Stop Street Harassment

Making Public Spaces Safe and Welcoming

Harassed by 10-year-old boys

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I went in to pick up my sister from summer camp. A lot of people were around. While walking out back out a young boy and his friends (they looked as if they were around 10-12 yrs old) said, ʺBring that ass here.ʺ I was so mortified all I could do was turn back angrily to say, ʺExcuse me what did you just say!ʺ

They all responded with laughter. Although I look like I walked out angrily, I really left feeling defeated, angry, powerless and violated because what was I to do in a situation like that? I felt that I could have stood up more for myself but the shock of it all especially when this came from a a boy who was only around 10yrs and I was 18.

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

I seriously think more people need to push for an anti-catcalling law.

– Anonymous

Location: A summer camp

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See the book 50 Stories about Stopping Street Harassers for more idea

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Volunteer with us as a Blog Correspondent!

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Do you feel passionately about ending street harassment and do you like to write? We need YOU!

Stop Street Harassment is one of the top street harassment websites in the world and we’re recruiting new members for our first Blog Correspondents Program cohort of 2015. This is an unpaid, volunteer opportunity. Build your resume and add your voice to the global conversation about this important topic!

Your words will be read: the SSH blog receives up to 30,000 unique readers per month.

Assignment:

From September to December 2015, correspondents in our third cohort must commit to writing one blog post per month about street harassment issues in their community, region or country, for four posts total. The topics could include incidents of street harassment covered in the news, activism to stop it, interviews with street harassment activists, and street harassment in popular culture, traditions or the news. You can also write pieces that tie street harassment to relevant related issues (such as racial profiling/racism, online harassment, and campus rape).

We aim to have geographic diversity among our cohort members. People of all genders, ages, regions are welcome to apply.

Applying:

If you would like to join our final Blog Correspondents cohort of the year, please complete this short application form by August 20. Applicants will be notified by August 22 and the selected cohort will be announced by the end of August.

Note: If you prefer to write in a language other than English, please also indicate what language is most comfortable for you and you can send your writing sample in that language.

Please apply and/or share with others who may be a good fit!

 

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Early Aug 2015 News Roundup

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Here are a few news stories and initiatives from the week.

Women runners, here’s a survey on street harassment!

“Brooklyn High-Schoolers Sexually Harassed While Painting Mural About Sexual Harassment”

Brooklyn mural by high school students. Via Patch.com
Brooklyn mural by high school students. Via Patch.com

“Along the bottom of the mural is the phrase, “Street harassment is about power and control.”

Although some men passing by on Myrtle just yell and whistle from afar, some come up to talk to the artists.

”Guys will walk by and say, ’You ladies shouldn’t be doing this, it’s too much for you, it’s too heavy, you need help,’” says Ponce.

Sometimes this leads to a conversation about street harassment. “People aren’t aware that it’s a problem,” says Ponce. ”They say, ’It’s a compliment, just take it.’”

Although Ponce doesn’t believe the mural has changed anyone’s habits just yet, she says some of the same guys who used to harass them are more respectful now as they walk by.

“It feels like you’re making an impact,” she says.

You can scope out the mural for yourself at 1102 Myrtle Avenue, along the wall of the Food Bazaar Supermarket. The girls expect to finish by August 24.”

“Why That Viral [Cosmo] Video of Men Reacting to Street Harassment Isn’t Praise-Worthy”

“While it’s no doubt that the producers’ intentions weren’t malicious – they wanted to highlight how pervasive (and f**ked up) the everyday whistles, taunting and stalking women encounter is – was having heterosexual dudes validate our day-to-day experiences really the best way to combat this gendered violence? In other words, should we be criticizing sexism by perpetuating it in another form?

The sexual intimidation straight women meet each time they step out of their homes should not have to be substantiated by their male companions. Her voice, alone, should be enough for her partner, and the rest of society, to take her experiences and frustrations as valid.

We’re ready for a street harassment video without paternalism, where women – including bisexual, lesbian, queer and trans women, because this is far from just a straight women’s issue – don’t need men to ensure that our daily harassment is believed.

Also, it would be great to have a video that didn’t overwhelmingly depict men of color as the perpetrators, because, news flash: white dudes aren’t santos and do hiss, jeer, harass, touch and stalk women as well.”

“LISTEN gets Vic government on board in push against sexual harassment and assault in music venues and festivals”

“The LISTEN collective [in Australia], a group of musos and industry professionals who are also passionate advocates for gender equity in Oz music, are taking active steps to deal with the situation. Importantly, they’ve just persuaded the Honourable Jane Garrett, Minister for Justice, to convene a task force to implement policy addressing sexual harassment and sexual assault at music venues and festivals.”

“How to Deal With Street Harassment When Traveling”

“On the flip side, it’s important to learn how to shut down unwanted attention not just with body language but verbally as well. Oftentimes in Western cultures, women are taught to be polite even when we feel uncomfortable in a situation. If someone is pestering you for attention, for your phone number or for anything else, it’s perfectly alright to shut them down with a simple no and to walk away if they won’t take no for an answer. Don’t feel obligated to continue a conversation with anyone who makes you uncomfortable. It’s not rude—it’s perfectly appropriate.”

“Could catcalling become illegal in Austin, Texas, and elsewhere?”

“Men are the primary perpetrators of street harassment against both women and men (and it is largely men in the LGBTQ [lesbian, gay, bisexual,transgender, and queer] community who are harassed compared with their heterosexual male peers),” she adds. “We need programs educating young men on issues of respect and consent, we need social shaming of harassers, and we need men to model respectful behavior to their friends and family members.”

“Public Property”

“There is a clear difference between striking up a polite conversation with somebody whilst both inhabiting a public space and utilising that public space as a tool to enable inappropriate commentary.”

“10 ultra-regressive scenes from Bollywood movies that encourage you to be a creep

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“I saw him following me I was so scared”

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Yesterday I was walking along a street and then this boy started staring at me and he smiled also!! I turned my head after a few minutes I saw him following me I was so scared. My father was a little bit far and I went to him and turned to see if the boy was staring at me and he was!! Then I was like this is life and turned my head!!

But this has to end always the same problem with boys.

– Anonymous

Location: Lebanon

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See the book 50 Stories about Stopping Street Harassers for more idea

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Five men surrounded me and tried to get me in their car

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My story starts with me walking downtown in Saskatoon from my car to the mall for my shift at work. In an ugly uniform, broad daylight, two o’clock in the afternoon. I had to cross a parking lot and an alley between a couple of businesses and a car with five young but big guys rolled into my path blocking my way. They were laughing and telling me how hot I was and telling me to come party with them. I politely declined and tried to laugh it off, saying I had to get to work. And they wouldn’t let me by and after some more banter they got out of the car. Five men. All much larger than me surrounded me and making the sexual comments and grazing me while joking amongst themselves of how much fun I would be.

I’m Caucasian, 5’9 but skinny, 130 pounds, and suffer from Lupus, so I wasn’t any match for any of them. And I started to get scared and more vocal in telling them no and to let me go. One of them grabbed me and tried to move me towards the car while I struggled and screamed every curse I could think of and they still just laughed. There were two customers that came out of the restaurant and saw what was happening, and an elderly homeless man who had been rightfully hesitant to get involved being so clearly outnumbered.

The guys let me go and got in their car and left after being confronted. The two men from the restaurant walked me to work where I sat down and sobbed over what had taken place. I was late and my boss was angry with me until I explained what had happened. And she uselessly offered to get her female employees rape whistles.

I began carrying a knife with me after that, knowing that it wouldn’t be much good against a large crowd. It would be wrestled away from me before I could do enough damage and more than likely end up on the receiving end but I swore I would never go down without a fight. Since that incident, I’ve become hostile and challenging instead of the joking way I tried to play it off to begin with and I’ve not had any serious problems since.

Street harassment is a real issue facing women but we have to take a stand for ourselves if we ever want it to stop. Don’t be a victim.

– Anonymous

Location: Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada

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

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