Stop Street Harassment

Making Public Spaces Safe and Welcoming

USA: The Normalization of Street Harassment in Childhood Television

By

Mariel DiDato, NJ, USA, SSH Blog Correspondent

johny-bravo-s-flirts
Johnny Bravo

As a child-turned-adult Pokémon fanatic, I have succumbed to the hype of Pokémon-Go. While basking in my nostalgia, I decided to watch some early episodes of the iconic cartoon. Watching childhood television shows as an adult, I often catch things that I didn’t pick up on as a kid. Certain jokes now make sense, while other things don’t seem as funny. One example of a less-funny aspect of Pokémon is Brock’s persistent advances towards almost every female character besides Misty, and the continued response of female annoyance or rejection. I wouldn’t necessarily claim this show is sexist, as they feature multiple female characters in leadership roles. However, the repeated romantic attempts towards much of these characters, played off with the “boys will be boys” narrative, is something I did not appreciate.

This prompted me to think about the other shows I watched as a child that normalized this kind of behavior. I realized that Pokémon is hardly the worst offender. Johnny Bravo is a show that features catcalling and female rejection as the main source of humor. Even more infamous is Pepe LePew, a male skunk whose storyline involves chasing and grabbing onto a female skunk who, very obviously, does not want to be approached or touched by him.

Although this harassment and female rejection is repeatedly portrayed as comical, the real-life version of this experience is far from laughable. On the Pokémon end of the spectrum, Brock takes rejection with a blushed face, and then moves onto the next woman. Johnny Bravo’s objects of affection sometimes even strike him, leading him to simply move on to his next target, like Brock. However, the reality of female rejection often leads to male escalation, with women receiving a spectrum of responses that can range from insults, threats, and actual violence. Women are aware of this fact; smiling and receiving compliments from harassers is often misconstrued as acceptance and openness, when it is really a method of de-escalation. It is sad to see this portrayed to young children as something to be laughed about. Even while LePew’s victim can be seen struggling to break free from his arms as he kisses her, the whole situation is trivialized to the point of comedy. It is as though harassment is seen as nothing more than a mere annoyance, generally harmless to the women it affects.

More and more data reveal that street harassment is anything but funny or harmless to its victims. Studies show that the continued street harassment most women face before the age of 18 is linked to a multitude of negative effects. One 2008 study found street harassment to be correlated with self-objectification and fear of rape. This, in turn, can lead women to fear travel of any distance, restricting their freedom of movement. In addition, there is evidence that continued and frequent abuse, such as the street harassment women can be subjected to virtually any time they leave their homes, can be more harmful than experiencing one traumatic event.

However, in these cartoons, sexual harassment is shown to be a trivial event that can be laughed off. Young boys are potentially learning that, while ineffective, street harassment is an acceptable way to pick up women. In each of these shows, there is an example of the male “getting the girl.” This might send the message that harassing multiple women is okay. Eventually, one will say “yes” and it will all be worth it. Plus, the women who say no will walk away irritated, but intact. On the other hand, young girls are potentially being taught that objectification and harassment is an appropriate and acceptable part of being female.

Street harassment was a problem prior to the invention of television. Misogynistic cartoon characters did not create the larger problem of sexism in society, but they are instrumental in keeping these messages alive and normalizing them for younger generations. It’s easy to criticize outright sexism on television, but it is also important to pick up on these more discreet messages that people of all ages are receiving. I don’t think I’m going to stop watching shows like Pokémon, but I will definitely be more aware of these indirect messages in the media. I will also be supporting shows that depict healthy relationships, instead of normalizing deeply harmful social interactions. I encourage others to do the same, and hopefully future generations will enjoy cartoons that don’t rely on sexism for their laughs.

Mariel is a recent college graduate, feminist, and women’s rights activist. Currently, she volunteers for a number of different organizations, including the Planned Parenthood Action Fund of New Jersey and the New Jersey Coalition Against Sexual Assault. You can follow her on Twitter at @marieldidato or check out her personal blog, Fully Concentrated Feminism.

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USA: What Can I Say? Taking Submissions for Witty Responses to Harassers

By

Hope Herten, IL, USA, SSH Blog Correspondent

ViaHollabackDesMoinesIf we had a daily post limit for life, I would have to be quiet for the vast majority of my waking minutes. Talking is one of my favorite hobbies; I’m an expert in forming opinions and I’m a speaking-my-mind frequent flier. As a person who always has something to say, why can’t I stand up for myself when faced with unwanted harassment?

A combination of fear and surprise is probably the top contributing factor; rarely am I approached when I am expecting it or by someone less threatening than me. Though I tell myself that maybe not saying anything at all is the high road, I can’t help feeling that an inability to speak reinforces the power structure being exploited by my harassers.

Often we are taught that it is better to say nothing at all than to speak too quickly and let our emotions run away with our words, and though many intelligent men and women have preached this ideal, I have come to struggle with it, particularly in the last few weeks where harassment has become more frequent in my life.

Is it better to say nothing when patriarchal men try to assert dominance over you in public than to say something that may come out wrong? Does it make a bigger impact to ignore a harasser or give him a piece of your mind? Are harassers impacted at all by what you say or don’t say to them? Am I showing my strength by saying nothing or am I admitting defeat? None of these questions seem to have a clear-cut answer; there is no prescription for patriarchy, no magic words to make someone see what they are doing is harmful.

My conclusion comes back to my favorite aspect of feminism: choice. Silence can be a deliberate act of defiance, refusing to let an oppressive voice cause you to lose your cool and say things you don’t mean. Simultaneously, refusing to stay silent is a choice to empower yourself in a different way, vocalizing your refusal to submit. For some, being forced to speak out of anger or fear can help reinforce the power structure that harassers are acting in. For me, silence isn’t a courageous act. I am scared to speak when harassed in public for fear of saying something wrong, I am afraid of angering the harasser, and I worry that what I say won’t matter. I need to remind myself that I am strong and intelligent and that despite what my words mean to an oppressive body, they mean a lot to me and I will not be made silent by a complete stranger.

I want to remind all of you, that no one should make you do something that makes you feel like a lesser person.  Whether you remain silent or speak up, make it your act of protest. Don’t let a single person or moment push you down, because as a collective, feminists are coming together to give you the freedom to go outside and not have to make the choice at all.

P.S. If you are looking for some great suggestions Stop Street Harassment already has some, here and here.

Hope is a full-time undergraduate student studying public health and Spanish in Chicago, IL.  If you want to keep up with Hope you can follow her on Twitter @hope_lucille or check out her public health blog.

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USA: How much of Sexual Harassment of Women is Media’s Responsibility?

By

Manish Madan, Ph.D, USA, SSH Blog Correspondent

Note-Card-CapableA few weeks ago, I participated in a panel discussion on street harassment. My fellow participants included a lifelong advocate on gender rights and women’ safety in India, Dr. Sharada Jayagopal – part of Women Graduate-USA, a physician by profession, and the TV personality, Ms. Renee Mehrra who is also a well-known activist for women’s right. Renee asked me about my views on the role of media (particularly Bollywood movies) in regards to the sexual harassment of women. I think as a society we need to ask this question more often given the wide-reach of media, its permeability in our society, and how it shapes our opinions and beliefs.

So for the purpose of this post, I will revisit some of the research about media’s role influencing the sexual harassment of women. The presentation of women often based solely on their physical appearance, including certain manners inviting sexual innuendos, is often noted in the research. In some cases, media shows women to be submissive.

Media cultivation theory states, “The views shown on the television media is mostly taken as the messages and beliefs that are real and valid’” and will argue that the consistent portrayal of women in a sexually objectifying manner or as someone who can be harassed and will remain submissive when harassed, is likely to be taken as a reality outside the “idiot box” as well.

Naturally, the media content varies within the genres, such as music videos, soap operas, comedies, action movies, dramas, etc. Some genres attract more objectification than others. For instance, Selena Gomez’s song Good for You will be strikingly different from CNN Erin Brunnet’s Out Front — unless it involves Chris Matthews at CNBC “Hardball” (no pun intended!) asking her to come close to the screen during a video interview just so her could tell her, “You look great!”

In a study from Italy, Silvia Galdi and her co-authors examined the relationship between the objectification of women as sexual objects and the likelihood of sexual harassment occurring using Italian TV Programs. The authors used three sets of video clips depicting, i) objectified women, ii) non-objectified women, and iii) no women in the video. The study showed participants’ higher harassment penchant after watching the objectification TV program compared to watching the non-objectified women professionals or the ones where there were no women in the video.

The study also noted that male participants reported greater intentions to engage in sexual coercion and a higher likelihood to engage in harassment behavior as a result of viewing TV programs that depicted objectified women. Interestingly, participants who watched objectified programs were also more likely to conform with the traditional masculinity norms regarding dominance (used as a symbol of sex and power), and aggression.

The question thus goes back to the initial discussion, does the media create new social realities or is it a mere transmitter of existing social certainties? Thoughts?

Either way, such realities or certainties that comprises one gender or makes their existence vulnerable in a public space must be addressed.

There is also evidently some research that shows that the amount of time a youth spends consuming some form of the media is much more than the time spent in school or having interpersonal communications with parents. That said, if I view our social structure that enables an environment of sexual harassment as a jigsaw puzzle, then media will perhaps be one vital piece that has some role in this puzzle. Expanding the landscape of women portrayal in media with shows like #Quantico with a female lead charting her own course is probably a good change going forward where the women are not seen as mere sexual objects.

Do you think someone will consider sexually harassing the FBI recruit, #AlexParrish?

As a civilized society formed on principles of equality and respect, the media does have a role in either condoning or monitoring the objectification (often sexual in nature) of women, and having a larger role to play in our society’s struggle toward addressing the sexual harassment of women.

In conclusion, while I discussed the role of media in gender objectification, I also want to offer caution in singularly blaming it for the gender harassment as it will lead us to a reductionist approach. It is not only media nor is it all media, but perhaps there is a little bit of everything. Media is one bit of the puzzle and we also need to focus on various social, cultural, patriarchal and environmental factors that also promulgate the concept of gender harassment in our society.

Please use #MediaRoleinSH to share your views. I will look forward to reading and commenting on it!

#SexualHarassment #Masculinity #Dominance #MediaPortrayalofWomen #Italy

Manish is a Professor of Criminal Justice at Stockton University where his research focuses on examining sexual harassment, gender empowerment, spousal abuse and policing issues. You can follow him @Prof_Madan or reach out to him at www.manishmadan.com.

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USA: Street Harasser Shoots Into Women’s Shelter

By

Kathleen Moyer, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, Past SSH Blog Correspondent

On Thursday, one Philadelphia man showed just how much street harassment can escalate, just how entitled some people feel to other’s bodies, and just how little regard some have for women’s lives.

Police are currently searching for a man who fired shots into a North Philadelphia women’s shelter Thursday afternoon.

According to investigators, the unidentified man approached a woman outside a Rite Aid and attempted to speak to her. When she refused, he followed her into the store and trailed her as she shopped. When the woman was finished shopping, she began to walk back to the women’s shelter where she lives and noticed that the man was still following her. Shortly after she entered the shelter, surveillance footage shows the man standing outside, then pulling a gun out of his pants and firing several shots into the building.

Fortunately, no one was hurt.

This case shows that street harassment truly is a heinous act. Some people may dismiss it as a way of complimenting someone or guys just joking around, but it’s not. It goes much deeper than that. Think about what must have gone through that man’s head for him to get to the point where he was motivated to potentially kill people because a woman didn’t want to talk to him. He didn’t see a woman outside that Rite Aid; he saw an object he was entitled to conquer. When he failed, his pride was hurt so much that he felt the need to stalk her, instill fear in her, and assert his dominance over her. Then, when she finally got to safety, in a building filled with women who had possibly been treated like objects by other men with the same mentality, he decided that she didn’t deserve to live. None of the women, who were presumably safe, deserved to live. Even if the shots were only intended to be a threat, he knew very well that he could end up killing someone and he decided that was a fair outcome. Why? Because a woman didn’t want to talk to him.

Street harassment is not flattering, it’s not funny, and it’s not a trivial problem. Street harassment kills, and it’s time to acknowledge that horrifying fact. Luckily, no one died in this case, but far too many people have been killed as a result of street harassment. Someone who was stalked and shot at should not be considered lucky, because at least she’s still alive. It’s time for society to start addressing street harassment like the serious issue it is, so no other person has to endure what this woman did, and so no one dies in such a senseless way in the future.

No arrest has been made in this case yet. Anyone with tips should contact the Philadelphia Police Department.

Kathleen is a full-time graduate student studying professional and business communication. She plans initiatives to increase awareness of sexual assault, domestic violence, and other related issues through her university’s anti-sexual violence group, Explorers Against Sexual Violence.

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USA: A FedEx Driver Harassed Me

By

Ginger Skinner, NY, USA, SSH Blog Correspondent

Image via photopin
Image via photopin

Last May, just seconds after hopping on my bike in front of my Brooklyn apartment, I hear, “Mmm. Can I go with you?” I slow my bike and turn around to see a FedEx driver staring back at me. I yelled, “You really shouldn’t harass people while you’re on the job.” His response: “F**k you.” Followed by several more “f**k you’s.”

The driver’s comments were no different than those hurled at me almost daily from row house stoops, in corner stores, supermarkets, parks, gyms, and on and around public transit. “Hey baby’s,” “How you doing’s,” and “Mmm mmm mmm’s,” that seem innocuous, yet too often leave long-term side effects: anger, anxiety, shame, and hypervigilance. Still those men had not delivered packages to my home. Packages I regularly signed for. I worried that my speaking up and defending myself might have inadvertently encouraged more harassment.

Five minutes later, I was on the phone with a FedEx “specialist.” After opening a claim that included a detailed description of the delivery person, the specific location, and time of day, she repeatedly assured me that FedEx would handle the situation according to their policies, and that they’d follow up with me. She ended the call with “FedEx takes these matters very seriously.” Weeks passed. No follow up.

Had I done the right thing in reporting the harassment? Yes. I think so. Street harassment is often a precursor to more aggressive forms of violence. Had I really wanted the driver to lose his job? Certainly not. What outcome had I expected? At the very least, I knew that I wanted to be listened to and believed—and for FedEx, as promised, to take the matter seriously.

A basic search of Twitter turned up people who clearly wanted the same. A jogger who was catcalled by a FedEx driver. A woman aggressively catcalled by a FedEx worker inside her apartment building. A man whose wife was sexually harassed by two FedEx drivers. A woman who tweeted at FedEx after one of their drivers made kissing sounds at her. Another woman who upon calling FedEx to complain about harassment was “pretty much laughed at” by the customer service rep. This story. And this one. And here’s one about a UPS driver.  And this incredibly disturbing story about a U.S. Postal Service worker.

No complain alert line for customers?

Like most companies, FedEx has an employee policy in place that addresses workplace sexual harassment. The anti-harassment policy on the company’s website states that:

Unwelcome sexual advances and other inappropriate personal conduct are prohibited. We strictly prohibit, and will not tolerate, any type of harassment or any acts that create the potential for harassment, either in terms of individual employee morale or in violation of applicable laws.

There’s also a mechanism for reporting violations – the FedEx Alert Line.

I wondered, did the same policy apply to customers? So I reached out to FedEx’s media department, but after two weeks and no response, I ended up on the phone with Dave from Customer Advocacy. I asked, “Does FedEx have policies or other measures in place that protect customers and communities members from harassment by FedEx employees?” Dave responded, “We are not able to reveal FedEx policies over the phone or on our website. Our policies are confidential.” Then a long pause, and, “We will deal with a situation when we have one.”

I ended the call with Dave, disappointed, but with a clear message for FedEx and other companies that claim to take harassment seriously:

Whether or not it affects to your bottom line, your employees’ actions directly impact your company’s reputation. At the end of the day, the employee that harassed me is wearing a uniform and driving a truck clearly marked with your company’s name. I urge you to consider stronger policies that discourage harassment by your employees and protect the communities you serve. By not addressing it, your company is essentially doing its part to preserve rape culture.

Ginger is a full-time reporter and long-time New Yorker with over 10 years of experience writing about health and wellness. Ginger is also a member of Brooklyn Movement Center’s No Disrespect anti-street harassment team, and is dedicated to deepening the conversations surrounding the causes of gender-based harassment and violence, and the intersections of race. Follow Ginger on Twitter at @ginger_skinner.

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