By: Allison Riley, SSH Correspondent

Recently, I started working as a Community Organizer/Canvasser for the Rape Assistance and Awareness Program (RAAP) here in Denver. My job is not only to fundraise for RAAP, but also to educate the public on sexual violence, keeping in mind that everyone in the Denver community is a potential juror on rape cases that enter the courtroom. Indeed, when myths about such violence are perpetuated, it disempowers us as a community.

My seventh day of training as a Canvasser covered the topic of sexual harassment. The first part of the training covered what I already knew—i.e. that most victims never report incidents of sexual harassment because they fear retaliation or they assume that reporting won’t do any good. However, the second part of the training, “Effects of Sexual Harassment,” really resonated with me.

According to the RAAP training manual, emotional reactions to harassment may include “fear, hostility toward the harasser, anger, confusion, frustration, hopelessness, powerlessness, depression, humiliation, a feeling of dirtiness, fear of crowds, fear of being alone, denial and sadness.” The manual also cites AAUW’s Hostile Hallways study, which describes effects as feeling self-conscious, less sure or less confident, afraid, doubting the possibility of ever having a romantic relationship, and confusion or self-doubt. According to AAUW, such feelings play themselves out through behavior; thus negatively impacting a student’s education. For example, those who are frequently harassed talk less in class and have a hard time studying.

RAAP’s training manual also says that physically, a harassed person may experience nightmares, loss of sleep or loss/increase in appetite, not wanting to be touched or feeling the need to be touched, and stress-related disorders such as stomach/muscle/headaches, rashes and ulcers.

I loved how this training dedicated time to the effects of sexual harassment on victims, mainly because I can check off all that I have experienced. However, due to the tendency to dismiss sexual harassment as a minor annoyance, sadly I am questioning the degree to which society would consider these effects serious or valid. Here we reveal the significance of sharing harassment stories—sure they provide proof, but more importantly, they emphasize the degree to which harassment is harmful. I would hope that any decent human being would agree that symptoms of anxiety, stress, and sickness are certainly not the proper result of “harmless flirting”. If it was truly harmless, none of us would have to be sharing our frustration.

Overall, I have a greater understanding of the fear-producing aspect of harassment and how it can escalate beyond unease. Further, that the words and gestures of a harasser can also escalate into sexual assault and other physical violence. This is not to say that it happens to every single victim, nor is it assuming that each victim reacts the same way to harassment. Regardless, I encourage all of us to continue abolishing harassment and rape culture altogether through raising consciousness of not only the experience, but also the consequences of being harassed.

Do you have a harassment story to share? Did you experience any of the symptoms mentioned in this blog? Submit your experience here!

Allison is a 2012 graduate of Metropolitan State University of Denver where she majored in Journalism with a minor in women’s studies. Follow Allison on Twitter at @a_wonderlandd.

By Lauren Duhon, SSH Correspondent

Recently, I read a blog post about a journalist who has experienced consistent harassment online through social media and e-mails after she broke the news about Jerry Sandusky at Penn State. The writer of the blog states that women who write about unpopular subjects are often subjected to threats, sexual taunts or harassment. From my experience, it doesn’t even have to be about a subject that is considered to be unpopular or controversial. As a photographer and a writer, men have constantly harassed me on the job.

Several times on interviews, sources have found it necessary to call me names that leave me feeling uncomfortable or comment on my physical appearance, such as noting a feature on my blouse that just happens to be near my breasts. Particularly, it creeps me out when a male source will touch my leg as a means of literally grabbing my attention. When I’m out taking photos, I’m usually confronted with men asking me for a private photo session or I hear them yelling “Hey, pretty photographer lady, that’s an awfully big camera you have!” Thanks for letting me know, stranger. I obviously did not realize I have a huge camera in my possession. Way to be creepy!  I’ve heard everything from sweetheart to dollface or received comments asking me “What’s a pretty girl like you doing at a place like this?” I’m capable of doing my job just like anyone else, regardless of the situation. The comments and scenarios vary, but it is always unwarranted.

However, when the subject matter has been more controversial or unpopular, I have found that sources tend to take me less seriously. Maybe because I am a student? Who knows? My thought is that they usually humor me because I’m a young woman. The second I ask questions, I don’t matter and they dismiss my existence.

It isn’t always like this, but being a woman often impacts my ability to do my job. According to the 2012 Byline Survey Report, more than 60 percent of newspaper employees are men. Having to earn respect in a field dominated by men is enough of a challenge, let alone having to defend myself when I am confronted with awkward situations and harassment. I fortunately haven’t had to deal with harassment in the work place, but I have read stories from female journalists about co-workers or editors who have invaded their privacy on a daily basis.

I also came across a tumblr page called Said to Lady Journos that compiles comments about female journalists who have experienced harassment on the job. One woman was asked whether or not she was studying to earn her master’s degree. When she said no, the man replied with,”you’re the perfect example of why there aren’t any women on the board,” when referring to a university’s board of regents. Another example is a comment from a contractor to a female journalist at a US military base in Iraq. He tells the reporter that, “if you got shrapnel in your ass, I’d be happy to take it out.” Out of line, obviously. One of the worst ones I read was about an Indian female reporter that was told by a café owner that she was a “cute little thing,” but she should be “running a 7-Eleven or something” instead.

The point is that I want to be able to go out on an assignment and take photos or write an article without unnecessary comments. To quote Joel Mathis, the writer of the previously mentioned blog post, “Women journalists shouldn’t have to be afraid to do their jobs because they’re women.” There is a level of respect that needs to exist, and this goes for any profession. Just because I’m a young woman and you see me out in public with a notepad or a camera does not mean you can approach me and say or do whatever you want. I have several colleagues of mine who often complain about similar situations.  Treat us as professionals, because everyone deserves it.

Lauren Duhon is a student journalist from LSU in Baton Rouge, La.