Stop Street Harassment

Making Public Spaces Safe and Welcoming

Raise awareness about street harassment with stencils

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Are you looking for a unique way to bring attention to the problem of street harassment…. especially during the upcoming International Anti-Street Harassment Week (March 30 – April 5)?

You could download these stencils by the Philadelphia-based group Pussy Division and spread anti-harassment messages on sidewalks or walls in your community! (Chalk could be a non-permanent alternative to spray paint.)

The idea is you download the words like “Damn Girl” and “Nice Ass” and also the “No” image and then it’s a two step process to stencil the catcall words and then overlay it with the No.

The leaders shared these tips: “We have them on 12X12 card-stock and found that to be an ideal size.  If you wish to use the stencil many times, its helpful to laminate them before you cut out the black sections with an exacto knife or razor blade.”

PDFs to SAVE:

“No” | “Damn Girl” | “Hey Sexy” |
“Smile Honey” | “Sup Baby” | “Nice Ass”

 

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6 ways individuals can join International Anti-Street Harassment Week

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“I’m one person, can I participate in International Anti-Street Harassment Week?”

YES! While there are a growing number of events scheduled for International Anti-Street Harassment Week, March 30 – April 5, many people do not live near one.

So how can you get involved in the week as an individual? There are lots of ways!

1 – Share a street harassment story or talk about the issue with a family member, friend, colleague, classmate, or neighbor. Most people do not realize this is such a common problem and talking about it can raise people’s awareness and may prompt them to do something about it. You can also share your story online for inclusion on our blog.

2 – Share images or video clips over social media. This can also bring awareness to the issue.

3 – Join one of the six Tweet Chats happening across the week! Check out the schedule.

4 – If you have a smartphone, download the free mobile app “Safetipin” and during the week, use it to say if you feel safe or unsafe in different spots in your community and why. The founders of the app have agreed to make a special report out of all of the individuals reports made that week — so take 5 minutes and add your voice and experience!

I wrote this message in my neighborhood

5 – Read the new book 50 Stories about Stopping Street Harassers to get ideas for dealing with harassers you see/face. Then share the book with someone else or donate it to your library.

6 – Put up a poster or flyer in your community (such as a bulletin board at a library or post office or on a campus, or put it up in a bus shelter) or write a sidewalk chalk message proclaiming safe spaces for everyone.

There is no action too small to make a difference!

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Meet Us on the Street! March 30 – April 5

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Bangladesh

No one should feel unsafe in their neighborhood, their local store or on a bus, but this is how countless people worldwide feel because of gender-based street harassment. This global problem is too often a hidden problem…. but by collectively speaking out against street harassment, we are making it visible.

From March 30 – April 5, Stop Street Harassment is organizing the fourth annual International Anti-Street Harassment Week and already more than 80 groups in 19 countries have signed on to participate.

This is a time for people worldwide to collectively raise our voices — both online and offline — to share our stories, bring attention to the issue of street harassment, and work toward safer public spaces for all.

USA

Together we can let people affected by street harassment know it’s not their fault and they’re not alone. We can inform communities that this is a problem that we all need to care about and address.

During the week, groups, campuses, organizations and people around the world do something to raise awareness about street harassment, be it sharing a story with a friend, organizing or attending an event, or posting information on social media.


1. How to Participate:
There are many ways that you, anywhere in the world, can do to participate!

Here are 13 ideas. And, new this year –

As part of International Anti-Street Harassment Week, Stop Telling Women to Smile (STWTS) is organizing an international wheat pasting night on April 4th, 2014. Individuals and organizations around the world can download and print STWTS posters, starting March 24 from stoptellingwomentosmile.com. The goal is that on April 5th, walls across the world will bear the faces and words from women protesting street harassment. No matter what else you plan that week, STWTS and SSH hope you can participate…and send in photos!


2. Flyers, Factsheets & Shareable Images:

Check out the images and flyers on the website that you can share online and at events.

Are you in the USA? Use the Stop Street Harassment toolkit Know Your Rights: Street Harassment and the Law and share your state’s laws!

3. Co-Sponsor:

If your group has not yet confirmed with me your participation, please do so (hkearl @ stopstreetharassment.org)! I will add you to the list.

4. Events:

If you’re planning an event, please send me the date/time/place and the activity that will happen and I will add it to the the website. If you have an events page you want me to link to, please also send it.

5. Tweet Chats:

There are four confirmed Tweet Chats for the week! Hope you can participate in at least one! Use #EndSHWeek

Monday, March 30, 1 p.m. EDT, four women of color will co-host a discussion about street harassment and race, @NualaCabral, @ZerlinaMaxwell, @RaquelReichard, @Besito86

Tuesday, April 1, 2 p.m. EDT, the National Sexual Violence Resource Center, @NSVRC, will host a chat about street harassment & sexual violence as well as community activism.

Wednesday, April 2, 12 p.m. EDT, @EverydayFeminism and @Fem2Pt0 will co-lead a discussion about how street harassment connects with broader issues of sexism and homophobia.

Thursday, April 3, 5 p.m. IST/7.30 p.m. MYT, @PixelProject and @Bell_Bajao will co-host a conversation about harassment on public transportation.

6. Need inspiration? 

View photos from our actions in 2013. Read the 2013 report about what happened last year.

Join us, speak out, make a difference!!

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Video: Meet Us on the Subway

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Our friend Kara Lieff, Temple University student, made another video about street harassment, “Meet Us on the Subway.”

She writes, “On April 13, 2013 Philadelphia organizations and community members participated in International Anti-Street Harassment Week. The day consisted of sidewalk chalking, discussing HollabackPhilly’s new SEPTA ads, and a debrief in LOVE Park. Three months after the event, we should still be talking about these issues. What do you think?”

Check out Part 1 & Part 2.

Meet Us on the Subway – Part I from Kara Lieff on Vimeo.

Meet Us on the Subway – Part II from Kara Lieff on Vimeo.

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