Stop Street Harassment

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USA: Stop Commenting on Women’s Bodies and Appearances

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Libby Allnatt, Phoenix, AZ, USA, SSH Blog Correspondent

Are you the kind of person who tells someone when they have something stuck in their teeth, or do you let it slide? What about toilet paper on their shoe?

Some things are okay to point out.

There are also areas where commentary is off-limits unless invited.

Other people’s bodies, and other aspects of an individual’s appearance, especially if they are a stranger, would be included in that list.

The motives behind street harassment are diverse. A harasser may even have no motive, simply a senseless act of disrespect or violence. But entitlement is surely an aspect – either entitlement to one’s body (as in the case of groping or physical violence, for instance), entitlement to one’s time or attention (as in the case of being followed or catcalled), or a mix a both.

It’s almost comical when street harassment crosses into the territory of feedback. What’s the point of hollering at a young girl what you like and don’t like about her appearance? Would you pass a man and yell, “It looks like you have a superiority complex and I think you should seek professional help for that”?

Some of the absurd things harassers say would be almost funny due to how stupid they make their speakers look if they weren’t so violating, degrading, threatening and downright terrifying.

After my age and young look, the most common topic of the catcalls and comments I receive center on my clothing or style.

And it’s not just the creepy perverts that lurk in alleys and on street corners. I’ve had guys I know (both well-meaning and blissfully ignorant) comment on everything from the amount of makeup I wear (too much or too little) to the appropriateness of my clothing (you’d think some men have never seen leggings before).

A male acquaintance even once asked me to grow my hair out because he “liked it better long.” Um, excuse? And I like your mouth better shut.

Don’t get me wrong. Compliments can be wonderful. I often tell women how much I love their dress or perfume. A nice comment can go a long way. But as has been discussed many times, street harassment isn’t a compliment, so catcalls from men across the street and mutters of profanity as I pass don’t fall into that category.

In addition to compliments, there’s also a huge difference between warranted feedback and unwarranted harassment. A female friend admitting she’s not a huge fan of my outfit choice when I’m picking out something to wear (and asking for her advice) is a far cry from a man shouting, “WHY DON’T YOU SHOW MORE LEG” from across the street.

I know I’m preaching to the choir. Chances are if you’re reading this, you’re someone who has either been a victim of street harassment (if you’re a woman, the chances are high) or someone genuinely trying to understand more about the issue. I doubt the men that holler at us on the street are going online to read about street harassment communities and how their actions impact others’ safety and well-being.

But there are ways we can all be aware of how our language impacts others. Laughing at someone’s outfit? Maybe they spent a lot of time picking it out and are really excited to express themselves. Hear a guy analyzing a woman’s every curve? Ask him why he thinks she would care.

If you’re a dude reading this, you need to be aware of the appropriate ways of interacting with women. Generally, commenting on her appearance won’t get you anywhere, even if you think you’re being nice. It may be “bullshit PC culture” to you. But for us, it’s survival.

I hate to break it to you, but she probably doesn’t care what you think. You might even be creeping her out. It’s not personal. But given the prevalence of street harassment and genuinely threatening experiences women have, she’s likely learned to keep her guard up for protection.

While certainly anyone can be harassed, being aware of the ways that women’s bodies are continually policed, degraded, mocked, violated and sexualized is an especially important part of the framework.

We are not zoo animals to be gawked at, or artwork to be absorbed with the eyes and critiqued.

We are people wanting to walk down the street.

Libby is a student at Arizona State University. Originally from Salt Lake City, Utah, she is majoring in journalism with a focus on print and she is minoring in psychology and women’s studies. You can follow her on Twitter @libbyallnattasu and Instagram @LibbyPaigeA.

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“I don’t want to have to add police officers to the list of people to avoid”

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Today, three days after the explosion in Chelsea, NYC, I had an appointment on 23rd Street right across from where the bomb went off. There were cops everywhere today. As I exited the 23rd Street station there were four male cops standing on the stairway leading out of the subway talking to one another. Two on each side. As I got almost to the top of the stairs, one of the cops said, “Good morning”, but not in the tone where someone is genuinely wishing you a good morning. It was in the tone that meant something else entirely. It even had that inflection that suggested I owed him a reply. The other three just went quiet as I kept going. I was so annoyed that at a time when people are still somewhat on edge, the people that are supposed to be there to keep us safe make us feel just the opposite.

Of all the street harassment I experienced, I don’t want to have to add police officers to the list of people to avoid. In the larger scope of things it’s nothing compared to the reasons other people have to fear the police, but it’s just another way we are constantly made to feel unsafe in public spaces.

– Ali

Location: New York City, NY

Need support? Call the toll-free National Street Harassment hotline: 855-897-5910

Share your street harassment story for the blog.
See the book 50 Stories about Stopping Street Harassers for ideas.

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End of April 2016 News

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More recent news:

USA Today, “China introduces female-only bus service“

“A female-only bus service aimed at protecting women from sexual harassment launched this week in China, drawing praise and criticism.

The Zhengzhou 3rd bus company introduced the service on a popular route in the central city of Zhengzhou. It will run during busy commuting hours until early August.

“During the summer, women usually wear thinner clothes, making it easier for them to be harassed in crowded buses. … The all-female service will increase their convenience and safety,” said Kong Chaoping, the firm’s chairman, according to the Beijing Youth Daily newspaper.

The buses are recognizable by their big red signs that read, “Female-only.” They have stuffed animals and other kids’ toys suspended from the ceiling.

Sexual harassment is a common yet largely ignored problem on China’s public transportation system. More than 50% of women have experienced inappropriate touching or body contact while using the country’s trains and buses, a survey by the China Youth Daily newspaper found last year.

In 2014, the Women’s Federation of Guangzhou, a state-affiliated group, found that 85% of all sexual assaults in Guangzhou, a city in southern China, occurred while victims used the city’s public transportation network.”

Quartz, “Thousands of Mexican women are talking about sexual harassment for the first time“

“Rarely publicly acknowledged in Mexico, sexual harassment is being surfaced via Twitter hashtag #MiPrimerAcoso, or #MyFirstHarassment, by women posting their first experiences with male bullying and by others wanting to have an open discussion. Hundreds of thousands of posts have circulated in the last three days.

The drive, started by a Colombian columnist (link in Spanish) on Saturday, is reinforcing the issue after demonstrations Sunday (April 24) in Mexico City and other major cities attracted thousands of women. The Twitter record, a poignant collection of heartfelt confidences, will probably prove more powerful…

#MiPrimerAcoso reveals that many women first experienced harassment as girls, as young as five and six years old. The perpetrators of the abuse span a wide range, from relatives—older cousins and uncles are mentioned frequently—to policemen, to random strangers, and in one case, a therapist.”

Waging Nonviolence, “Mexican feminists declare a ‘violet spring’ on nationwide day of action“

“Tens of thousands of feminists protested across Mexico on Sunday, amid what they say is an epidemic of violence against women.

“We’re sick of suffering all kinds of abuse when we just walk in the street,” said Mari, a protester in the central Mexican city of Puebla, who was joined by hundreds of activists in Puebla’s city center, demanding justice for victims of femicide.

When the march reached the state government offices, activists accused local authorities of failing to bring perpetrators of violence to justice. One masked protester shouted, “The government here in Puebla lets them get away with impunity,” adding, “This isn’t just in Puebla, but all of Mexico.”

Declaring a “violet spring,” protesters called on women across Mexico to take a stand against sexism. One of the largest protests took place in Mexico City, where organizers railed against Mexico’s traditionally machista, or sexist, culture.

“It is evident that we need social re-education — to teach men not to harass, not violate, not hit, not threaten, not enslave, not abuse and not kill women and girls,” organizers said in a statement.”

The Verge, “India mandates panic button on all phones to help keep women safe“

“All mobile phones sold in India will be required to have a panic button as of next year, the country’s telecommunications ministry announced this week, as part of an effort to enhance safety for women. As Bloomberg reports, the order requires handset makers to implement an emergency feature that could be activated by holding down the numbers 5 or 9 on a keypad. The function will be mandatory on all phones by January 1st, 2017, while GPS navigation systems will be mandatory on all devices by 2018.

Women’s safety in India has drawn worldwide attention following reports of gang rapes and other forms of violence. There were more than 330,000 reported cases of violence against women in 2014, according to government statistics, up 9 percent from the previous year. The issue has spurred some companies to develop apps and services that make it easier for women to contact emergency services. India’s minister for women and child development, Maneka Gandhi, pushed for mandated panic buttons last year.”

‘Technology is solely meant to make human life better and what better than using it for the security of women,’ Communications Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said in a statement.”

attn: “This Man’s Attempt to Take Upskirt Photos Just Backfired in an Extreme Way“

“A shocking piece of footage, in which a man eats his camera’s memory card after being caught allegedly filming upskirt videos, is gaining international attention.

According to the Chinese Publication People’s Daily, the video was filmed by a woman caught the alleged Peeping Tom in the act while riding the subway. The woman who shot the footage goes by the name Xiao Cha Cha A, Daily Mail reports. She posted the video on the Chinese social media service Weibo, with a caption reading, “I had tried to block his view a few times but he kept on taking them. I must expose him!”

In the video, the Xiao Cha Cha A is seen tugging at the man’s bag, and yelling, “delete the pictures, delete them. Look everybody, here is a pervert who takes upskirt pictures of women,” Daily Mail reports.

The man then eats his SD card. It is unclear if the woman forces him to do so, or if he eats the card voluntarily to destroy the evidence. In the final seconds of the 1:01-long video, the man can be seen fleeing the subway car.”

The Source, “[Los Angeles] Metro’s new anti-sexual harassment video“

“Metro launched its “Off Limits” campaign last spring in an effort to reduce sexual harassment on buses and trains. The campaign was a direct response to riders identifying this as an issue in Metro’s customer surveys.”

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Late April 2016 News Round-Up

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Here are relevant news articles from the past few weeks.

Montreal Gazette, “Montreal police urge transit users to report sexual predators, help victims“

“Police in the Montreal region launched a campaign to encourage transit users to report incidents of sexual harassment on the métro, buses and trains. Many victims of sexual touching talk about their experience on social media or report it to transit authorities, but are reluctant to file a police report, said Inspector Carole Lalonde of the Montreal police’s métro division.”

Chicago Reader, “Could woman-only el cars prevent sexual harassment on the CTA?”

“The agency is addressing the problem through a new informational campaign. ‘If It’s Unwanted, It’s Harassment’ warns would-be offenders that abusive behavior will not be tolerated.

CTA anti-Harassment Ad April 2016

The centerpiece of the campaign is a new line of rail and bus advertisements encouraging riders who see a fellow passenger being hassled to speak up, contact CTA personnel via an onboard intercom, or call 911 if there’s an immediate safety threat.

But some of the credit for the new initiative should go to the Courage Campaign, a grassroots organization launched in 2014 by Uptown resident Kara Crutcher to fight harassment on the CTA. Last year the group successfully lobbied the agency to shift its focus from simply asking victims to report incidents to preventing abusive behavior by raising awareness of the problem.

‘We’re happy to see a couple of CTA ads up regarding harassment,’ Crutcher said. ‘It is definitely a step in the right direction. . . . Personally, I hope that we can work with them to produce more educational ads, but we shall see.’

As for female-only cars, while Crutcher says these could provide a safe space for women suffering from post-harassment PTSD, she argues they’re a Band-Aid solution that doesn’t get to the root of the problem.

‘A cultural shift must occur,’ she says. ‘We must recognize and respect each other everywhere, but especially in these public spaces. . . . Putting men in a train car separate from me will not stop them from harassing me when we exit the train. But education, antistreet harassment advocacy, and courage might.””

Guardian, “‘I cried all the way back’: sexual harassment on public transport“

“How does it feel to be subject to unwanted sexual attention on your morning commute? Or on your way to school? We asked readers to tell us their stories of sexual harassment on public transport … Some told us about being followed off trains. Others told us about men trying to sneak a feel of their breasts between shopping bags. Then there were those who witnessed public masturbation, or were just teenagers when they were first subject to unwanted sexual attention. These experiences were not limited to those living within the jurisdiction of Transport for London.”

Nepal Republic Media, “Public transport is living hell for young women“

“Many young women and girls in Kathmandu Valley don’t like to use public transport because of sexual harassment, which is rife despite several attempts by the authorities to tackle the problem.

Soyana Nyachhon, an 18-year-old student, says she has encountered harassment many times while using public transport vehicles in the city. ‘I was traveling in a micro-bus in the Maitighar area recently and a man of around 25 to 30 came close to my seat deliberately. It made me feel really uncomfortable,’ she said.
‘I asked him to move away a little but he didn’t respond. So I kept quiet and prayed that my stop would come soon,’ she added. She further said it was not the first time she had faced such situations while using public transport.”
Via Liverpool Echo
Via Liverpool Echo

Liverpool Echo, “Women took to the streets of Liverpool to Reclaim the Night“

“It was the fourth year in a row that Liverpool has hosted the event, a campaign to raise awareness of womens’ right to walk free from abuse and assault on the streets.

Around 100 campaigners met outside Liverpool Town Hall and then marched past the bombed out church to the Liverpool Guild of Students for a rally…

Kate Menear, RTN Liverpool communications officer, said: ‘We’re basically just demonstrating that women have the right to walk freely at night without fear of violence. We’re campaigning against street harassment and gender violence in all its forms.’

Reclaim the night began in Leeds in 1977 inspired by Take Back the Night marches which took place in Germany the same year.”

Daily News, “Taxi and Limousine Commission puts sexual harassment rules for cabbies on hold“

“The Taxi and Limousine Commission slammed the brakes on explicit new definitions for sexual harassment on Thursday in the face of outrage from the industry.

The rule would have put specific definitions of sexual contact and sexual harassment on the books, plus a bigger $2,000 penalty for violations.

Under the new definition, hacks would have to steer clear of “any conversation related to sexual acts and sexual contact” and remarks about appearance, gender, sexual conduct or “desire to enter into any type of relationship with another person.”

But commissioners agreed to withdraw the proposed rule in order to fine tune it for next month’s meeting.

Opponents in the taxi industry argued there were too few sexual harassment or assault complaints to justify specific rules telling cabbies to keep creepy conversation to themselves.

They also feared that drivers would fall victim to false allegations.”

The Huffington Post, “14 Perfect Responses To People Who Want Harriet Tubman To Smile“

“It was announced that Harriet Tubman, an iconic “conductor” on the Underground Railroad who helped lead hundreds of other slaves to freedom, would replace former President Andrew Jackson on the front of the $20 bill. Though it’s been reported that the change may not go into effect until 2030, the idea of having a woman, especially a woman of color, on the bill sparked celebration for many people. But others weren’t so happy with — wait for it — the way Tubman’s face looked.

A quick scan on Facebook or Twitter turns up several posts from people who want Tubman to look more cheerful on the $20 bill and to smile (you know, because women should smile all the time).”

The Guardian, “Right to the city: can this growing social movement win over city officials?“

“‘We need a multitude of perspectives in participation to ensure we are building inclusive, resilient cities with social cohesion,’ says Kathryn Travers, director of Women in Cities International, who have partnered with Plan International and UN-Habitat on the programme. Enabling these girls to have a say in shaping better public spaces is critical in a context where women around the world continue to face harassment and violence in the urban realm: of the girls that the programme have worked with, 24% of them said that they never feel safe in public places. ‘It’s crucial that women and girls are consulted,’ Travers adds. ‘Gender gaps in cities lead to exclusion in public spaces. In some cities, upwards of 90% of women experience daily sexual harassment in public space.'”

The Fiji Times, “Street Harassment“

“She said constant sexist remarks such as uro, chrabi, sexy, chalega, and gandu was increasing day by day.

“The callings out from a passing vehicle, the slight passing of men’s hands on your body or the grabbing of the buttocks or breasts were forms of street harassment,” Ms Naidu said.

She said masturbating to women in public spaces, whistling and singing was also common.

“These unsolicited comments, unwanted grabbing, leering and gestures of sexual nature is something that women and girls experience daily.

“These are experienced by some as young as 14 years and boys as young as 12 years carry out such acts of street harassment.”

She said through the One Billion Rising Fiji and Take Back the Streets Fiji, advocacy and awareness campaigns had been carried out targeting this everyday form of violation of women.”

Daily Life, “Where is the line between normal behaviour and harassment?”

“Street harassment begins to look a lot more like a part of the routine objectification, oppression and social exclusion of women, LGBTIQ people, people of colour and people living with disabilities. It’s not a compliment. It is a form of violence and abuse with serious consequences. It has to stop.”

Mashable, “Comedian Jen Kirkman takes on street harassment with powerful retweets“

“Comedian Jen Kirkman turned her Twitter account into a platform for women to share their harrowing stories about street harassment on Tuesday.

Kirkman, who has 175,000 followers, has been performing in Melbourne, Australia, and said she encountered a group of men at 11 p.m. who called her a “bitch” for not answering when they said she was wearing a nice coat.

Her tweet about the incident garnered sexist responses from some men, but many women shared their sympathy and snippets of past similar experiences. It wasn’t long before Kirkman began retweeting those stories, which collectively demonstrate how street and sexual harassment are pervasive and insidious.

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Mumbi Police Tackle Holi Harassment

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Image via Wonderful Mumbai
Image via Wonderful Mumbai

The Mumbai police are taking action to help ensure women can have a safe and enjoyable Holi celebration.

Via Vagabomb:

“If you’re dreading the creeps who use Holi as an excuse to do disgusting things like throwing semen-filled balloons, condoms, eggs, forcibly applying colour on people, or simply groping them, the Mumbai Police has decided to do something very smart this year.

People who throw water balloons or colour at women on the streets can be booked for crimes against women by the Mumbai Police, which will take the strictest action against the perpetrators.

Victims of such assaults can simply take a picture of the location of the assault, and if possible, the perpetrator, and upload them to the Mumbai Police’s Twitter handle, @MumbaiPolice. They should also mention their own names. When the complaint is received, the police will deploy personnel to the location and book the person accused…

The police is afraid of people misusing the initiative and lodging false complaints, which is why they will be verifying the authenticity of each complaint, and the victim will be required to go to the police station.

This is a terrific initiative, and we request everyone in Mumbai not to misuse it. At the same time, please do not hesitate to lodge a complaint if you actually feel harassed. “Bura na maano Holi hai” is a regressive excuse to get away with harassing people.”

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