Stop Street Harassment

Making Public Spaces Safe and Welcoming

The “Sexist” Seat on Mexico City’s Subway

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Via The Pool:

“A new campaign hoping to tackle sexual harassment in Mexico has introduced a ‘sexist’ seat on the metro exclusively for men – complete with chest and penis. The seat was created to make men feel as uncomfortable as women on public transport and, judging by the accompanying video, it worked. Men are seen to consciously avoid sitting on the seat, or sitting on it without realising, only for them to quickly jump up and move. In front of the seat is a message to men, reading, ‘It’s uncomfortable to sit here, but it doesn’t compare with the sexual violence that women suffer in their everyday lives.’ The anti-harassment message has since gone viral, with the hashtag #NoEsDeHombres.”

I was in Mexico City a few weeks ago for the UN Women Safe Cities Global Leaders’ Forum and we heard from many Mexico City leaders, including the mayor, about their efforts to make public places safer for women. What struck me was that nearly every effort they discussed, such as women-only transit options and the distribution of thousands of whistles, put the onus on women to try to stay safe. What I appreciate about the “sexist” seat is that the message is directed at men. While no, the seat by itself is not enough to change the cultural norms that allow sexual harassment to occur, I think it is an example of a unique and attention-grabbing way to start discussions with men about sexual harassment in public spaces and why men must help stop it.

That said, would-be harassers are not the only ones who ride the subway and consideration should be made for survivors of sexual assault and others who could be upset by it.

UPDATE: I did an interview for BBC News on this initiative.

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Watch OVARIAN PSYCOS Tonight

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Watch OVARIAN PSYCOS on PBS’ Independent Lens TONIGHT at 10 p.m.! 

“Riding at night through Eastside Los Angeles, the Ovarian Psycos use their bicycles to confront the violence in their lives [including street harassment]. At the helm of the crew is founder Xela de la X, a single mother and poet M.C. dedicated to recruiting an unapologetic, misfit crew of women of color, yet she struggles to strike a balance between motherhood and activism. Evie, a bright eyed recruit, joins the crew and despite poverty and the concerns of her protective Salvadoran mother, discovers a newfound confidence.  Meanwhile, Andi Xoch, a founding member and street artist who knows the deeply activist legacy from which the Ovas emerge, journeys to become a new leader within the crew.”

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10 Days Until Anti-Street Harassment Week!

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It’s an exciting time! We’re just 10 days out from the seventh annual International Anti-Street Harassment Week. Our numbers are growing daily and now groups and organizations in 35 countries will participate.

WHAT’S GOING ON
If you’re joining in, we need to know WHAT you’re doing! We post the info on our Events page so people who want to become involved in the Week can see what is happening near them. It also helps us when we pitch media and write articles to be able to report on the range of actions.

So help both you and us out by please completing this short form to let us know your plans! (A big thank you to everyone who has already informed us.)

STOP TELLING WOMEN TO SMILE
We’re excited that for a fourth year, Stop Telling Women to Smile is hosting an International Wheatpasting Night during the Week, April 7. To participate, complete this form.

PRESS RELEASE TEMPLATE
Here’s a press release template you can use to announce your events/actions in your community.

GLOBAL TWEETATHON
Please join the Tweetathon on April 4! Tweet about street harassment issues any time that day (any time zone, any language) while using #EndSH in your tweets. Be sure to check out what other twitter events will take place during the week.

BLOGGING!
If you wish to guest blog during the week (or have an entry cross-posted from your blog), please email HollyKearl@yahoo.com and BPurdy@mail.umw.edu, with a short pitch about what the blog would cover and the preferred date or time range you’d like it published.

LOGOS, IMAGES, FLYERS
We have a selection of shareable images and downloadable fliers on our website! Feel free to use them however you would like.

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

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International Women’s Day 2017

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It’s International Women’s Day! The Guardian is tracking live actions and protests as they happen around the world. Share what’s happening where you are with @Claire_Phipps.

In the U.S. context, the Women’s March called for A Day Without a Woman, while others have organized a similar Women’s Strike (that many people around the world are joining). The goal is for women to not engage in paid or unpaid labor (if they can), to not spend money (or only at women-only businesses) and to wear red. There are been many articles flying around about who has the privilege to participate or not, what the purpose of the strike is, and so forth.

Because there are many ways to join, I think it allows persons from a wide range of backgrounds to join in.

What I think is harder is to know what is the end game. If we literally were all walking off the job that would be more apparent. But is wearing red and not shopping for a day really going to have the same kind of impact? I know the point is to show women’s daily contributions but to what end? What would change?

I personally will still be working; as a consultant I don’t have vacation or sick days or personal leave, and, more importantly, since I work from home, my “absence” from work would be physically noticed by no one. But I will wear red and refrain from purchases. If the stakes were higher, if it seemed that my not working would result in concrete change, then yes, I’d force the issue with my employers, as surely would more women like me. But without a clear goal and set possible outcomes to our actions, it’s tough to want to “go all in,” so to speak.

I know that striking can work. We saw it work well in Iceland a few decades ago when women there went on strike (which is easier to do in a small country) and it’s worked in protests like the Montgomery bus boycott that was led and primarily carried out by Black women. There were clear cut goals to those strikes. That’s what I feel we are missing. What would we achieve if we really truly did all step away from our jobs, obligations and wallets?

Nonetheless, much solidarity to all who are joining and to all who will be advocating for women’s equality in whatever way(s) they can.

In the SSH context, for IWD you can advocate for women’s equality in public spaces by 1) planning to join International Anti-Street Harassment Week from April 2 to 8, 2) sharing your story for our blog, and/or 3) donating to help fund the National Street Harassment Hotline.

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300 Organizations Sign Letter to D. Trump

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Women in the United States are alarmed by a Trump administration agenda that has already done grave harm to families across the country and undermined essentials rights and protections. That’s why today, Stop Street Harassment joined more than 300 organizations across the nation that advocate for women’s rights, equality, justice and inclusion in sending a letter to the president urging him to build a more fair, just and equal nation.

The letter outlines six domestic policy areas that are critical to women and all families, and upon which the community will evaluate the Trump administration’s success.

Going forward, we hope this list of priorities will be a resource for the administration and members of Congress as they make policy decisions, as well as the media, advocates and anyone who cares about how women fare during the president’s tenure. As we note in the letter, when the country’s 157 million women have an equal opportunity to succeed, our entire society and economy benefit.

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