Stop Street Harassment

Making Public Spaces Safe and Welcoming

The Bahamas: Rape is not Sex

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Alicia Wallace, Nassau, The Bahamas, Blog Correspondent

Image via http://profiles98.com/

The people of The Bahamas have recently come to terms with the fact that a new festival is being brought to the country. While it is the source of great debate, a Trinidad-inspired carnival will take place in May 2015 to the dismay of many loyal practitioners and fans of the Bahamian Junkanoo parade. In impassioned exchanges on the topic of Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival – a name meant to appease Junkanooers – much of the focus is put on the women of The Bahamas and the costumes designed for them to wear.

The Bahamas Christian Council, as expected, made bold, sweeping statements about the festival, zeroing in on the “immodest costumes” and the sexual violence they would inspire. Dr. Ranford Patterson said, “We are of the view that the promotion of immodest costumes, such as those displayed for use in the upcoming Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival, will not only promote promiscuity, but fornication, rape, incest, and other sins of the flesh as well.”

As Director of Hollaback! Bahamas, I have serious concerns about carnival, especially given the high rate of street harassment experienced here. Those concerns, however, do not outweigh or erase the right every woman has to participate in the festival, free of judgment, shame, and acts of sexual violence.

Dr. Ranford Patterson does not seem to have taken the time or council necessary to consider the dangers of his statement. He has made assumptions which are now, quite likely, born by many others who under his – and the Bahamas Christian Council’s – influence. It is unfortunate that people in positions of power rarely recognize the responsibility that accompanies influence.

The statement made on behalf of the Bahamas Christian Council is problematic on many levels. There is far too much to address at once, so let’s focus on the views on rape presented.

The statement suggests that rape is sex or, at the very least, is about sex. It is shocking and disappointing that sex and rape are still being confused. Far too often we see newspaper articles referring to statutory rape as “sex with a minor”. Far too often we see rape being called “unlawful sex”. It is unclear whether this is due to a fear of the word, or discomfort with the truth that lies within it.

The difference between sex and rape is clear. Sex requires consent while rape is a violation. Rape is about power and control – not sexual desire.

Dr. Ranford Patterson played the blame game in his statement. He suggested that victims are at fault, and perpetrators are helpless beings. He is completely misguided, perpetuating the myth that acts of sexual violence are caused by clothing, or lack thereof.

Rape has never been caused by physical environments, music, dancing, or costumes. The only common denominator in cases of rape is the rapist. It is, therefore, crystal clear, that the only entity guilty of rape is the rapist.

The Bahamas Christian Council’s statement is misleading as it suggests the blame for rape should rest with the victim based on the choices made by the victim. As a body with tremendous power and influence, it should recognize its responsibility and the necessity of making consultations and seeking the advice of experts before making public statements. The burden is now on civic organizations to repair the damage done by the Bahamas Christian Council. It is our duty to ensure that:

–       Sexual assault victims are not blamed

–       The distinction is made between sex and rape

–       Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival is not used as a scapegoat for acts of sexual violence

–       The free will and ability to make decisions of perpetrators is recognized

–       Women have the rights to dress as they wish

–       Women have the right to participate in festivals without the threat of sexual assault

–       Women have the right to participate in festivals, free of the idea that they are “asking for it”

As Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival – scheduled for May – draws near, Hollaback! Bahamas will be active and vocal in the community. The Bahamian people must be educated on consent and body autonomy. We cannot allow organizations to spew ignorance, hatred, or unfounded claims under the guise of morality. Our people must have the freedom to dress, move, and participate in festivals as they see fit. No door should be shut on a woman because of her sex, and no perpetrator should slip into the shadows because the spotlight is trained on a woman’s costume. We will not be silent. As educated people with clear understanding of the issues at hand, we must not allow our voices to be drowned out by the less enlightened. As their voices rise, so shall ours, in greater than equal measure.

Alicia is a freelance writer and public educator in Nassau, Bahamas. You can connect with her on Twitter (@_AliciaAudrey and on her blog.

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Chinese protesters illegally detained

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Nine Chinese women who were planning a protest against sexual harassment on public transportation in Guangzhou for International Women’s Day have been illegally detained by police, four have been released but five are still there. Via the Guardian: “The remaining five reportedly planned to distribute stickers with slogans such as ‘Police: go arrest those who committed sexual harassment.'”

I know the Chinese government is horrible on human rights issues, but really? Simply planning to protest against street harassment can result in THEM getting arrested?

Via Reuters:

“No formal charges have been levied, but they were suspected of “picking quarrels and provoking trouble”, lawyers said, a charge authorities have used in the past to jail political dissidents. [IDnL3N0MG2B7]

The case has drawn criticism from international rights groups, the European Union and the United States

“We expect the Chinese authorities to release them without delay and to allow them immediate access to legal assistance and to their families,” a spokesman for EU Foreign Affairs and Security Policy said in a statement from Brussels.

The United States also called on China to release the five activists immediately.”

We join them in calling for their release. If you are outraged too, you can sign this letter. You can learn about the women being detained in this Feministing blog post and this Facebook page.

H/T @mcdersa

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TGI Fridays #AppCalling Ad Needs to GO!

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3/18/15 UPDATE: Please sign the petition! | I gave interviews about the ad for NY Daily News and HuffPost and board member Lindsey Middlecamp’s tweet about the ad was quoted in this TIME article.

In a move that shows extremely poor taste, TGI Fridays hired Rob Bliss, the creator of the two-minute viral video “10 Hours of Walking in New York City as a Woman” to make a parody commercial for them where food (appetizers) are street harassed.

A Mashable article says:

“Restaurant chain TGI Fridays hopes people get the joke…Fridays is trying to goof with the audience, aiming to lure in customers, especially millennials, with the all-digital campaign breaking Monday. The video, dubbed #AppCalling, isn’t meant to be taken seriously, as opposed to the original, which pointed up brutish and aggressive behavior that’s all too common in women’s lives.

‘We believe app-calling (not cat-calling) food is a funny premise,’ said Brian Gies, Friday’s chief marketing officer. ‘Please note that no apps were harmed as a result of this video!'”

I get the joke and I’m not laughing.

I find it disgusting and in poor taste that TGI Fridays would make light of this serious issue and use it as a gimmick to try to sell food. Even if they note on the video description that catcalling is offensive, that is not enough.

The concept and the video ignore the reality that street harassment is a widespread problem. It can be upsetting and scary and can limit people’s mobility. It can be threatening and indeed, the actress from the original film faced death threats for simply being in the film. And, what most people don’t realize, is it disproportionately happens to teenage girls. Is that really what we want to promote?

When companies like TGI Fridays (and Snickers, Fiat, Allstate, etc) make ads like this, it makes street harassment seem okay, funny, and normal. It shouldn’t be any of those things.

We urge TGI Fridays to discontinue this campaign immediately.

H/T Collective Action for Safe Spaces

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USA: A Letter to Street Harassers

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Dylan Jane Manderlink, Arkansas, USA, SSH Blog Correspondent

Dear Street Harasser (and all of the people who have ever harassed or made me feel violated and uncomfortable while I walked down the street),

You are not free to hit on me. Contrary to what you, your friends, and society might think, I am the only one who can take charge of me entirely. Your indecent comments, unwanted examination of my body, promotion of subtle violence, and unawareness of my personal space were your failed attempts to take charge of me, assert your power, and have what isn’t yours. When you defensively spat back at me after I initially ignored you, I hope you know how primitive and humiliating your actions were. When you took one too many steps closer to me, you violated my personal space and being. When your eyes tried undressing me, you disregarded my humanness, made me feel incredibly uncomfortable in a city I call home, and grossly tried asserting an alpha male status in a public space.

But you knew that. You knew what you were doing. You knew that I didn’t and don’t want to be objectified, treated like an emotionless clothing store mannequin, and have my safety and security compromised. You knew very well that when I walk down the street I’m not asking for or inviting any sort of commentary, glares, and touching.

You treat us women as if we’re a player in your perverted and debasing game of “Street Harassment”. And of course you need to be the one controlling the “game pieces” of your sadistic game. But there’s no “Pass & Go” space in this game. You, as the street harasser have eliminated that piece because that would mean that we are free to pass by you, unharmed, untouched, unbothered, and safely. But you can’t let that happen, can you? So instead, you rig the game in favor of yourself, patriarchy, and systemic violence. You rig the game and manipulate its rules to get what you want, look at who you want, and remind those who pass you that they are objects in your game, not human beings. Your male entitlement is the card you’ve created that “trumps” all. You’ve set up the game so that we lose every time. We lose if we ignore you. We lose if we shoot you an assertive and powerful look. We lose if we fight back and honestly confront you and your offensive behavior. We even lose when we try advocating for ourself and others. We lose when we try and seek justice. What kind of game have you created? As activists, community members, advocates, bloggers, women, people who care, we will not let you win in your “game” anymore.

The game you created is “Street Harassment” and it’s been perpetuated by people like yourself and our patriarchal society. It’s a form of violence against women. Street harassment is systemic and insidious and you are perpetuating it with each unwanted comment, glare, touch, and violation of personal space. The violence women experience on the street as a result of street harassment is also perpetuated by the silence and inaction of others – of pedestrians who see it and decide to ignore it, of men who don’t educate other men, of big influencers who don’t make this issue a priority. But it’s not a game to us. Ending street harassment is a priority to us. When you swooped your head down and tried burying your face in my breasts, I did not want to be a part of that game. In fact, I made my rejection, discomfort, and fury clear. And your utter disregard for my space, my being, my body, and my opinions is loudly demonstrative of your unfair, unequal, and shameful perception of women.

We don’t exist for you to look at. We don’t walk down the street so you can put your face in my breasts. We don’t exist for you to promote systemic violence, inequality, and oppression. We will continue to exist. We will continue to walk through public spaces. Do not punish me for being a woman. We avow to be treated fairly, respectfully, equally, and humanely.

Your street harassment is exactly why we still need feminism. Your complete indifference to women’s humanity is exactly why I will continue to write passionate letters like this, publicly decry street harassment and other injustices, and advocate for the empowerment of ALL people in society at every chance I get.

– Dylan

Dylan is a recent graduate of Emerson College and currently teaches 8th, 10th, and 11th grade Digital Communications and Audio/Visual Technology in an Arkansas high school. You can visit her personal blog and follow her on Twitter @DylanManderlink.

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ActionAid Report: Women and the City III

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Our friends at ActionAid have released their third report on women’s experiences in cities — including their experiences of sexual harassment and other forms of sexual violence. You can download the full report for free.

From their website:

“This report reflects the experiences of over 3,000 women and girls living in urban communities in Brazil, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Liberia, Nepal, South Africa and Zimbabwe. While the women and girls interviewed in this baseline study shared their views that cities can be places of choice and empowerment for them, they also spoke of the multiple challenges they face in enjoying their rights and freely making choices about their daily lives. Freedom of movement and expression within these urban spaces is severely limited by harassment,violence, fear of violence, lack of adequate and gender-responsive public services and stereotypical, negative perceptions about women and their place in society.

ActionAid works with some of the poorest women in city communities worldwide, including migrant workers and those living in slums. These women struggle to make a living in the informal labour market, fighting against forces that subjugate them socially and economically. Mobility means survival for many of these women and girls – many of whom walk miles in the morning and evening or use public transport to travel to and from work or school. Yet in going about their daily lives they are confronted by situations of sexual harassment, assault and violence that trigger feelings of shame, fear and distress.”

 

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