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Are you in Germany? Take a Stand in April!

March 28, 2016 By Contributor

ProChange, Germany, SSH Blog Correspondents

4.3.14 ProChange GermanyWir sind wütend, weil wir nicht sicher sind auf unseren Straßen, wie es uns einschränkt, uns unserer Freiheit beraubt. Nicht erst jetzt, nachdem seit der Silvesternacht ganz Deutschland auf einmal Sexismus, Street Harassment, sexuelle Belästigung entdeckt hat. Wir sind wütend, weil sexuelle Belästigung nicht erst Silvester erfunden wurde, sondern schon immer vorhanden war. Wir sind wütend darüber, dass nicht endlich eine Auseinandersetzung mit den allgegenwärtigen Sexismen in unserer Gesellschaft stattfindet.

Stattdessen werden hegemoniale Männlichkeiten reproduziert, in denen wir entrechtet werden, indem uns der Diskurs, das Selbstbestimmungsrecht aus der Hand genommen wird. Wir werden instrumentalisiert für fremdenfeindliche, rassistische Propaganda, die Betroffene benutzt, um gegen Fremde zu hetzen. Wir wurden instrumentalisiert für das verschärfte Asylpaket II, bei dem kurzerhand der Schutz der Frauen vor Gewalt rausgeschmissen wurde, obwohl damit gegen die EU-Richtlinie 2013/33/EU des EU-Parlaments und des EU-Rates verstoßen wird. Unser Sexualstrafrecht ist nach wie vor nicht ratifiziert. Der geplante Entwurf, der jetzt endlich in Angriff genommen wurde, ist weiterhin von einem sexuellen Selbstbestimmungsrecht weit entfernt. Ein “Nein” reicht immer noch nicht als “Nein”. Der Straftatbestand der sexuellen Belästigung ist in Deutschland auch im geplanten Entwurf immer noch nicht enthalten.

Seid ihr auch wütend? Dann bringen wir die selbstverständlichen Normen ins Wanken, lassen nicht zu, dass fehlgeleitete Männlichkeitsbilder über uns bestimmen, uns kontrollieren. Die Straßen, der Park, der Bahnhof, die Bushaltestelle, der Club, die Öffentlichkeit – wir nehmen uns zurück, was uns gehört.

Wir wollen in mindestens 50 Ländern wieder die Welt dazu bringen, uns Zuzuhören und zu Handeln. Macht mit! Internationale Anti-Street Harassment Week vom 10. bis 16. April 2016!

In der Woche selber werden wir in Dortmund auch wieder unsere roten Karten gegen Sexismus an potenziell Betroffene und pinke Karten gegen Homosexuellenfeindlichkeit verteilen sowie Bierdeckel zur Sensibilisierung in Kneipen, Clubs. Die Karten werden direkt Belästigern übergeben. Die Bierdeckel sollen auf gefährliche Situationen aufmerksam machen und ermutigen einzugreifen. Wir werden mit Kreide Plätze markieren, an denen wir sexuelle Belästigung erlebt haben.

Macht mit! Bei uns (Dortmund/Ruhrgebiet) sind “Neue” herzlich willkommen. Auch in anderen Städten und Orten sind Mitstreiter_innen willkommen. Oder – selbst aktiv werden vor Ort als Organisation im Großen oder als Privatperson im Kleinen.

Schickt uns gerne Anregungen und Tipps und sehr gerne viele Fotos.

Mail: prochange@web.de

In English:

4.5.14 Dortmund, Germany - ProChange7We are angry because we aren’t safe in our streets. We are angry about consequently being limited and about how our freedom is taken away. Not only now, that after New Year’s Eve the entire country – Germany – has discoverd sexism, street harrassment, sexual harassment. We are angry because all this was part of our lives already before New Year’s Eve. We are angy because no dispute regarding the omnipresent sexism in our society takes place.

Instead, male supremacy disfranchises us, takes away the basis of discourse, and, last but not least, our right of self-determination. We are being exploited for xenophobic, racist propaganda that uses affected persons to agitate against foreigners. We are being exploited for the exacerbated 2nd legislation on asylum from which the protection of women against violince was kicked, although this infringes upon the EU guideline 2013/33/EU of the EU Parliament and the EU Council. Our law against sexual offenses has not been ratified until today. The long expected draft which has finally been projected is still far away from including sexual self-determination. A “No” still does not count as a “No”. The element of sexual offense is still not being included in the German projected draft.

Are you angry, too? Then, let’s shake the system, let’s not allow to dominate erratic male stereotypes over us, to control us. The streets, the park, the train station, the bus stop, the club, all public space – let’s reconquer what’s ours.

We want to make the world listen to us and take action with us in a minimum of 50 countries. Join in to the International Anti-Street Harassment Week from April 10 to 16, 2016.

Across the week, we will distribute our red cards against sexism and pink cards against homophobia in Dortmund, Germany, as well as beer coasters in pubs and bars to sensitize people to the subject matter. The cards will be directly handed out to harassers. The coasters shall point out to dangerous situations and encourage people to take action. We will mark places where we have been sexually harassed with chalk. Details.

Join in! In Dortmund, and anywhere else, “Newbies” are always welcome. Of course, you become active yourself, no matter if in a big organisation of as a private person.

Please send us your ideas and also lots of photos!

Mail: prochange@web.de

ProChange is a group of people between 20 and 64 years of age who have been active for several years or decades now. ProChange consists of a small group of core members (pictured left) in a network of other activists. Our main focus is on street harassment, sexism and sexualized violence. We are opposed to all forms of exploitation as we believe that they are all connected.

Translated by Marlene Margolis

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Filed Under: anti-street harassment week Tagged With: cards, germany, Prochange

Street Harassment Support Group in Iowa City

March 20, 2016 By Contributor

By artist Samantha Callahan
By artist Samantha Callahan

International Anti-Street Harassment Week is an opportunity to raise awareness and protest the gender-based violence that occurs in our communities year-round. This year, in addition to a chalk-the-walk, op-ed writer’s workshop, several community-wide art projects, and a concert/bystander intervention training, End Street Harassment – Iowa City has organized a support group where victims of harassment can share their experiences in a safe space. The group will be facilitated by professional social workers and counselors. During the event, participants will have the option to create posters protesting harassment, which will then be displayed throughout our community.

I co-facilitate a weekly music and art support group at an emergency shelter for survivors of domestic violence. Since starting the group, I’ve witnessed how cathartic and empowering it can be for victims of trauma to voice their stories and vent in a comfortable environment. We laugh, cry, and practice grounding and mindfulness exercises, such as deep breathing, stretching, and progressive muscle relaxation techniques. We also color, paint, make crafts, journal, write poetry, and rewrite popular songs so that they are about our personal experiences. This work served as the inspiration for a street harassment support group.

Some dismiss street harassment as a trivial issue. To me, street harassment is an every-day occurrence that reinforces the detrimental power dynamics that lead to gender-based violence. Street harassment is terrifying because victims do not know if the encounter will end in sexual or physical assault. Street harassment disproportionately affects women, LGBT* individuals, and people of color. It reinforces power inequalities and prevents those who are affected from moving through public space safely and with dignity.

Stella Hart
Stella Hart

When someone characterizes street harassment to me as “harmless” – or, even worse, a “compliment” that I should receive gratefully – I share a story about an abuse survivor I worked with who fled her home and community to save her life. While walking in public in a new city, a man in a car honked at her and catcalled her. Her first thought was “my abuser has found me,” followed by “could he have paid someone to follow me?” She had an intense panic attack as a result of being catcalled and she was unable to accomplish any of her goals that day related to securing housing or employment, which caused her stress and further anxiety. Perpetrators of harassment shouldn’t need to hear stories like this to cease their behaviors.

Our support group will hopefully give victims of harassment a place to process their experiences and know they are not alone. Actions protesting harassment that will occur in Iowa City – and around the world – this April can help make our communities safer for everyone. Together, we can end street harassment.

Stella Hart is a writer and activist who lives in Iowa City, Iowa. She is a founding member of End Street Harassment – Iowa City.

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Filed Under: anti-street harassment week, street harassment Tagged With: activism, end street harassment - iowa city, iowa city, support group

5 Cosas para prepararse para la Semana Internacional Anti-Acoso Callejero

March 18, 2016 By HKearl

(gracias Mariana Diaz Fernandez)

5 Cosas para prepararse para la Semana Internacional Anti-Acoso Callejero

4.5.14 Observatorio Contra el Acoso Callejero Chile 5Hola!

Como ya saben, el acoso sexual en espacios públicos, o el acoso callejero a partir del género, es un gran problema.

Desde el 10 de abril hasta el 16 de abril, Stop Street Harassment está organizando la sexta anual Semana Internacional Anti-Acoso Callejero (International Anti-Street Harassment Week) y distintos grupos en 30 países se han unido para participar. Gracias por ser uno de ellos!

El propósito de esta semana es la de permitirnos un espacio para juntarnos en solidaridad y amplificar nuestras voces para que el mundo escuche.

INFORMACIÓN IMPORTANTE:

  1. Cuéntenos qué están haciendo!

Queremos saber qué están haciendo! Por favor completen esta forma o bien, escribanme por correo (hollykearl AT yahoo.com), dirigido a Holly. Esto es importante. Nos va a ayudar a dirigir individuos a los eventos importantes en su área. También nos va a ayudar a conseguir más atención de los medios de comunicación para la Semana así como para el conflicto en general si logramos correr la voz para eventos específicos que estarán ocurriendo. De antemano muchas gracias por su ayuda.

  1. Ideas para acción.

Todavía necesitan ideas sobre qué pueden hacer? Aquí hay algunas. También, pueden ser estas fotografías de nuestras acciones concretas del año 2015, o bien, leer nuestro reporte de cierre, que contiene eventos de 41 países y 24 Estados de Estados Unidos.

Nosotros y nosotras especialmente esperamos ver discusiones más allá del Internet, para incluir a miembros de las comunidades diversas de todos los géneros y de distintas procedencias. Necesitamos que todos y todas nos involucremos para que las comunidades sean más seguras!

Sin embargo como mínimo, cualquier individuo puede participar simplemente a través de actos como contar su historia o experiencia del acoso callejero, escribiendo mensajes con tiza y compartiendo información en redes sociales.

  1. Herramientas.

Tenemos una seleccion de imagenes y panfletos descargables en nuestro sitio web y estaremos agregando mas articulos actualizados para el 2016. Están disponibles en distintos idiomas pero nos gustaría tener más. Por favor escribanme a Holly, hollykearl AT yahoo.com si estan dispuestos o dispuestas a traducir algunas imágenes a su idioma.

  1. Escribe un Blog!

Si te interesa escribir una entrada en nuestro blog o quieres que compartamos uno escrito desde otra página, puedes hacerlo! Puede ser para la Semana específicamente o para anunciar o que estarás haciendo durante la semana y porque. Puedes escribirle a Holly con la idea de tu blog y la fecha estimada que preferirias publicarlo.

  1. Tweet Charts.

El 12 de abril tendremos nuestro tweetalon. Tweetea sobre acoso callejero utilizando el hashtag #EndSH durante el dia. Estamos trabajando para realizar charta en twitter. Si estás planeando un pero no te has acercado todavía, por favor escribenos para que podamos agregarte en la lista oficial. Tambien, si quieres ser parte de algún chart, escribemos! Y en general, por favor utiliza el hashtag durante la semana.

Sientanse libres de escribirnos en cualquier momento para preguntas, sugerencias o información! Muchas gracias por ser parte de nuestro evento para trabajar en crear espacios públicos seguros para todos y todas!

Gracias,

Holly Kearl, Fundadora de Stop Street Harrassment
Preguntas? Escriban a Holly a hkearl@stopstreetharassment.org

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Filed Under: anti-street harassment week

5 Things to Prepare for Int’l Anti-Street Harassment Week

March 14, 2016 By HKearl

3.12.16 EndSHweek with EROC

From April 10-16, we are organizing the sixth annual International Anti-Street Harassment Week and already groups and people in 30 countries have pledged to participate. WOO!

The purpose of the week is to allow us to join together in solidarity and amplify each other’s voices and work so that the world listens.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

    1. Tell Us What You’re Doing!
      We want to know what you’re doing! Please either complete this form, or e-mail me, Holly, with info at hollykearl @ yahoo.com.  This is important. It will help us direct individuals to the relevant event/s in their area. It will also help us gain more media attention for the week/issue overall if we can share specific interesting events that will be occurring. Thank you in advance for your help.
    2. Ideas for Action
      Do you still need ideas for what you can do? Here are several. Also, see photos from our actions in 2015.  | Read the wrap-up report featuring events in 41 countries and 24 U.S. states!We especially hope to see offline discussions involving diverse community members of all genders and backgrounds. It will take EVERYONE to truly create safer communities.But at minimum, any individual can participate through simple acts like telling their street harassment story, writing chalk messages, and sharing information online.
    3. Tools
      We have a selection of shareable images and downloadable fliers on our website and will be adding even more updated 2016 items to the page later this week. They are available in a number of languages…but we’d love to have even more. Please email me if you are willing to translate a few sentences.2016FBcoverimage
    4. Write a Blog Post
      If you’d like to write a blog post for Stop Street Harassment (or have an entry cross-posted from your blog) that would be great! It can be for the week itself, or you can advertise what you’ll be doing for the week and why. Just reach out to me with a short pitch about what the blog would cover and the preferred date or time range you’d like it published.
    5. Tweet Chats
      April 12 will be our global tweetathon. Tweet about street harassment using #Endsh throughout the day.We are working to set up the daily tweet chats — If you are planning to host one but haven’t been in touch yet, please reach out so we can add it to the official list. Or if you’d like to host or co-host one, let us know! And in general, please plan to use #EndSH for the chats as well as for any relevant street harassment tweets throughout the week.

Feel free to reach out anytime with questions, suggestions, or information!

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Filed Under: anti-street harassment week

Street Harassment Began When I was 5 Years Old

February 23, 2016 By HKearl

When was the first time you were sexually harassed in a public space?

This question always has been hard for me to answer.

I have had so many experiences over the years that I usually say I am unsure of my first verbal sexual harassment experience, though I remember the first time I was followed: I was 14 years old, running a few miles from my home in southern California.

But now I have the answer.

My parents kept weekly journals for me and my sisters and what we did that week. Their entries and my childhood artwork fill binders that line a closet in my house. Recently I was digging through some of these binders.

In one I learned that the first time I was harassed in a public space, I was five years old, two months after this first-day-of-school photo was taken:

Holly Kearl First Street Harassed in Iowa City in 1988

At this time, my family and I lived only a few blocks from my elementary school in Iowa City, Iowa. A boy next door was my age and we often walked to school together. From that time period, I have had a vague memory of being scared of older boys and my friend Aaron running away.

In the journal, I read more details. My parents wrote (using first person, as if they were me) about how these older boys “scared me today and I began to cry. They said they wanted to give me candy and they wanted me to come to their house after school. They pinched my cheeks. Aaron ran off but fortunately Martha’s dad [Martha was another neighborhood friend] happened by right then and helped me to school.

We [my parents and I] talked for a long time about this and what to do next time and how boys shouldn’t touch girls. This has been scary for me.”

It’s almost laughable that these boys offered me candy, the stereotypical “stranger danger” strategy that adults warn kids about. But what does not make me laugh and makes me really angry is that they tried to lure me to their house and they actually touched me, pinching my cheeks.

I am grateful to my friend’s dad for intervening and that my parents talked to me about it.

But I’m also mad. I was FIVE years old, just walking to school. What right did those boys have to harass and touch me? To scare me and make me cry? They had no right, yet our culture allows it to happen, and allows them to think that it’s okay.

Too often, people dismiss street harassment as no big deal, a compliment or a minor annoyance. But how would they feel if they knew it was happening to teenagers and adolescents? Because it is.

IT STARTS YOUNG

A 2014 national survey commissioned by Stop Street Harassment (SSH) found that street harassment began by age 17 for half of harassed persons in the United States. The Brazil NGO Think Olga found that nine years old is the average age that women began facing sexual harassment. A 2010 study by the Bangladesh National Women Lawyers Association found that almost 90 percent of girls aged 10–18 years in Bangladesh had faced street harassment.

Stories submitted to the SSH blog describe harassment starting at ages like 7, 8, 13, and 14 years.

Recently, there’s been more attention to this issue.

A few months ago, Think Olga launched the campaign #primeiroassedio (#firstharassment) and thousands of people shared their stories. In May 2015, Twitter user Mikki Kendall invited people to tweet their first harassment experience with #FirstHarassed. Also last year, California teenager Chloe Parker started the Instagram campaign #WhatMySHSaid, encouraging teenage girls to write down the street harassment said to them, their age and location and then take a photo of it and post it.

I encourage you to join these campaigns and help bring more attention to the young age this starts.

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Filed Under: anti-street harassment week, SSH programs, street harassment Tagged With: #firstharassed, campaign, young age

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