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Even Olympic Runners Face Street Harassment

November 14, 2016 By HKearl

An October 2016 Runner’s World survey shows that street harassment is a problem for many, many women (and a few men). I wrote about this problem in a new article for TIME Magazine’s MOTTO section – read it here.

As part of my research for the article, I interviewed U.S. Olympian (x2) Kara Goucher and Runner’s World editor Meghan Kita, who oversaw the survey. I could only include a small portion of their interviews in the article, but because I thought they had many important things to say, they gave me permission to print more of their interviews here.

KARA GOUCHER:

Photo by Stewart Dawson, via Flickr — *Kara Goucher in the 2009 Boston Marathon. Photo by Stewart Dawson, via CC on Flickr*

First up is Kara Goucher, who in addition to running in two Olympics, has achievements that include: winning a NCAA Cross Country championship in 2000, winning the bronze medal in the 10,000m at the IAAF World Championships in 2007, and having the fastest-ever marathon debut for a woman in the world with 2:25:53 in New York City in 2008.

I falsely assumed that she must have a crew of people running with her and therefore, perhaps rarely or never experienced street harassment. I was wrong. Just like every other female runner I know, she’s faced harassment. Safety concerns impact her training regiment.

HOLLY: How old were you when you first began running?

KARA: I ran my first race at age 6, but started organized running at age 12.

HOLLY: Have you faced sexual harassment and/or had safety concerns during your running career?

KARA: Cat calls and whistles are common place. There have been times in my life where I actually felt threatened. I think that most women can relate to this.

HOLLY: What’s one specific example of sexual harassment you’ve experienced while running? How did it make you feel? What did you do when it happened?

KARA: The first time I felt truly scared was in 2000. Adam and I had qualified for the finals in the 5000 meters at the Olympic Trials that were held in Sacramento. We, along with our coach, had headed to Lake Tahoe to get away for a few days before the final. We arrived in Lake Tahoe as the sun was setting. We set off for our runs and Adam quickly ran away from me. A few minutes later a truck came along side me with two men inside. They started whistling and calling out to me. I turned down a road and started running as fast as I could. They drove off. But a few blocks later they turned onto the road I was on and started yelling out to me, harassing things. I was terrified. I sprinted back to our hotel and didn’t finish my run. That night I had nightmares about it. I have been followed running since, but that first time really stands out as the time I realized I was very vulnerable when I was out running alone.

HOLLY: Has sexual harassment and/or safety concerns affected your running career in any way? If so, how?

KARA: Absolutely. I am nervous when I run before sun up or after sun down. I try to follow paths that are lit or are naturally busier with other runners. I used to run on a beautiful single track trail in Portland, OR, until my coach informed me that his wife was chased by a man running there. I was too frightened to go back on my own. I realized just how easy it would be for someone to attack me. I try to not let it control my life, but it does affect choices I make in training.

HOLLY: Is there anything else you want to say on the topic?

KARA: Running makes me feel strong and capable so I don’t like the way the vulnerability can take that from me. Running is the greatest joy in my life aside from my personal relationships. I’m not going to let anyone take that from me.

MEGHAN KITA:

Meghan Kita, a marathoner, has worked as an editor at Runner’s World for five years. After three women runners in three different states were murdered, a blog post about it on the Runners World website became the site’s most popular post to date. Meghan followed it up with a post, “The Problem is Not Women Running Alone,” which also generated a lot of discussion. From there, she spearheaded a survey about runner safety and street harassment, the first of its kind. Here is my interview with her:

HOLLY: When did you first begin running?

MEGHAN: In 2002, 14 years ago. I was in high school and joined the track team to get in shape for soccer. I liked it so much that I ran cross country in the fall instead.

HOLLY: What has been your experience with street harassment while running?

MEGHAN: It doesn’t happen that often and I marked “sometimes” in the survey. Maybe I’ll hear a honk per month. Partially this is because I run early in the morning. If it happens, it usually is when I’m running at lunch near work. It happens often enough that it’s irritating. And occasionally it has been more serve. I was followed twice one year. I was followed by someone in a car both times. I’m not totally clear they were following me but they were acting weird and I couldn’t figure out any other reason for their behavior. Both times I just got out of there. I’ve faced enough creepy behavior to be on high alert.

HOLLY: Has street harassment or general safety concerns affected your running career?

MEGHAN: Yes. I bought pepper spray after the 1^st incident of following. I don’t carry it all the time, but I’ll carry it if I’m running early in the morning in parks when not that many people are around. Parks make me nervous as there’s not a quick way to get out. The second time I was followed, I didn’t have it as I didn’t think I was in danger. It just goes to show that harassment can happen anywhere and at any time and when you’re expecting it, it may not happen and vice versa. It’s unpredictable.

HOLLY: What are your thoughts on how street harassment and safety concerns cause most women to have different running experiences from men?

MEGHAN: Harassment feeds into pre-existing safety concerns. Every woman has been raised to think something bad can happen just because you’re a woman and may be an easier target, sexual violence is more of a likelihood for you. You’re already on high alert for that and street harassment reinforces that you’re vulnerable etc. Harassment keeps safety in the forefront of women’s mind even though it usually doesn’t lead to anything beyond annoyance.

It keeps us on high alert in a way that I don’t think men’s experience. There are several running routes men have recommended and I’ll spend the entire time thinking, there are woods on left and river on the right and the best way to get off the trail is 3 miles ahead, how is this fun? What if someone pops out and I would have to out run them? This thinking hinders my enjoyment of remote areas that men seem to enjoy running. I wish it wasn’t that way but it is self-preservation. You hear terrible stories, see men reacting badly and why wouldn’t you have your guard up?

Many thanks to Kara and Meghan for sharing their stories. Thank you also to Meghan for spearheading the survey. Thank you to Runner’s World for taking the issue seriously. And thank you to our ally and friend Michelle Hamilton for writing an article about street harassment and the survey in the December issue of Runner’s World. It will be on newsstands soon!

You can also listen to a Runner’s World Podcast episode about this issue + share your stories with #HarassedMidRun.

New Transit Ads are Up in Washington, DC

November 13, 2016 By HKearl

It’s nearly been five years since a group of us testified before the DC City Council to pressure the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) to do something about sexual harassment — and they did.

A year ago when we met to talk about next steps, one of their commitments was to a third wave of anti-harassment PSAs. They were supposed to be done in April but after many many delays, they are now up across the system. Huge kudos to Jessica Raven at our collaborating org Collective Action for Safe Spaces for adamantly saying the ads should include focusing on some of the demographics we know are facing a lot of harassment, like trans women of color and Muslim women. Then, when WMATA said there was a lack of stock photos of these two demographics, Jessica suggested she could provide photos of people she knew (with their permission). That inspired WMATA to hold their own photo-shoot and the resulting photos are beautiful.

As of Nov. 10, WMATA told us,

“Riders should see ads at the following stations:

Anacostia, Archives, Ballston, Benning Road, Bethesda, Branch Avenue, College Park, Columbia Heights, East Falls Church, Eastern Market, Eisenhower Ave., Farragut North, Farragut West, Federal Center SW, Federal Triangle, Forest Glen, Fort Totten, Franconia-Springfield, Friendship Heights, Gallery Place, Glenmont, Greenbelt, Huntington, Judiciary Square, King Street, L’Enfant Plaza, Landover, McPherson Square, Metro Center, Mt. Vernon-UDC, National Airport, Navy Yard, New Carrollton, Pentagon City, Prince George’s Plaza, Rhode Island Avenue, Smithsonian, Stadium Armory, Takoma Park, U Street-Cardoza, Union Station, Van Dorn, Vienna, West Falls Church, West Hyattsville, Wheaton, Woodley Park.

Additionally, the ads will be in rotation on the 10 touchscreen digital panels at: Capital South, Gallery Place, Federal Triangle, Foggy Bottom, Pentagon, Farragut North, Farragut West, and Metro Center.”

This year we also worked with WMATA on the first-ever transit-wide survey on sexual harassment (results) and an outreach day at several Metro stations during International Anti-Street Harassment Week. They also began doing sexual harassment training for their bus operators.

“In Deutschland läuft Street Harrasement teilweise sehr subtil ab”

November 12, 2016 By HKearl

Was mich beim Durchlesen des Buches als Vorschau bei Amazon, wieder mal schockierte ist, dass man als Frau tatsächlich oft den Job wechseln muss, und bei der Wohnungssuche genau hinschauen muss, ob die Wohnung auch tatsächlich frei von harrasierenden Nachbarn ist – bäm!

Die ganzen Geschichten, die ich in Deutschland bei #aufschrei, Stopp Street Harrasement und anderen Foren gelesen hatte, bei denen finde ich mich überall wieder. Nur das mit der Wohnung und der beruflichen Arbeit, das habe ich bisher noch nicht gewusst.

Wie alle Frauen dachte ich, das ist mein eigenes individuelles Problem.

Das Schlimme bei der ganzen Street Harrasement-Sache ist, dass man als Frau individuell exponiert wird ! Dass heißt, dass es immer so dargestellt wird, dass einem nur selber passiert – anderen nicht! Und der Grund dafür ist, dass man das durch seine dümmliche, lächerliche, komische oder ungeschickte Gesamtpersönlichkeit alles selbst produziert resp. provoziert hat – also infolge selbst daran schuld ist.

Anstatt Hilfe, Schutz und Trost, bekommt man hier in Deutschland Beschimpfungen ab. Das allein reicht aber nicht – nein es werden darauf auch noch Schuldgefühle gepackt !!! Jede einzelne Frau ist für diese Katastrophe selbst und ganz alleine verantwortlich. Es ist nahezu unerträglich.

Mehr oder minder deutlich bekommt man das immer wohldosiert von seinen Mitmenschen vermittelt, falls man sich denen überhaupt noch anvertraut. In Deutschland läuft Street Harrasement teilweise sehr subtil ab. Also – beispielsweise merkt man beim Gehen auf der Straße oder beim Warten auf die Bahn, oder sogar beim Autofahren, dass sich plötzlich so eine schwere, perverse, hochaggressive und belastende Kraft im Rücken befindet – oft auch schon körpernah. Bis man sich dessen aber bewusst ist, ist man schon erschreckt und dreht sich refexartig um. Dann schaut man in die bösartig und ironisch grinsende Fratze eines Mannes – der einem direkt in die Augen schaut! Ein richtig stechender Blick, der schmerzhaft ist! Es ist klar, was dieser Mann sich in diesem Moment vorstellt! Aber damit nicht genug – er tut auch noch so, als ob der Versuch der ungewollten Kontaktaufnahme von mir ausginge!

Das Alter und das Aussehen des Mannes ist gleichgültig, das geht durch alle Schichten und Altersgruppen. Und er lässt nicht locker – die ganze Fahrt geht das so – minutenlang – ich werde angestarrt und fixiert, gefühlte Stunden. Ich vermeide jeglichen Blickkontakt und versuche tiefenentspannt zu sein und zu bleiben. Das ist im Alltag schwer, denn man hat, wie jeder andere Mensch auch, ein Leben mit all seinen Problemen, Verpflichtungen und Belastungen. Und auch Tage an denen man gute Laune hat. Es erregt Aufmerksamkeit – das ist mir zudem auch noch sehr unangenehm und peinlich! Alle schauen geifernd zu! Wenn die Bahn nicht voll ist, gehe ich weg, setze mich woanders hin. Und wenn ich Zeit habe, steige ich aus und nehme den nächsten Zug. Sind andere Leute dabei – dann kann ich in der Regel aller Fälle davon ausgehen, dass ich nicht mit Unterstützung und Hilfe rechnen kann – NEIN ! Und NEIN – schlimmer noch ! Die anwesenden Männer, (auch Frauen!), halten gegen mich zusammen, sie versuchen mich zu kompromittieren, versuchen mich bloßzustellen. Mit der Absicht und der Hoffnung, dass ich die Fassung verliere, dass es zum Eklat kommt, bei dem ich die negative Hauptrolle habe. Ich bin die eigentlich Böse.

Ich werde zu viert oder zu fünft auf diese perverse passiv-aggressive Art attackiert und belästigt, man(n) starrt und fixiert mich an, mit der Absicht mich möglichst beschimpfen zu können. Werde ich infolge wütend oder sage etwas dagegen, dann hat er sein Ziel erreicht und ich werde beschimpft. Ich werde als dumme Ziege hingestellt. Beliebter Ausspruch dabei ist, mit einer völlig unverständlichen Haltung, sarkastischem Grinsen und einer gehörigen Portion Ironie in der Stimme:”was hat sie denn nur – wasn mit der los ?! HaHaHa !”.

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

It must be done a puplik acknowledgement everyday and for everyone. All these thing sagte happened undercover.

– Tamina

Location: Germany: Street, at work, Train, waiting for paying in the markets

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.

South Africa: SA’s Dirty Laundry

November 11, 2016 By Correspondent

Nyasha Joyce Mukuwane, Johannesburg, South Africa, SSH Blog Correspondent

With the onset of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence on Nov. 25, some activists are using visual creativity to bring home the facts of rape culture in South Africa.

Rape is a widespread problem. According to a 2013 Medical Research Council (MRC) survey, up to 3,600 people could be raped in the country every day. The Institute for Security Studies (ISS) claims that only one in 13 rape cases are reported to police. Fewer than 30 cases go through for prosecution and trial of which only 10 result in a conviction.

Jenny Nijenhuis and Nondumiso Lwazi Msimanga are collaborating in a creative installation of artivism in order to create awareness around rape in South Africa. They are collecting 3,600 pieces of underwear to hang a washing line approximately 1.2 kilometres long displaying the underwear during the 16 Days of Activism.

The preferred route for hanging the installation is from Arts On Main on Berea Road, right into Fox Street and left into Albrecht Street to SoMa´s entrance. This route from Arts On Main to SoMa covers 400m in distance. The goal is to run the washing line down both sides of each of the streets involved, thereby covering a distance of 800m. The balance of the line and installation will continue to the gallery entrance and up into the upstairs gallery area.

Speaking about the installation, Nijenhuis says,

“We wish to curate/choreograph an activation/disruption of the space in and around the gallery for 10 of the 16 Days of Activism whilst the installation is up. The space will thus be used as a point of reflection through works dealing in this subject matter. Nondumiso Msimanga will be working on a performance art piece titled ‘On the Line.’ The performance will display a female at the different developmental stages and rites of passage of becoming a woman, in a cyclical narrative of rituals. We have also posted an open call inviting contributions towards the project from the broadest spectrum of disciplines including (but not limited to) the visual arts, performances (maximum length 15 minutes), interventions, music, dance, talks, poetry, video (maximum length 15 minutes) and theatre.

The point being for artists to show how art, when used for the purpose of socio-political activism, has the power and ability to shift the status quo. Activism aims to promote, impede, or direct social, political, economic, or environmental change – to make societal improvements and to correct social injustice. Through this call, we’re inviting artists to truly observe, reflect and comment on what the rape crisis in SA looks like. We hope to bring this message to people on the street, and not just to the audiences that frequent galleries.”

Installation Dates: 25 November to 4 December 2016
Location: SoMa Art + Space – Streets of the Maboneng Precinct in Johannesburg

In order to successfully produce the installation the artists need to collect 3600 panties. Since the project is not for profit, a donations Facebook page has been set up. The panties drive asks anyone prepared to support the project to donate their old and unwanted panties or underpants. These are being collected at various collection points across the country. Donate. | More information on this project.

Nyasha is the public awareness coordinator at the Nisaa Institute for Women’s Development in Johannesburg, South Africa, where the main goal is counselling and sheltering survivors of domestic abuse. She has edited two books by survivors that are available to download for free from the website www.nisaa.org.za.

We Will Continue Working to Make Public Places Safer for All

November 10, 2016 By HKearl

As an organization that works to make public places safer for everyone, we are dismayed at the rhetoric that the president-elect uses when talking about women. We are upset when he suggests that there are people in our country who should be indiscriminately deported, or who should be prevented from entering our country simply because of their religion. We disagree with the language the president-elect uses and policy plans he suggests which divide us and belittle us.

We are outraged that a sexual abuser will be president.

We fear that the disrespect and hate shown by him to large demographics of the population — including immigrants, persons of color, persons with disabilities, LGBQTIA-identified folks, and all women — will be seen by some as tacit approval to harass and assault those demographics with even greater aggression and audacity.

This makes modeling respectful behavior and speaking out against those who harass, discriminate and abuse others more crucial than ever, as is finding and receiving support if it happens to you.

1. Use our national street harassment hotline (run in partnership with RAINN and Defend Yourself) to find 24/7 support in Spanish and English, online and via secure IM chat.

a. Find ideas for dealing with harassers in the book 50 Stories About Stopping Street Harassers.

b. Make a tax-deductible donation so we can serve even more people on the hotline.

2. Share your story of harassment on our blog to raise awareness. On the blog, you can also share stories about how you did something when you witnessed harassment — inspire others to do something, too.

3. Plan to take action during International Anti-Street Harassment Week and help bring local and international attention to the issues. April 2-8, 2017, www.meetusonthestreet.org.

4. If you’re in the Washington, D.C. area and witness or experience harassment on the transit system, you can report it.

Rest assured, we will continue working to make public spaces more welcoming for all. Join us. Together, we must ensure that justice, equality and love prevail.

The Stop Street Harassment Board of Directors

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