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”
“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.”
“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.”
“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
