Stop Street Harassment

Making Public Spaces Safe and Welcoming

Togo’s: Reconsider your ad trivializing street harassment

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Two weeks ago, Dr. Wendy Stock wrote a guest blog post about an offensive ad for Togo’s sandwich shop. The ad trivializes street harassment and and the way some men flash women just to scare or upset them. Dr. Stock did more than just write a blog post, she wrote to Togo’s to let them know that she isn’t okay with the ad.

Here is Dr. Stock’s letter, you can contact them, too (I just did!):

Sent to Togos, 11/5/11

This regards your new TV ad featuring a cartoon sandwich that flashes two cartoon women.  Please forward this info to Renae Scott, your VP of marketing. This so-called “edgy” approach is not innocuous – it trivializes the fear women feel from street harassment, including flashers (exhibitionists). Thirty percent of exhibitionists also commit acts of direct sexual violence against women. Making this a humorous subject wears down women’s ability to object, resist, and to stand up to this form of sexual harassment.

Here is the link to the study reporting the 30 percent figure: http://www.jaapl.org/content/34/3/349.full.  I have posted a blog online about your ad, having received no response to my initial email to Togo ‘s or my phone call earlier this week.  I encourage you to reconsider airing this ad.

Sincerely,

Wendy Stock, Ph.D.

This time Togo’s did respond:

Dear Wendy,

Thank you for contacting Togo’s.

We wanted to make sure you knew that we received your comment regarding our recent TV commercial. It is never our intention to offend anyone.  Our spot was meant to be fun and quirky and to make fun of sandwiches that are all bread and no meat.  I will make sure our Marketing team hears your concerns. I truly appreciate your feedback and will pass it along to our Brand Marketing team.

Sincerely,

Leslie Lopez

Dissatisifed with that response, Dr. Stock plans to send her letter to the local San Francisco (CA) Bay Area station, KTVU, that carries the Togo’s ad.

Here is information if you would like to do so as well:

KTVU is owned by Cox Media Group: KTVU, virtual channel 2 (digital channel 44), is the Fox-affiliated television station serving the San Francisco Bay Area. Licensed to Oakland, California, the station has been owned by Atlanta-based Cox Enterprises since 1964, making it the largest Fox affiliate by market size that is not owned and operated by the network.

KTVU sales contact and KTVU general manager:
Corporate Headquarters:
Cox Media Group
6205 Peachtree Dunwoody Rd.
Atlanta, GA 30328
Phone: (678) 645-0000
Fax: (678) 645-5002

The media is powerful and the images we see on tv, the images that children see, influence behavior and influence what we come to think of as okay behavior.  It’s important that we hold them accountable when offensive behavior is made to see funny or normal.

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Togo’s Restaurant Trivializes Street Harassment

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Togo’s fast food chain has launched a new television ad, a cartoon animation featuring a sandwich that flashes two women. The women look horrified initially, and then start laughing, purportedly at the small size of the sandwich’s contents. The voice over says, “Don’t settle for puny…” and then goes on to tout their new sandwich.

“The commercial takes an edgy approach to comparing the short comings of a Breadwich to Togo’s big and meaty sandwiches,” said Renae Scott, Togo’s VP of marketing.

However, this so-called “edgy” approach is not innocuous – it trivializes the fear women feel from street harassment, including flashers (exhibitionists). Thirty percent of exhibitionists also commit acts of direct sexual violence against women. While the clay women in the commercial laughed it off, making this a humorous subject wears down many real women’s ability to object, resist, and to stand up to this form of sexual harassment.

Let Togo’s know that you object to this ad!

Visit  Togo’s website to write and send an email through their online form. You can also call: (866) 708-6467. If more contact information becomes available, this will be updated.

This guest blog post is by Wendy Stock, Ph.D., a feminist psychologist in independent practice in Berkeley, CA.  She specializes in treating sexual problems, Internet and pornography addiction, relationship issues, and PTSD resulting from physical and sexual trauma.

[Editor’s Note: This ad also hurts men because of the way it suggests that some men, or sandwiches in this case, are too puny to be desirable. That’s not ok.]

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Blog post leads to arrest of subway groper

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Sharing our stories helps us feel better, makes us feel less alone, raises awareness about street harassment, and sometimes can lead to concrete action.

The Washington Post recently reported that police arrested a man who was inappropriately touching women on trains after one woman posted an account on the blog Unstuck DC Metro. She said the man stood behind her, rubbing against her twice.

Via The WaPo:

“The man took the yellow line from L-Enfant to Pentagon and rode the last car… An undercover Metro police officer who read the account decided to pursue the tip.

The woman’s detailed description of the man including his glasses and watch helped officers catch him engaging in the same behavior. The man was arrested Wednesday and charged with assault and battery.

Transit police are asking any other victims to call them at 301-955-5000.”

A lot of the harassment that happens in public places is legal, but actions like groping, rubbing against someone sexually, flashing, and public masturbation are illegal. If you have the time and energy, consider reporting such acts, especially since these people tend to be repeat offenders, just as the man in this incident was.

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“I have been flashed, groped, had disgusting verbal abuse shouted at me.”

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I have been flashed, groped, had disgusting verbal abuse shouted at me. Whistling and kissing noises are not as threatening as someone actually in your personal space or threatening you with sexual violence.

Having read this blog these menaces are more of a problem than I thought. I have often been tempted to shout back or even throw a straight right but I am too scared and instead ignore the culprits rather than risk even more abuse.

– Anonymous

Location: Lewisham Way, Deptford Broadway, Norwood Junction, Various SE London

Share your street harassment story today and help raise awareness about the problem. Find suggestions for what YOU can do about this human rights issue.

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