Making Public Spaces Safe and Welcoming
As a follow up to the post “Hear from Egyptian Activists,” which linked to an audio clip on the BBC website about Egyptian women fighting street harassment, the BBC recently posted this video on the same topic. In fact, as far as I can tell the text is identical, but the visuals make it worth hearing again.
[note: I’ve tried unsuccessfully to embed the video clip, so please follow the link to see it]
Stories:
In Toronto, a contributor tells how she got two men kicked out of a restaurant for groping another customer.
As mentioned last week, since April 26, HollaBack NYC has been posting one photo a day of street harassers. They will continue to do so for a month. All of the photos are being submitted by one woman, Sally N., a New York City resident. Emily at HollaBack NYC says, “We believe these pictures tell the story of what it’s like to be a woman in the big apple.” Visit HollaBack NYC to see these photos.
For a new international perspective, read some of the new street harassment stories in Mauritius.
At Holla Back DC, a contributor tells how she was walking to meet friends and a man asked her how much for her body… (Ugh!)
Website Launch:
The anti-street harassment website in Mauritius (near South Africa) officially launched this week!
In the News:
Oh, street harassment, truly you are a global problem. Additional proof: the Stop Violence Against Women group of Amnesty International Mauritius Section recently has launched an anti-street harassment blog as part of its anti-street harassment campaign in Mauritius.
Where is Mauritius, you may ask? It’s an island located in the Indian Ocean near the island of Madagasca and South Africa. It is 11 times the size of Washington, DC. And wouldn’t you know it? Apparently street harassment is a big problem there.
From their blog: “From inappropriate touching to invasive comments to stalking, street harassment is something that far too many Mauritians have to face on a daily basis. Causing fear, guilt, and frustration, these behaviors define women and girls as non-citizens, disrupting their access to freedom, independence and human rights.”
“Posting a story here will help other targets realize they aren’t alone and have nothing to be ashamed of. It will show harassers that we don’t accept their inappropriate and degrading behavior.”
“The members of the SVAW group thank you for participating in this blog. Whether it’s by reading, contributing or commenting, you are helping to make the streets of Mauritius a safer place.”
So spread the word about this new blog and learn more about street harassment in Mauritius by reading contributor’s stories there.
Stories:
A contributor on Holla Back DC wrote about getting harassed by a UPS employee. She reported him and received support from the person she spoke to at UPS.
HollaBack Toronto reported that two men abducted and sexually assaulted a young woman in the Younge St-Davisville Road area earlier in the week. Visit their site to learn more — anyone with information can call Crime Stoppers at 416-222-8477.
Reports:
MBTA released information about their sexual harassment campaign on their subway system (the T) in Boston. They feel it’s been successful in raising awareness about how to deal with the problem as groping complaints went up 74 perecent from the previous year and police arrested 24 people for indecent assault and battery (up 85 percent from the year before).
Upcoming Events:
April 29: Holla Back DC‘s Official Blog Launch Party, 6 – 8 p.m. at Cafe Citron
May 2: Girls for Gender Equity’s “Hey…Shorty!” documentary will be featured at the 8th Annual Women of African Descent Film Festival at 11 a.m., in the Spike Lee Screening Room of Long Island University, Brooklyn Campus in New York. Cost: free
This harassment is easy to stop. Hit them where it hurts – in the paycheck. Remember, most people have a boss.
In the early ’80’s at an ivy league college (I was a lecturer, not a student) I was harassed when my daily route took me past a university construction site. As a physics/chemistry student in the ’60’s, I’d had it with harassment.
I took note of date, time, place, exact occurrence, and the fact that I felt demeaned and unsafe (that is very important). I noted the name of the contractor (usually posted on a sign at the site). I then went to talk to the head of Buildings and Grounds for the university, the people who let the contracts for buildings, and told him of the incidents. I made it clear that I was determined to put an end to this for myself and female students. I had to go no further, the harassment came to an immediate halt.
If you go to the boss and get no help, or are dismissed, go to their boss, and keep going up the chain. You will eventually find someone who realizes this could cost him $.
Discuss the behavior in terms of what it is: men who feel powerless trying to exert some power.
If the problem is men on the street, non workers, the only option is to go to the police with the same data and stress that you feel unsafe and threatened. If the police dismiss you, keep working up the chain of command. The police ultimately work for you and the community.
Find out what laws are on the books in your community and get them enforced.
Any effort you put in will be worthwhile in your feeling of power and of helping other women. I still remember walking past those guys at the university construction site immediately after my meeting noted above – they silently looked at me; they were now fearful of saying a word. In a few days we women passing by were simply ignored, just like the men passing by.
-KT