This BBC article succinctly sums up the issue of street harassment, a type of harassment that can involve cat-calling, groping, lewd comments, verbal threats/coercion, and may escalate into violence. Every woman I know, including yours truly, has endured frequent street harassment wherever we go, not only while here at East Carolina University. Many men consider “complimenting” (i.e. honking/whistling/hissing at) a strange woman on the street to be fairly routine and flattering to her, but simply do not understand or worse, do not care that their behavior is threatening.
ihollaback.org is a website that encourages women to take pictures of street harassers with their mobile phones, or to act like they are using their phones to report/photograph these men. However, I worry that this act could bring about even more unwanted attention from street harassers, and even result in a violent attack against the woman who attempts to fight back in this manner. What do you think? Do you think that this is an effecting solution to combat street harassment, or do you advocate for the redesign of public transportation centers, as mentioned in the article? What else can be done to fight this blatant and threatening sexism?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/mobile/magazine-12771938?SThisFB
-fletcherc04
Some people might think that the statement that ‘every woman’ has endured street harassment is an overstatement, but I don’t think so…this is a reality because it is so easy for men to get away with it, and as women we often think the best way to get rid of the problem, rather than acknowledge it, is not to pay it any mind…neither of which seem to be solutions in and of themselves.
So much of it has to do with cultural perceptions of acceptability and, like the article says, the machismo of “men performing acts for men.” I’ve been harassed in the States, but when I was in France I remember calling home upset and telling my dad I didn’t want to leave my dorm without a bag over my head because it was happening up to 5 times a day by different individuals or groups of men. It is very stressful, threatening, and intimidating to know that everyone accepts that behavior as normal and bystanders won’t back you up if you’re being seriously harassed. You end up constantly hyperaware of who is around and constantly trying to calculate if you’ll be safe wherever you go.
I agree with the previous comment; I’m not confident in the efficacy of the Hollaback idea. Wearing a snappy pin or t-shirt will probably invite even more harassment. The whole point is to lower the cultural acceptability of this practice and make it less psychologically rewarding for men to participate in this behavior. BOTH genders need to be involved in solutions. So much of it has to do with the recognition that the women these men are harassing are someone’s mother, sister, daughter, etc.
I think the approaches would have to be culturally specific, but the US seems to have success with ad campaigns aired on television. I see things all the time through the Ad Council and The Foundation for a Better Life, etc. about fatherhood, marriage, etc. Why not start raising awareness by airing these ‘recognition’ messages on television channels or during shows targeted to men, or simply on basic cable during the hours when the most people (men and women) tune in? What do you think? Does this sound feasible and possibly effective, at least as a start that can be reinforced by other community groups and education programs? -Rachel Girmus
Hey Claire,
This topic is quite near and dear to me. I wrote a great paper in undergraduate about how I’ve had to endure severe harassment in the work place from male customers, and how it’s not only considered “harmless” but worse yet (like you said) a COMPLIMENT! I like the way you’ve worded it, that it’s threatening. I had never really thought to put the feeling with that word, but I think that that is the appropriate word for how it makes you feel.
I am not sure about the hollaback thing. I think that that could backfire rather easily, and again I really believe that the only way to truly curb this kind of disgusting behavior is the change the way that our *men* our socialized to behave…which I don’t see happening any time soon. Perhaps what would be better would be a mass movement of bystander intervention. I think that is other people who were witnessing these things spoke up and embarrassed the offending person, that perhaps it could start to become a less popular thing to do…