Stop Street Harassment

Making Public Spaces Safe and Welcoming

Digest of street harassment news: October 21, 2012

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By Allan Cavanagh

Read stories, news articles, blog posts, and tweets about street harassment from the past few weeks.

** Sign up to receive a monthly e-newsletter from Stop Street Harassment ***

Street Harassment Stories:

Share your story! You can read street harassment stories on the Web at:

Stop Street Harassment Blog

HarassMap in Egypt

Bijoya in Bangladesh

Resist Harassment in Lebanon

Ramallah Street Watch in Palestine

Name and Shame in Pakistan

Safe Streets in Yemen

Street Harassment in South Africa

Many of the Hollaback sites

Street Harassment In the News, on the Blogs:

* Global Press Institute, “Women Break Silence About Sexual Harassment on Nepali Buses“

* Bloomberg Businessweek, “Egypt to Fight Sexual Harassment by Broadcasting Attackers“

* CASS, ““Putting in the effort to catch him wasn’t just for me – it was for all of us who are subjected to disgusting behavior day in and day out””

* Brute Reason, “On Men Who Think Street Harassment Would Be Awesome“

* My Fox DC, “Website helps stop harassment on Metro“

* Gawker, “Unmasking Reddit’s Violentacrez, The Biggest Troll on the Web“

* Alakhbar, “Video Experiment Gauges Public Response to Sexual Harassment“

* Sydney Morning Herald, “‘Shocked’ Sonia’s Tahrir Square ordeal: mob gropes TV reporter after live broadcast“

* Prodigal Magazine, “His Words Burned Into My Skin.”

* The Ferrett, “Can I Buy You a Coffee?“

* Random Musings, “The Argument Over Street Harassment“

* Egypt Independent, “Are you man enough? Men on both sides of fight against harassment“

Announcements:
Reminders:

* Stop Street Harassment welcomes and announces its new board of directors!

* Stop Street Harassment recently incorporated as a nonprofit organization. Please donate so we can conduct a national street harassment study and gather much needed data documenting the problem.

* There are new anti-street harassment groups in Australia and Nepal

* Read an interview with Tatyana Fazlalizadeh about her beautiful art work against street harassment

* What did street harassment look like in 1945?

* @Shefunionwomcom We are collating stories of women’s experiences of street harassment. If you have a story please email it to womens.committee@shef.ac.uk

* METRAC released a free “Not Your Baby App” to provide responses you can use when experiencing harassment

* The Adventures of Salwa campaign has a hotline for sexual harassment cases in Lebanon: 76-676862.

* In Bangalore, India, there is a helpline for street harassment 080 – 22943225 / 22864023

* Report #streetharassment in Pakistan at @NameAndShamePk, email nameandshame@ryse.pk, SMS 0314-800-35-68 or online at http://www.nameandshame.pk

15 Tweets from the Week:

1. @LatherRinseRpt  Apparently it’s never too early for some street harassment. I’ve had enough of this, I am not an object and I will fight back with a lecture

2. @sallyzohney: Since our dear government &police r watching us suffer #EgWomen r fighting back by spraying harassers w/colored spray #EndSH

3. @gnomesdeplume Street harassment: turning me into a frightened 13 year-old girl since…well, since I was 13. What a shitty way to end the night.

4. @maha_ia  Thank God Egyptian women are finally speaking up. #EndSH

5. @DianaShh  Street harassment is NOT a compliment. #Jordan

6. @SharkDancing We need to stop making this excuse ” Street Harassment is unfortunate, but completely normal. You just have to deal with it”. #Fem2 #Cdnpoli

7. @Sharon_Haywood  Torcuato González Agote breaks Argentine law by taking secret photos of women on #BsAs buses & posts them w/out consent http://bit.ly/QwmNyq

8. @cairowire  as much as #egypt needs effective mechanisms to #EndSH, sanctioning CCTV surveillance without proper regulation is a recipe for disaster.

9. @MaiE_89  Ridiculous. 2010 survey in #Egypt: 80% males & 73% females agreed that a woman who dressed provocatively deserved to be harassed #EndSH

10. @ivanvector  This. MT @RespectTO: @SharkDancing Street harassment is NOT normal. It already is illegal in several US states. http://bicycling.com/blogs/roadrights/2012/08/08/no-more-bullying/ … #BikeTO

11. ‏@BLifela  Today was a rough day!Plus crazy street harassment! Professional attire turned into a site of male pleasure while walking to my research job

12. @Qatato  Stand against street harassment in Amman. Share this photo or make it your cover photo and let everybody know… http://fb.me/1WQqifJ0p

13. @CallOutCatCalls  @isitis Currently wearing miniskirt; have leggings in bag in case of #streetharassment on my late night train. I feel your pain. 🙁

14. @sw_inku  Commute street harassment tali: stranger greeting: 1, politely complimented: 1, yelled at from across the park: 1

15. @mase_430  “@ninasophia81: Big mistake wearing a sweater dress today. Let the street harassment begin. SMH!!! #longleggedgirlstruggles” ~Werk!!

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French Reporter Groped on Camera at Tahrir Square

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Men began groping Sonia Dridi while she was on camera. Image via SMH

On Friday, a French television reporter was at Tahrir Square in Cairo, Egypt, when a group of men attacked her.

Via AFP:

“Sonia Dridi, a correspondent for France 24, said a mob of mostly young men surrounded her on Friday while she was on the air and then began to grope her. The attack lasted several minutes before a male colleague managed to pull her out.

“I was groped everywhere. I realised (later), when someone closed my shirt, that it was opened, but not torn off,” she said.

“I avoided the worst because I have a good belt” and a friend helped her out, said the reporter, who eventually found refuge in a fast food restaurant.”

Via The Sydney Morning Herald:

“More frightened than hurt,” wrote Dridi in French on her Twitter page on Saturday.

Referring in English to a colleague, she tweeted: “Thanks to @ashrafkhalil for protecting me in #Tahrir last nite. Mob was pretty intense. thanks to him I escaped from the unleashed hands.”

Later she wrote: “Thks everyone for support, shocking but I’m OK. Could have been [worse]. Crowd out of control, guys took advantage of it but kept my clothes on.

I am so sorry to hear about this and I hope she will be okay.

Sadly, this type of attack is “normal” in the area. Since the Revolution of 2011, women like journalists Lara Logan, Mona Eltahawy,  Natasha Smith, and Caroline Sinz, Egyptian actor Sherihan and the “woman in the blue bra” have all survived horrific mass sexual assaults on the streets of Cairo. Such attacks are cowardly, scary, and unacceptable.

Many Egyptians will not stand for this behavior in their country. Protests and creative efforts to draw attention to the issue to stop it happen nearly weekly.  Just this week, there were theater/video experiments on the streets led by the BuSSY Project and the National Council for Women announced it will launch a campaign that includes videotaping attackers and broadcasting the images.

Street harassment, sexual assaults, gropings, women-hating must stop!

 

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Digest of street harassment stories, news, announcements & tweets: October 14, 2012

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By Cat Calls: Called Out

Read stories, news articles, blog posts, and tweets about street harassment from the past few weeks.

** Sign up to receive a monthly e-newsletter from Stop Street Harassment ***

Street Harassment Stories:

Share your story! You can read street harassment stories on the Web at:

Stop Street Harassment Blog

HarassMap in Egypt

Bijoya in Bangladesh

Resist Harassment in Lebanon

Ramallah Street Watch in Palestine

Name and Shame in Pakistan

Safe Streets in Yemen

Street Harassment in South Africa

Many of the Hollaback sites

Street Harassment In the News, on the Blogs:

* The Guardian, “How to stop sexual harassment on public transportation“

* Hindustan Times, “Activists to raise awareness about women’s rights through plays“

* Daily Tar Heel, “Street molesting not only in Paris“

* CNN, “Your take: What’s behind street harassment?“

* Everyday Feminism, “5 Excuses for Street Harassment We Need To Stop Making…Now“

* The Mercury, “Blow whistle on harassment“

* The Frisky, “The Soapbox: Does Street Harassment Keep You From Exercising?”

* BBC Video, “Murder prompts fresh calls for new sexual harassment laws in Egypt“

* The Muslim News, “Egypt: Sexual harassment huge problem facing women“

* All Africa, “Egypt: Women Council Brainstorms Ways to Combat Sexual Harassment“

* Altmuslimah, “Men step up to fight sexual harassment in Egypt“

Announcements:

New:

* Last weekend, Saturday Night Live included a very unfunny skit about street harassment in their show. Here are my ideas for 5 funnier skits they could have done on the topic.

* There are new anti-street harassment groups in Australia and Nepal

* Watch: News of a Battle Cry


Reminders:

* Stop Street Harassment welcomes and announces its new board of directors!

* Stop Street Harassment recently incorporated as a nonprofit organization. Please donate so we can conduct a national street harassment study and gather much needed data documenting the problem.

* Read an interview with Tatyana Fazlalizadeh about her beautiful art work against street harassment

* What did street harassment look like in 1945?

* @Shefunionwomcom We are collating stories of women’s experiences of street harassment. If you have a story please email it to womens.committee@shef.ac.uk

* METRAC released a free “Not Your Baby App” to provide responses you can use when experiencing harassment

* The Adventures of Salwa campaign has a hotline for sexual harassment cases in Lebanon: 76-676862.

* In Bangalore, India, there is a helpline for street harassment 080 – 22943225 / 22864023

* Report #streetharassment in Pakistan at @NameAndShamePk, email nameandshame@ryse.pk, SMS 0314-800-35-68 or online at http://www.nameandshame.pk

20 Tweets from the Week:

1. @juliemastrine  At TRIOTA preparing for our anti-street harassment demonstration. Join us by the Allen St. gates at 4:30! pic.twitter.com/qKmTlgLc

2. @SelaFreuler  I hate that the only time my childbearing hips get any love is when I’m experiencing street harassment. Good lord.

3. @CallOutCatCalls  Is there an acceptable way to compliment strangers on the street without it being #streetharassment ? How do you draw the line?

4. @LadySnarksalot  WTF? RT @emmamwoolley: @amirightfolks @CromartyHeather This guy defends street harassment as a pickup technique. http://bit.ly/RmDUkF

5. @reneetheorizes  Did you read CNN’s homepage feature on #streetharassment last wkend? Here’s why it’s such a big deal http://bit.ly/Wd84eO  #endSH

6. @mikatekobaloyi  @SingleBlackMale and gym harrassment!not even sure what to where to the gym anymore.

7. @boodleoops  @SingleBlackMale @hkearl street harassment is the reason it took me until I was 30 to have the courage to go running outdoors.

8. @HollabackDublin  Wishing all members of the LGBTQ community a happy and #streetharassment-free National Coming Out Day!

9. ‏@publichistorian  @kaleidofox I was head to toe bundled in a huge down coat in the middle of the winter in MN & got the exact same street harassment as usual.

10. @nualacabral  We need to make public spaces SAFER for women & girls. End #StreetHarassment! #dayofthegirl #EndSH

11. ‏@UN_Women  to combat sexual harassment against #GirlChild we need a clear definition, media attention, support for survivors, reform educational system

12. @NoonArabia  #endSH “@Afrahnasser:Young girls in #Yemen are starting 2 break the silence about sexual harrasment. It’s time 2 break the stigma as well.”

13. @lasrevistas Reclaiming the streets in brussels! @hollabackbxl #streetharassment http://instagr.am/p/QcfZOgp6pV/

14. @rovingaltruist  “F***-you armour” being headphones, huge shades and modest dress. Effective? Don’t count on it. Welcome to #Egypt! #endSH #streetharassment

15. @Caro130  Had one of those extra-annoying #streetharassment encounters yesterday that started politely (so I said hi back nicely) & devolved quickly

16. @Sarahkasm  #WhyIHateCairo : #StreetHarassment seemingly increasing this year. Puts a damper on walks for “fresh” air.

17. @luce_mon  @VagendaMagazine I slapped someone at a gig once after they groped me more than once. Then he threatened to hit me. It was horrible.

18. @somekindofwoman  @VagendaMagazine A man grabbed me between the legs while I walked down the street. I didn’t realise til after how shouty and sweary I was.

19. @mich_mck  @VagendaMagazine Had my boob groped IN THE QUEUE of Penneys (Primark in Ireland) last year. I just froze. Regret not kicking up and fuss.

20. @craftyfoxj  @VagendaMagazine I screamed at the person that groped me and continued to do so until they ran away. And then reported it to the cops.

 

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Digest of street harassment stories, news, announcements & tweets: October 7, 2012

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Read stories, news articles, blog posts, and tweets about street harassment from the past few weeks.

** Sign up to receive a monthly e-newsletter from Stop Street Harassment ***

Street Harassment Stories:

Share your story! You can read street harassment stories on the Web at:

Stop Street Harassment Blog

HarassMap in Egypt

Bijoya in Bangladesh

Resist Harassment in Lebanon

Ramallah Street Watch in Palestine

Name and Shame in Pakistan

Safe Streets in Yemen

Street Harassment in South Africa

Many of the Hollaback sites

Street Harassment In the News, on the Blogs:

*  CNN.com, “Hey baby! Women speak out against street harassment“

* Irish Times, “Put yourself in her shoes: ‘Every woman I know has a story‘”

* Daily News Egypt, “Anti-harassment campaigns’ busy week“

* PHOTOS: Aswat Masriya, “Protesting against harassment against women and child marriage, in front of the presidential palace in Cairo October 4, 2012“

* Time Out Istanbul, “Meet Istanbul’s heroines“

* Bikyamasr, “Egypt women who fight harassment are beaten, but not broken“

* Jucy Africa, “The tiny assaults: A diary of street harassment“

* Relando Thompkins, “3 Ways to be an Effective Ally against Street Harassment“

* Lydia Magazine, “TAKE BACK THE DAY: ON BRINGING AN END TO STREET HARASSMENT“

* Now Lebanon, “Taking stalking seriously in Beirut“

* Sustained Enthusiasm, “Catcalling and Connections to Class“

* The Times of India, “In groups they move for safe passage“

* Nervana, “Sexual Harassment: The myth of the dress code theory.“

* Huffington Post, “Transgender New Yorkers Face Scorn And Violence Using Public Restrooms“

* Day & Night News, “Students stage protest against eve-teasing in Chandigarh“

* BlogHer, “Street Harassment Now That I Present As a Woman“

* Women’s Web, “Talking about Street Sexual Harassment“

* Time Out New York, “Fighting back against sexual harassment on the street“

Announcements:

New:

* Read an interview with Tatyana Fazlalizadeh about her beautiful art work against street harassment

* What did street harassment look like in 1945?

* @Shefunionwomcom We are collating stories of women’s experiences of street harassment. If you have a story please email it to womens.committee@shef.ac.uk

* @TheBuSSyProject 8-9 October in Egypt. Stories from childhood, adolescence & adulthood … I highly recommend it http://www.facebook.com/#!/events/282741105174997/ … #EndSH

* There’s a new, creative video about street harassment from SlamPow! Production

Reminders:

* Stop Street Harassment welcomes and announces its new board of directors!

* New York is considering a bill that would make harsher punishments for engaging in unwanted sexual touching in public spaces.

* A Russian activist group made a viral video about street harassment and has proposed anti-harassment legislation.

* Harlow Project Seeking Participants For Street Harassment Web Video Series

* METRAC released a free “Not Your Baby App” to provide responses you can use when experiencing harassment

* Sign a petition about ending street harassment in Egypt.

* Stop Street Harassment recently incorporated as a nonprofit organization. Please donate so we can conduct a national street harassment study and gather much needed data documenting the problem.

* Contact Bowlmor and the New York City Transit to complain about this offensive subway ad.

* Activists in South Africa launched a website about street harassment

* The anti-sexual harassment public service announcement signs are now up in several Washington, DC metro stations!

* The Stop Street Harassment book is available in paperback for $15.

* Submit art about street harassment for the VoiceTool Product exhibit in San Francisco, CA

* The Adventures of Salwa campaign has a hotline for sexual harassment cases in Lebanon: 76-676862.

* In Bangalore, India, there is a helpline for street harassment 080 – 22943225 / 22864023

* Report #streetharassment in Pakistan at @NameAndShamePk, email nameandshame@ryse.pk, SMS 0314-800-35-68 or online at http://www.nameandshame.pk

20 Tweets from the Week:

1. @RobbyDran Real men never catcall or harass a women. It is not ok.

2. @laurenaissance sometimes i worry that avoiding the homeless guys in my neighborhood because they catcall me is just disguised classism

3. @LauraBaginski A catcall I actually appreciated: “Girl, you look SUCCESSFUL.”

4. @brittneyg CNN interviewed me about being groped on the bus & blogging it. Read: http://www.cnn.com/2012/10/06/living/street-harassment/index.html … Listen here: http://cnnradio.cnn.com/2012/10/04/cnn-radio-news-day-october-4-2012/?hpt=hp_c2 … (min 12:05)

5. @zosiasztyk The WH Equal Futures Partnership will address #streetharassment as a barrier to opportunity for women & was launched ON MY BDAY this year

6. @yosoypao Street harassment is not a compliment #endSH #fem2

7. @FeministPrncess How does #streetharassment differently affect women with #hearingimpairment or #visualimpairment? Anyone have perspective on this? #VAWG

8. @SafeSpacesDC @WHLive @vj44 Over 80% of #women & #LGBT people worldwide report face #gender-based #streetharassment. What can we do? #WHchat #fem2 #endSH

9. @eMokhalfa #FF goes to @harassmap for contributing with us. Now u can report on any sexual harassment by any vehicle on http://emokhalfa.com #endsh

10. @clear_red Women calling for rights in the constitution at a demo at pres palace in Cairo #EndSH #Egypt pic.twitter.com/a0pGebaJ

11. @irincarmon Dear all the men asking me if street harassment is still a thing: ask the women in your lives.

12. @irincarmon I hate how street harassment makes me less likely to engage w people on the street.

13. @Reem_Abdellatif Meanwhile, as women protest sexual harassment & a discriminatory constitution at the pres palace, #Egypt‘s state news covers soccer. #EndSh

14. @PhotoSonny Just emailed Oakmont Construction about their workers disgusting behaviour at the Strand. #streetharassment @hollabackLDN

15. @Karnythia How do you hear a line like “You say meet me half way Cause brothers been popping that game all day ” & not think of #streetharassment?

16.@Mirandaaa831 “Hey chick, you got a lovely walk. Keep it up.” Well, at least that’s almost a polite way to comment on my legs. #streetharassment

17.  @TESOLartist I like them thighs #streetharassment Uhmm. So???

18. @LoyolaWSGS How do you build community in the face of street harassment? This article discusses the importance of community: http://buff.ly/M7WAnV

19.  @RanyaKhalifa URGENT! #Egywomen r called upon to show-up today for an anti-sexual harassment stand at 5:00pm in front of presidential palace #EndSH #Egypt

20. @SharkDancing Cycling instead will not end the street harassment. Woman cycling in Toronto encounter street harassment most days. @yasmine_nagaty @hkearl

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