank on women remaining silent, on not asserting themselves. Harassment is not an unfortunate digression, but a manifestation and preservation of the systematic oppression and maltreatment of women.

In tolerating street harassment, we set a precedent for other acts of gender-based violence to occur, and to be condoned. It is the duty of all to stand up to harassment and smaller instances of gendered intimidation, so that more grievous violence can be opposed.

Grace is a student. She writes regularly for her school newsletter and yearbook, and has been published in Inis Magazine. Grace is currently involved with the socialist feminist group ROSA (for Reproductive rights, against Oppression, Sexism & Austerity), and their campaign for abortion rights in Ireland.

USA: Post-Election Street Harassment in New Orleans

November 28, 2016 By Correspondent

Sequoya La Joy, Louisiana, USA, SSH Blog Correspondent

After GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump won the votes of the electoral college this November, the climate for women in New Orleans has changed. As a university student, our on-campus counseling center has been extremely busy and overbooked since after the election. As a sexual assault advocate on campus, I have received an increase number of calls from people who are scared to be assaulted and scared to go out in public.

I walk a small six block commute from my parking garage to my workplace and while on this commute have had an increase of unwanted comments on my body parts than I have even in the summer when I wear less clothing. I have died turquoise hair at the moment and have had multiple men stop me to tell me they like my hair and then ask me if the carpet matches the drapes. I also had a man walk closely behind me for 6 blocks at 2 am until I stopped to pretend to make a phone call. When I stopped, I made sure I was in a well lit place and the man stopped too. He asked if I spoke Spanish and if I had the time and could help him. I answered back in Spanish and told him the time and he told me he was visiting from Central America and then invited me to follow him and party. I told him I was on my way somewhere and waited until he walked a few blocks ahead before I turned the corner to walk towards my parking garage. I realize I feel much safer knowing that my parking garage has 3 entrances that need keycodes to be opened but I still do not feel safe on the six block walk from my work to my car that I have taken hundreds of times.

I also recently went thrift shopping with a friend of mine. A male employee of the shop stopped us several times while we were together and after we had separated. It seemed as if the man had an intellectual disorder or impairment but he still touched my shoulder and back in a way that made me uncomfortable and complimented my hair and clothing. He also told my friend multiple times that he liked her legs and how nice her legs looked in the boots. When we exited the store, he held the door for us and whispered in her ear about her killer legs and told us to both be sweet. In this situation, I knew the employee was overstepping boundaries by continuing to find us in the store and initiate conversation. I also knew by his sexual comments about my friend’s legs and his touching of my shoulder and back that this would be considered sexual harassment. However, as I read this man may have been intellectually impaired, I didn’t know how to react. I didn’t want to cause a scene or come off as mean and the friend I was with who would have normally told someone who was making her uncomfortable to get lost also didn’t know what to say to this man.

I thought a lot about this after getting home and I thought about the Republican state I live in. It made me think if I had any place to tell this man not to talk to women like that when the president elect had publicly shamed, assaulted, harassed, and insulted women. I have personally experienced more street harassment this month than in other months and now am at a crossroads about how to deal with it. Also, after the incident of being harassed by the store employee, I wonder if women will ever be able to escape being subjected to harassment. In this political climate, what are politicians and the media doing to try and reduce instances of sexual harassment and assault?

Who is responsible for educating harassers on how to treat women?

Is it the job of the harassed to constantly educate and inform their harassers that what they’re doing is wrong, uncomfortable, and scary?

I feel as a woman who has dealt with a lot of harassment in public and private spaces over the years, that it is not my responsibility to prevent my own harassment or educate my harassers. Sometimes, I am tired and cannot grapple with the mis-education our patriarchal society has given my harassers and I believe that that is okay.

It is not our job to educate our harassers.

Sequoya is a Native American and Italian woman from Chicago who fell in love with New Orleans. She’s currently a Sociology Major at Loyola University New Orleans and supports her higher education habit by slinging drinks to the masses. She aspires to attain a PhD and write a best seller. She currently operates a small blog.

Jordan: Art, Activism, and Empowerment – In conversation with Laila Ajjawi

November 26, 2016 By Correspondent

Minying Huang, Amman, Jordan, SSH Blog Correspondent

Laila Ajjawi is a renowned Palestinian graffiti artist and activist living in Irbid, Jordan, working to help empower women and communities of refugees. Through her artwork, she seeks to highlight discrimination, navigate Palestinian identities, deconstruct gender ideology, and reclaim the largely male-dominated Jordanian public space. By placing women at the centre of her pieces and celebrating female potential in all facets of life, she is challenging patriarchal attitudes and changing social perceptions.

This is my interview with her.

Have there been difficulties? Have you faced any opposition or resistance, or has the feedback been overwhelmingly positive and supportive?

Sometimes I will get positive feedback, even during the painting process. Passers-by will give compliments; some try to help. A few respond negatively and there is always criticism! But I’m always friendly because I don’t need enemies, especially when there’s the constant risk that someone will take down my art, maybe within an hour of me finishing.

Common themes found in your work include: freedom and oppression, the stigmatisation of refugees, the role of women in society, cultures of silence, and humanity’s ability to transcend boundaries. Is Jordanian society responsive to the messages you are hoping to convey?

Most of it relates to how people see themselves from the inside, the invisible boundaries and stereotypes that people impose on themselves. In my country, these sorts of feelings limit your vision and, by extension, your achievements, because from a young age society is dictating what you can and can’t do, what you should and shouldn’t do, depending on your gender, your age, where you live, or where you come from… I can’t say that all of Jordanian society suffers from gender-based violence… and, to varying extents and in varying degrees, all societies suffer the same problems. But we cannot merely rely on statistics as, for example, many do not report violence. There are so many problems, so many crimes against humanity, that go unheard of, unpunished, and unseen.

Your work is bold, brave, and powerful, rich with imagery and symbolism. Can you detail your creative process? What inspires you to create?

The key is always the location, no matter what my chosen subject is. I will always have a look around the surrounding area and talk to local people of all ages and genders. I call this the scouting process and it’s very important to me.Usually, I have the sketch ready in advance, completed in a moment of inspiration. I then have to scout out different locations to determine a good spot that attracts a lot of people. Once I’ve found my location, I will chat with the site owner, among others. At this point, I might rethink my original ideas and revise the sketch completely! This is followed by a quick draft on the wall after which the regular painting process begins. The finishing touches are the details.

Do you think all art is political in some capacity? Would you say that artists have a responsibility to try and effect change in their communities?

Not all art, surely. You know, cavemen used to document their hunting journeys through art… and it’s since developed into a tool to express an array of feelings and thoughts, some of which are political. As for an artist’s responsibility, it really varies from artist to artist. Factors to consider include: background, environment, level of self-education (sometimes level of formal education), level of general awareness, inherited and personal notions of responsibility, and one’s relationship with their surroundings and the wider world. Each artist sees the world from a distinctly unique perspective, and their experiences will shape – and be reflected in – their artwork. Some create art merely for fun; some view art as a means of self-expression; others believe themselves to be messengers of peace, for example.

Can you share one or two defining experiences that have shaped your values? How has your life influenced your art?

One defining moment was when I noticed how visually impactful graffiti can be, how it transforms the spaces it occupies. Graffiti is a great tactic to use when you want to convey a message, especially in social issue campaigns, as its presence in public spaces means that your thoughts will be able to reach more people and influence the public mind. The realization that graffiti perfectly combines art and activism then inspired me to take it to the next level, gain more experience, and learn more about social activism and the role art has to play. I have a very strong sense of responsibility, social and otherwise, which ties into why I do what I do.

Maybe this is because I’ve been brought up in a good family where everyone works so hard simply to be able to afford basic necessities and where getting an education was the main priority. Living in a refugee camp my entire life wasn’t easy. My family literally started from zero. My parents had no bank accounts, no land, no property. They were always working hard to keep the family afloat; and so, being the oldest, I had to take care of my younger brothers and sisters. When I graduated, I worked so many different jobs so as to become financially independent, pay back my loans, and help supplement the family income. I studied science – and I do love science – as I couldn’t afford to study art. I had to teach myself through university library visits and would go to art professors for guidance.

How did you get into graffiti? What about it speaks to you over other art forms?

The cornerstone of my graffiti journey was participating, for the first time in my life, in a regional art festival, organized by Women on Walls (WOW). This event took place in the capital of Amman, just over an hour away from my city of Irbid, and gave me the chance to step outside my community and meet other artists who were working with different forms and materials.Prior to that, I had experimented within the walls of Irbid Refugee Camp, where I had used spray colours to depict something relating to the resistance in occupied Palestine. I wanted to build on this experience further by painting a large mural, drawing on watercolour art for inspiration. It was so challenging and I think I must have spent two days just staring at the wall before actually starting the piece.

For some reason I lost all sense of time and my surroundings; I was solely focused on the wall, the art, the steadiness of my hand. I was thrilled to discover just how fast I could work, how quick I was to adapt to this new medium. It was exciting to know I was just as capable of working to such a large scale as I was of drawing on regular A4 paper. I felt such passion in that moment. In other words, graffiti gave me such a high! And when I finished, I felt as though something within me had been set free and cast onto that wall.

Thank you for shedding light on the many challenges and injustices women encounter in their daily lives, from gender-based violence enshrined within a rigid honour code to limited access to education. What are the existing social and legal obstacles to progress here in Jordan and the Middle East where women’s issues are concerned?

Some obstacles to progress I see in this community, as in other communities, are: poverty, unemployment, social injustice, government corruption, unequal access to education, work, and decent services. I would add that these are challenges and injustices people of all genders are facing. It’s natural to expect more problems within communities that struggle to meet basic needs, in which people are unable to secure a good income (both in terms of salary and the nature of the work).Law is another crucial issue. Here in Jordan, we have some laws that divide such communities, directly and indirectly, whereby one side is given more power than another which results in more injustice for victims.

You have worked with enormously impactful organisations and initiatives such as Women on Walls, ActionAid ARI (Arab Regional Initiative), and SheFighter. Can you tell us a little bit about these projects?

All the above organizations share similar ideas as regards empowering women in society at large. They invited me to work with them, which is an honour and shows me that my work and my message have been met with recognition.

Women are breaking the silence, fighting for their rights, and striving to assume control of their own lives. Do you feel that now more than ever this region is ready for – and open to – a real shift in attitudes and behaviour?

Not all the initiatives are smart and practical. A lot of them target, and operate within, areas where women can, for the most part, do whatever they want. They don’t target the more closed communities beyond the capital city and cosmopolitan coastal areas. But it’s in these closed communities that women suffer the most. A lot of the activism is just talk, whether about the problems or the victims, but few are taking active steps to tackle the root of the problem, which is what I’m trying to do. By filling the streets with images of strong, empowered women, I’m trying to change public perceptions and attitudes.A small organisation that, in my opinion, is doing meaningful work in the field of female empowerment is IRC Jordan (International Rescue Committee).

Is feminism considered a dirty word in the Arab world?

Yes, because there are those who misunderstand the actual meaning of the word. Feminists have a reputation for hating men here. And some do act out aggressively against society, make generalisations, and talk about men as if they were monsters, wanting female superiority, and breaking with the idea that men and women each hold up half the sky. Meanwhile, there are feminists, who understand the true meaning of feminism, working to empower women in poor communities; they are setting up start-up projects, encouraging women to work, and promoting self-development. There are feminists campaigning for equality to be enshrined in law; they are campaigning for fairer salaries in the private sector, for example, and rallying against the unjust laws concerning honour killings, citizenship, and nationality.

At this point in time, what are your goals? What are your personal and professional aspirations?

I need to break down the stereotypes people around the world have of Arab girls, both Muslim and non-Muslim, and of the Arab region in general.I also want to show young people that they have the power to start something great, to effect change from within. I want them to believe in themselves.

What are you working on at the moment? Do you have any upcoming projects Stop Street Harassment readers should keep an eye out for?

I’m still undecided as I left my job and got married with a plan to leave the country and move to Saudi Arabia! Before I leave, I hope to gift a few more graffiti pieces to my community. I have so many unfinished projects that I will continue to work on in Saudi Arabia, one of which is a science-fiction novel. I’m also designing an art studio for myself, a much-needed space in which I can figure out what my next big move is.

You can keep up-to-date with Laila and her work on Facebook, Instagram @lailanajjawi, and Twitter @Laila_Ajjawi.

Minying is a 20-year-old student from Cambridge, England. She is studying for a BA in Spanish and Arabic at Oxford University and spent the last academic year living in Amman, Jordan. You can find her on Twitter @minyingh, Instagram @minyingh, and Facebook @minyinghuangpoetry.

Spain: Pros and Cons to Self-Defense Classes

November 25, 2016 By Correspondent

Alice C.R., Barcelona, Spain SSH Blog Correspondent

The 25th of November is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. Like every year and (almost) everywhere else, Spain and Barcelona have organized various events, from conferences to theater play and demonstrations.

I have always had mixed feelings about such a “Day”. Of course, I like the idea of focusing on violence against women. This is a good way to catch the attention of people and media and I hope this can help to rise awareness about how real it is. Statistically speaking, we all know women who have been the victim of this kind of violence.

But at the same time, I am a bit skeptical. What about the others days? Acts of violence occur every single day. Putting a focus on one day seems to me like a good deed we only do to have a clear conscience so we can forget about it until next year. And it seems even more true with the success of all these International Days. I have been quite surprised to learn about the existence of an International Underwear Day, a World Egg Day and a World Pasta Day, among hundreds of other “celebrations”.

But, if at least one person can learn more and become aware thanks to the 25th of November, it will make my day.

As I was saying, in Barcelona we have a lot of events and activities. And not only the 25th but across the whole month of November.

I made an intervention yesterday about a project I will speak about next time and I will attend a self-defense workshop next Saturday. And this is what I would like to speak about. It is not really specific to Spain nor Barcelona but it is a topic that has caught my attention for a while.

Every 25th of November and every 8th of March (International Women’s Rights Day), woman are offered self-defense classes and workshops. I think it is very important to offer specific classes to women since women are subjected to specific violence. While workshops are very well done, others are not so well prepared and I must say that some initiatives simply offend me.

Let’s start with what I think is problematic:

First of all, I am tired of the people who say, “Women should go to self-defense class to learn how to defend themselves and protect themselves from being assaulted”. Effectively, you can find in Barcelona some “anti-rape” self-defense workshop. Programs include how to use your keys, a piece of paper and how to deal with strangulation…

I do not like that:

– It tells me that if I do it, I will be able to avoid a rape or any other assault. I could say, “Hurrah! I am protected”. But we all know it does not work like that. Self defense is good, self defense can help you in some dangerous situation but self defense can’t guarantee you will be protected.

This is just another way to put the responsibility on the victim. We ask the potential victims to do an activity whether they like it or not, to take away from their free time, from their energy, from their savings (usually you have to pay for most of these classes) instead of asking potential harassers and attackers to follow workshops and classes about how not to harass and attack.

– It won’t change anything about a possible harassment or assault. I mean, if I need to defend myself that means that I am already attacked. Prevention=zero. But if we want reduce the amount of harassment and assault we need to focus on prevention. The best prevention is education. Educate people that “no” means “no”, that no one is “asking for” being harassed, assaulted. Well, you get the idea.

All this makes me feel that women’s fear for rape and assault is bankable. The offenses and crimes we can be victim of generate a business at our expense.

Then, why did I enrolled for a workshop myself?

Well, because I believe self defense can help me being more confident and develop my strength.

In fact, I am not against it, but this has to be done in good, safe conditions by instructors who know the consequences of an assault, the consequences of being harassed on your way home after a long day at work or in the bus going out with your friends. I am sure a lot of instructors try to do their best and really want help women to feel more safe and confident but from being in their class, I know this does not work.

What works is a class where you feel free to leave if you feel uncomfortable with an exercise, not were you are “forced” to participate because you need to “surpass yourself”, where you will be taught how to develop your proper strength and not standard way of defense, and where no one will tell you that every woman should practice self-defense but that every women should have the right to feel and be safe in any public space even without taking part in self defense class.

Alice likes researching, analyzing and writing about Women’s Rights, gender bias, and intersectionalism with a special focus on sexual violence, rape, rape culture, the impact of street harassment and how the media deals with these issues. She is currently working on a new project focused on how some media participate in the revictimization of victims. Follow her and her projects on her Facebook page and via Twitter @Alyselily.

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