By Sean Crosbie, SSH Correspondent
Street harassment is a pervasive problem that has both public and private effects. Street harassment has psychological impact, including feelings of humiliation and worthlessness. This has negative consequences on how people interact with one another in public spaces that are supposed to be inclusive and safe for all. There is a debate on what measures local and national governments should take to combat street harassment and create the safe spaces that everyone deserves.
In a previous blog post, I wrote about how the culture of hypermasculinity creates the mentality that causes street harassment. The two women I interviewed for the post also had strong opinions on the role that local and national governments can play in alleviating street harassment. Both women agree that one of the most important initiatives any government can implement is a program of educating men and boys about the dangers of street harassment. Interviewee 1 noted the importance of local governments to fund anti-street harassment initiatives for public transportation. Here, she talks about the great first step WMATA (Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority) has made in preventing street harassment, but also what Metro can do to better enforce their policies:
I would like to see Metro put some teeth behind their campaign to stop harassment on the metro. …There are still numerous women who feel nothing was done in response to their complaints. I know I, personally, would probably not take the time to find a Metro employee and report “minor” harassment just because it seems like a waste of time. Until Metro employees (and police officers) truly understand what a threat this kind of harassment is, and treat it with as much respect as a mugging or assault, we won’t feel safe, and we won’t bother reporting the incidents.
Women need to feel that the government will back up anti-street harassment initiatives with effective action. The attitude that street harassment is “no big deal” or “a compliment” prevents local law enforcement from taking strong action. These attitudes cannot be reversed unless governments work to educate men and boys about the severity of street harassment. Interviewee 1 advocates for mandatory harassment training at all levels of schooling:
We also need mandatory harassment training in high schools, as well as in college. Awareness is key, so the more men are aware of how this behavior makes women feel, the greater the chance that we will see real change.
Interviewee 2 believes that this education should start as early as 6th grade:
The school district that I come from starts health education at sixth grade. Perhaps street harassment can be a conversation that starts then, too.
There is a tremendous amount that governments can do to combat street harassment. Both of my interviewees focused on reversing the dismissive attitude that some men and boys have with regard to catcalling. Since these ways of thinking begin early in men’s socialization, it’s necessary to start teaching men early on in their education against committing or tolerating degrading acts towards women. A shift in the way society views behavior like catcalling is needed for street harassment to be taken more seriously. This can also inspire government programs that are responsive and make women feel both safe and that their voices are being heard. But we need the societal shift to happen in conjunction with public policies – both are necessary for change.
Sean has written for Stop Street Harassment since April 2011. He is a library/research assistant at a labor union in Washington, D.C. and holds a Bachelor’s degree in economics from American University.
By: Claire Biggs,