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Italy: It’s Not a Criminal Offense to Publicly Masturbate

September 8, 2016 By HKearl

Hearing about so many incidents of groping and verbal street harassment (before I even knew the term) in Italy made me change my mind about studying abroad there as a college student. If you dislike street harassment, now there’s even more reason to want to avoid going there.

Italy’s supreme court justices ruled that unless it’s done in front of a minor, public masturbation is perfectly legal — even if it is done with the clear aim of being seen by other members of the public without their permission or consent! The silver lining is it sounds like there still may be a fine for the act.

Still, since I have yet to hear about a woman publicly masturbating non-consensually at a person in a public place, I think it’s safe to say this is a good example of how laws usually benefit those in power: men.

This also reminds me of the Italian court ruling on a rape case 17 years ago. They came up with the ”denim defense” or the ”jeans alibi,” suggesting that a woman cannot be raped if she was wearing jeans because “they are impossible to remove unless she helps.”

Come on Italy, do better.

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Filed Under: News stories, street harassment Tagged With: court case, italy, laws, public masturbation

“Why do women have to go through this kind of harassment?”

April 3, 2011 By Contributor

I was traveling around France and stopped in a place outside Lyon to visit a friend. As I was waiting for a bus on the side of a road a car stopped and got near me as if to ask directions. I was new to the area, but I thought I could somehow help the driver. When I leaned near the window he was masturbating himself openly and he obviously wanted me to see it. I moved back disgusted and angry at my own kindness. I was disgusted and shocked and I told my local friend about it.

This was about 15 years ago and obviously I haven’t forgotten. At the time I didn’t think too much about it afterward, but I now think, why do women have to go through this kind of harassment? I don’t think men ever think about these things, this would never happen to them, how could they understand? It’s time to change this.

– Angeles

Location: Lyon, France

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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Filed Under: Stories, street harassment Tagged With: public masturbation, street harassment

“I was honestly so scared that I went into a safe place and shut off”

March 16, 2011 By Contributor

Last night I was going out to a club on the west side and had one of the worst harassment experiences I have ever had. I waiting for the E and I saw this guy staring at me so I moved down and thought I shook him off.

The uptown train pulled in and I was like sweet! No one on the train… I get on and he came in right after I did. He sat across from me and was looking at me all weird. He was holding his phone like he could be filming me but I was like whatever.

So the doors close and her starts rubbing his crotch and is still pointing his phone right at me. I have read posts on this site before and am so proud of the women that say something. I was petrified… I couldn’t even say anything.

Then I hear “because of traffic there are delays…etc” the train was stopped and then this guy actually pulled out his penis and jerks off. He was calling me a little slut and saying how I wanted to get laid tonight. It felt like an hour and the train started again and he kept doing it and pointing his phone right at me. I got up and stood by the door and he kept saying stuff to me. I wish I would have said something to him but I was honestly so scared that I went into a safe place and shut off.

I am so proud of the women that say something. I REALLY wish I did. On the upside… I had a great Saturday night out and don’t give a shit about that asshole

– Tanya

Location: E Train, New York City, NY

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Filed Under: Stories, street harassment Tagged With: E train, public masturbation, sexual harassment, street harassment, threats

London bus stop masturbator

September 23, 2010 By Contributor

So I’m sitting at the bus stop and this guy just starts tossing off next to me………..eeeeewwww

I froze, i didnt know what to do…then all his gunk starting flicking around…before i knew it he was gone and there was some on my coat.

– Anonymous

Location: London, UK

Share your street harassment story today and help raise awareness about the problem. Include your location and it will be added to the Street Harassment Map.

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Filed Under: Stories, street harassment Tagged With: gross, public masturbation, sexual harassment, street harassment

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