Stop Street Harassment

Making Public Spaces Safe and Welcoming

Today’s Events – April 14

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Virtual Events:

More than organizations from 15 different countries will be hosting an all-day Tweetathon about street harassment in various regions across the world, in various languages. Use #EndSH to join!

 

International Events:

Bahamas: Hollaback! Bahamas is issuing a press release to celebrate our one year anniversary, talking about Int’l ASHW, and announcing the STARR Initiative, their new our safe space program.

Colombia: OCAC Colombia has  prepared a tizatón to claim that street belongs to everyone. Meet us at the Río Arzobispo, diagonal 40A con carrera 19 | MARTES 14 DE ABRIL – 3PM. NOS TOMAMOS LAS CALLES. Preparamos una tizatón para reivindicar que la calle es de todas y todos. Nos encontraremos en el río Arzobispo, en la diagonal 40A con carrera 19

France: Stop Harcelement de Rue will be going in subway and suburban trains, and a Paris train station in order to distribute flyers and to sensitize people to all the types of violence women have to go through in transports. During these events, they will be wearing a super-hero costume as the “Team Zero Relou” (no streetharassers team)! [7:45pm in the RER A, a suburban train in Paris]

France: Stop Harcelement de Rue – Lyon will be distributing leaflets  [7 pm. Location in the Vaise subway station]

Nepal: Hollaback! Kathmandu will be doing a Mens Pledge at Patan Durbar Square. They will gather as many men and boys as they can to sign the pledge saying that “I say no to street harassment.” [1pm at Patan Durbar Square]

Netherlands: Hollaback! Amsterdam will be launching their brand-new chapter! Join them for their launch party! [The Doelenzaal room at the University of Amsterdam, Universiteitsbibliotheek, Singel 425, 6:30-8:30 pm]

United Kingdom: Hollaback! Nottingham is holding a Zine Workshop! The street harassment workshop will be followed by a zine making working. Expect collaging, typewriter, scribbling, doodles, thoughts, memories, experiences, stories! This is a mixed event and all are welcome. [6pm, Nottingham Women’s Centre, 30 Chaucer Street, Nottingham, UK]

 

USA Events:

Illinois: Volunteers at the University of Illinois Champagne-Urbana campus will be chalking the Quad with anti-street harassment messaging (led by Illini Art Therapy Association). [12:30pm, Main Quad]

Massachusetts: “Street Harassment is Not a Game” street action, hosted by Safe Hub Collective in Boston. “We invite women, people of color, trans and gender non-conforming people, queer folks, and disabled people to bring their jump ropes, balls, sidewalk chalk, and favorite playground songs to send the message that *street harassment is not a game*. It is violence. And it is hurtful.” [5 p.m., Boston Common] INFO.

Nebraska: The sociology, queer alliance and radical notion clubs at Hastings College will be holding an “Out in the Night” screening and panel.

Pennsylvania: Susquehanna University’s Women’s Studies Program will be hosting a Chalk Walk! Chalk the Walk 2015 encourages students, faculty, and staff to write anti-street harassment messages on the walk using sidewalk chalk. This year’s event marks Susquehanna’s third year participating in this international week of activism. [12 – 1 p.m. at 514 University Avenue Selinsgrove, PA, 17870] INFO

Washington D.C:  Zerlina Maxwell will be speaking about campus sexual assault, rape culture and feminist leadership. [7pm in the Healy Family Student Center, Georgetown University, with chalking at 6pm]

 

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Afghanistan: Invisible Wounds

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Guest Blog Post for International Anti-Street Harassment Week 2015

All women have the right to exit their homes without fear. Nothing justifies street harassment.

Being harassed in public is a type of humiliation most women are familiar with. Many have felt the weight of its trauma on their shoulders every day. All the while, the majority of men are unaware of the social, mental and physical impact of street harassment on women.

For many, being harassed is so belittling that they don’t dare talk about it fearing being blamed for it. Many women in Afghanistan don’t speak because they are afraid they will lose the few freedoms they have if they admit to the existence of this issue. This is not a rare occurrence.

Here, in Afghanistan, especially in big cities, the vast majority of women face verbal and physical harassment. No group of women- old, young, hejabed, non-hejabed, burqa-wearing, student, teenaged- are spared. Few women don’t carry the invisible wounds of trauma that harassment has inflicted upon them.

I too am one of the millions of women around the world who has had scary experiences with harassment. They hurt my spirit and torture me and I can’t forget them.

One of the freshest wounds is from a few days ago. A friend and I were walking home from the university and busy discussing our lessons. We were so warmed up that, unlike usual, we did not notice the lustful looks and comments of the men around us.

Suddenly, someone forcefully hit my friend’s leg. She screamed and hit the attacker with her books. We realized he was an old man. We were both shocked and scared. My entire body was shaking. I didn’t know what to say. My friend’s screaming gathered a crowd around us. She was angry, shaking and cursing. I held her hand and pulled her away from the crowd. One of the men had begun hitting the man who touched my friend.

Startled, we had forgotten what we were talking about. We were close to bursting into tears for being belittled publicly. I felt tiny. My friend looked at me and said, “This is Afghanistan. You can’t expect more than this.”

I didn’t know where to dump the flood of pain I felt as a woman who has been denied the bare minimum safety to go to school. How could I become a shoulder for my friend and relief her pain? I looked ahead and stared at the cloud that was swallowing the sun. I held my friend’s hand harder. We walked home in silence with the weight of hatred pulling us to the ground.

I felt terrible. All night I thought about what happened. The more I thought, the more it made me sick to my stomach because this wasn’t the first time I had witnessed, experienced or heard about street harassment.

One after another, my experiences populated by mind. I remembered every detail. I could not forget.

Deh Afghanan Bazaar, crowded streets and the man who had forcefully pushed his body against a young girl’s and then ran away. The girl had run behind him, screaming, cursing.

I had just hit puberty. I did not understand all this, but slowly I had begun to hear words of caution from older girls at school.

“When you go to bazaar walk when one hand in front of you and another in the back so that no one can touch you,” they said. I had gotten confused and terrified. Until I finished school, I had been fearful of crowded spaces and tried to avoid them.

I remember my friend’s tearful eyes who told me of the fear she felt when a man on a motorcycle had stopped her and pulled her scarf away from her head. She was swallowing her tears as she spoke.

I know a taxi driver who tried to abduct a female university student and drove through a crowded street full of cars.

I remember the day one of my female students came to class angry. She hit her books against the desk and cursed “all those who can’t shut their mouths.” She had asked her harassers if they didn’t have mothers or sisters of their own that they were harassing someone else’s sister and mother. They had told her they had mothers and sisters. Not wives.

Her pride was hurt, but perhaps in this world pride is a privilege we only allow for men.

I cannot forget the faces, whistles and words of my fellow university classmates at the academic setting of the university, where we are all supposed to be safe.

I cannot forget these memories. Many people don’t know that it is not just suicide attacks that cause mental issues in our societies. Lack of security, fear that someone will touch and violate your body, or verbally harass you can also cause you mental unrest and pain.

….but forgetting these stories is the only option. In this world, where many fathers don’t see their daughters as humans and brothers their sisters, what can one expect of strangers.

Poster text: All women have the right to exit their homes without fear. Nothing justifies street harassment. 

Wahida Mehrpoor, Dukhtarane Rabia (Daughters of Rabia): A blog on social justice in Afghanistan

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Today’s Events – April 12

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It’s the first day of Meet Us On the Street: International Anti-Street Harassment Week, and we already have so much going on!

Virtual Events:

Please join Young Feminists and Allies, the National Organization for Women’s First Virtual Chapter, and Stop Street Harassment for a Google Hangout about Street Harassment from a multicultural perspective.

Holly Kearl, founder of International Anti-Street-Harassment Week, will moderate three brave women with diverse backgrounds as they discuss the similarities and differences in the ways they experience street harassment.

* Kasumi Hirokawa: TCK and trilingual feminist from Shanghai who currently lives in Japan

* MorningStar Angeline: Native American and Latina actress who lived in both the Southwest and West Coast of America

* Muneera Hassan: Bangladeshi-American, Muslim, college student from Boston currently living in Northern VA who wears hijab

There will be a Q&A section, so please send us your questions in advance or during the event at youngfeminists at gmail dot com or Tweet at at @nowyoungfems and please use the #EndSH hashtag.

International Events:

Cameroon: Young Women for a Change, Cameroon is holding a dialogue in Beau with youth and adolescents to address the different forms of Street harassment facing women and girls and how to intervene. [April 12]

Canada (Vancouver): Hollaback! Vancouver will be debuting their interactive campaign and art show “What’s Your Number?” It will enable people to record the frequency and emotions involved with street harassment for 24 hours. Clickers (or counters) will be distributed to initial participants along with a blank notebook. For 24 hours, they will click twice for direct street harassment, and once for an indirect impact. At the end of the 24 hours, the clickee is encouraged to creatively express the experience in the notebook provided through mediums like poetry, illustration or essaying before they’re passed on to the next one. At the end of the week, the notebooks will be collected by the Hollaback Vancouver team for compilation. In order to showcase the process behind What’s Your Number?, the art show will be a free event extended to the community at-large. Part education, part creative and part party, this night will get everyone together in a comfortable space to talk about the effects of street harassment and – most importantly – what can be done. [Campaign kicks of all over the city on April 12th, with the Artshow / wrap up party taking place April 30th 436 Columbia St Vancouver BC 7-11 pm]

Colombia: OCAC Colombia  is hosting SUNDAY, APRIL 12 – 9:00 a.m.: STOP THE STREET HARASSMENT: We will be in the Sunday’s Bikeway and we will will cross cycling the 7th Avenue from Plaza Bolivar to the National Park | DOMINGO 12 DE ABRIL – 9 AM. ALTO AL ACOSO. Estaremos en la Ciclovía y haremos un recorrido por la carrera séptima desde la Plaza de Bolívar hasta el Parque Nacional

Nepal: Hollaback! Kathmandu will be hosting a Stand Up Against Street Harassment event, displaying charts and boards that say street harassment is not okay. They will also be interacting with the local people about what the campaign is and what they can do to respond to street harassment and stop it. [April 12, 3-5pm at Basantapur]

USA Events:

Iowa: Hollaback! Des Moines is hosting their 3rd Annual Chalk Walk to End Street Harassment. [April 12, 1 pm at the Pappajohn Education Center]. Can’t be there in person? Sometime during the week of April 12-18, go back to a street where you experienced harassment. Reclaim that space by writing an empowering message; then take a picture and send it to them at dsm@ihollaback.org! They will post all the photos to their blog after the event.

Pennsylvania: FAAN Mail will be kicking off EndSHWeek with their 5th annual rally and community engagement event. [April 12, 2-5pm at Love Park, Philadelphia]

Virginia: Hollaback! RVA is hosting a Bystander Workshop discussing and presenting on how bystander intervention and street harassment intersect. They will provide “swag bags” and snacks to participants! [Richmond, April 12, time and place TBA]

Plus, some of our groups got an early start on things and hosted these fabulous events on Saturday, April 11th:

Bahamas: Hollaback! Bahamas hosted a meditation and stress relief workshop with the World Peace Initiative.

United Kingdom: Rape & Sexual Abuse Support Centre hosted street action focused on victim-blaming and rape culture (#ThisDoesn’tMeanYes) at Braithwait Tunnel, Braithwaite Street, London.

South Korea: Rok Gi Yeon Promotions hosted “Ladies Night Vol. 2,” a benefit concert to support the charity Disruptive Voices, in Seoul. Find the Facebook event here.

Pakistan: No to Harassment hosted a fabulous panel and discussion about how a woman is #notanobject.

New York: Hollaback! hosted the annual NYC Anti-Street Harassment Rally! The event featured local activists and speakers and include da series of workshops for folks to learn more and take action against street harassment. It also featured Hollaback!’s famous 12 foot inflatable #catagainstcatcalling cat.

Pennsylvania: University of Scranton is hosted a SHARE (Street Harassment Awareness Response and Education) Fair.

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10 Ways Individuals Can Join #EndSHWeek

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It can be hard to find your place in a movement when you’re not part of a bigger group or organization. At Stop Street Harassment, however, we value the participation of everyone, whether you’re a giant international nonprofit or just one person in a small town. And International Anti-Street Harassment Week is the perfect time to start getting involved. Here are some things you can do as an individual:

1)    Learn more – It’s cliché, but true: change starts with you. Are you curious about street harassment, but don’t really understand why it’s a big deal? Do you know your friends would ask questions if you started talking about it? Take a little time to look through our resources and toolkits, and you’ll be prepared to start a conversation wherever you go!

2)    Talk about it – This is probably the simplest thing you can do, but always important. Post your thoughts and opinions to Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram with the hashtags #EndSHWeek or #streetharassment. We want to hear from you! Don’t forget to change your profile picture or cover photo with one of our great graphics.  You can also participate in one of our many tweetchats and Google hang-outs scheduled throughout the week!

3)    Cover your neighborhood – Help yourself to our extensive collection of graphics and posters, in various languages. Print them out, hang them in coffee shops, libraries, telephone poles, or hand them out. Girls Speak has also developed an awesome series of posters and infographics meant for posting in public spaces – post and then share them with @GrlsSpeak and @NoStHarassWeek. Another easy way to get involved is to arm yourself with sidewalk chalk and cover the streets in positive or anti-harassment messages.

4)    Write it out – We know you have something important to say. Our movement is dedicated to sharing a wide variety of voices and perspectives – and that includes you! If you’re interested in writing a guest post, send it over to submit it here for consideration. Are you serious about getting your op-ed published in a paper? The first three submitted will receive complimentary editing and advice from our founder Holly Kearl. Also consider writing a letter to the editor at your local newspaper, independent or college publications, posting on your blog or social media and more. Join our virtual Write-In to receive daily writing prompts and tips on getting published!

5)    Join International Wheat Pasting Night – By now, many of us have seen and fallen in love with artist Tatyana Falalizadeh’s compelling Stop Telling Women to Smile images. On April 17th, she will be making these posters available to anyone who wants to participate by hanging them in their own towns! Stay tuned for more details on this.

6)    Join a local organization – Did you know that over 100 organizations in 30 countries are partnering up with us this year? Peruse our list and find someone in your area! Shoot them an email and consider showing up to an event or meeting. Are you a student? Reach out to a like-minded student club (feminist, womanist, LGBTQI+, social justice, etc.) and ask them if they’re involved with Anti-Street Harassment Week. If they’re not, give them some pointers on what they can do! Need help finding a group near you? Email bpurdy@stopstreetharassment.org and we’ll help you out.

7)    Create art – We think art is one of the most powerful tools in creating social change. Whether you’re painting a mural in the middle of town or sketching something out in your bedroom, we would love it if you shared with us so we can help you inspire others!

8)    Start your own organization – You’ll be surprised how many people are just looking for someone to start something. Start a campus club, meet with people at a downtown coffee shop, join together other people in your profession – whatever works for you. You know your town best – you’re the best person to make a change! Be sure to refer #2 to find tools that will help you start up.

9)    Join us year-round! – We’re a volunteer-driven organization, meaning we’re always in need of enthusiastic volunteers. If April is an especially crazy month for you, check out this list of ways you can get involved with Stop Street Harassment!

10) Donate – This is last on our list for a reason. We aren’t in this to make money – Anti-Street Harassment Week is about action, not dollar bills. However, we know that this is how some people prefer to help out. Your donation will help fund much-needed things like our website update and Safe Public Spaces Mentoring Program.

 

Questions? Email bpurdy@stopstreetharassment.org!

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