Street Harrasment

[emmelinemay]

Thanks to littleangel_103, who has brought my attention to this site, which, while being one of those horrible little frame set websites, seems to be about the exact same thing that's been getting me in a right rage lately - 'casual' street harassment.

Particularly interesting are the stories from women who have experienced it - it's the same story pretty much over and over.

It seems that somehow, a large proportion those of you with a Y chromosome seem to feel it's ok to shout and leer and approach women in the street. Well, IT'S NOT. And I'm not going to go on a big rant about why, as I've already done that once recently. As the week has gone on since I wrote that, I'm increasingly coming to the opinion that it doesn't actually matter why it is unacceptable and just plain wrong - what matters is that it is unacceptable and just plain wrong.



As bluekieran pointed out, the only way THEY (being, you know, society at large) are going to become aware of it is if it's on the front pages of the Sun (and its ilk), or covered as a storyline in a soap, or picked up by some celebrities. Of course, celebrities should know all about being hassled - but that's taken as part of the job description really. Who on earth could be a spokesperson for 'casual street harassment'?

There areone or two articles linked from the site about this issue, including this New Statesmen one.

So. Street Harassment. Is it just a 'fact of life'? 'boys will be boys'? Should women 'take it as a compliment?'

Or is it a serious indicator of how women are still viewed in society?

I've never been very interested in feminism before, or campaigning for anything really. I've got on with what I believe in in my own way, volunteering with kids, becoming vegan, trying to buy ethically. Little drops in the ocean. But this has really got me wound up, and the more I dig, the more wound up I get. I can't tackle this one in a little private way, I'll probably end either in a ditch having been attacked by a bloke I've retaliated to, or in jail, having been arrested for thumping a bloke I've retaliated to.

If more people were aware, and could accept that this is actually a very serious issue, would it make a difference? Would the 'good' Y chromosome owners take more care in how they approach women?? Would the public, witnessing a woman being the victim of street harassment, be more inclined to come to her support if the message were one of 'this is rude and ill mannered behaviour' rather than 'she's wearing a skirt, she asked for it'?

Harassment in the work place is increasingly recognised and legislated against, with high profile cases in the news on a regular basis. What about harassment, in public, by strangers? Is that somehow less hurtful, less affecting, less important than harassment in the workplace?

Why, with the enormous amount of (albeit anecdotal; and we already know that anecdote =/= singular of data) evidence out there that this is a huge, and totally endemic, problem with society, is it not MORE IMPORTANT?

Answers on a postcard.

If i start wearing dungarees, stop washing, and start singing protest songs in parks, someone please kill me. Especially if i start talking about burning my bra.

Comments

[mindygoth.livejournal.com]

And the good Y chromosome owners don't even realise how often it happens. I remember waiting to get on the tube with a co-worker (male - responsible Y-chromosome owner) and as one bloke got off and I got on, he stared straight at my tits for an obvious duration. My co-worker said "OMG did you see that? That bloke just stared straight at your tits!" - to which I replied "Yeah, happens all the time..." - Co-worker couldn't quite believe it.

Okay it's a completely minor thing compared to some of what you guys describe - but it was just interesting my co-worker had no idea that "most blokes" were like that. Personally I think the poor love was just sheltered ;p

[nyarbaggytep.livejournal.com]

Absolutely. My b/f, lovely in many ways, has had his arse grabbed twice in his life. Once in a gay bar, and once by a woman at an LRP event. He was outraged by it. I explained to him how often that had happened to me. He went very quiet and thought about it a lot. I think most blokes just aren't aware of what it's actually like walking around female.

I've had interesting conversations with transexual or transvestite people too about how differently they get treated. Some mtf trans people I've spoken with have been really shocked by how it actually feels to be treated like an object by random strangers.

[silveraj.livejournal.com]

I'm a female to male transsexual and when I go out now passing 100% as male, the harassment 'silence' is almost deafening.

I'm completely left alone by 'those sorts of' men, verbally and physically. Both in terms of my attractive face/body (now without makeup/tight clothes) and also my extreme body mods. Like it's perfectly acceptable for a guy to look like this, but it can't go uncommented on when I'm read as a girl.

It makes an enormous difference, it's an amazing relief, and only now do I realise exactly what women really go through on a daily basis compared to men.

Emmie, you've made me appreciate it a whole lot more.
xxx

[http://users.livejournal.com/_yungfuktoi_/]

There's no words to describe the security and peace I felt the first time I ventured out as a guy for the first time. It's like wearing an invisible cloak. No one pays you any mind and you can get on with things without quickening your pace, having to hail a cab, cross the street to avoid a gang of lads, etc. That's why something needs to be done about this so, so badly. How can something that directly affects half the population in a negative and harmful way NOT be addressed?

[emmelinemay.livejournal.com]

how to avoid harassment = be a man!

I guess you understand better than the other men commenting here saying 'we get hassle too' as you've been on both sides as a direct witness, and can categorically state that the shit men get and the shit women get is not the same thing. Men might get the odd yell or hassle late at night if they're dressed up, or in a club. But women are objectified as a matter of course.

Emmie, you've made me appreciate it a whole lot more.

YAY emmie did a good thing :D

But women are objectified as a matter of course.

[nyarbaggytep.livejournal.com]

Absolutely so.

YAY emmie did a good thing :D
I think so too.

[emmelinemay.livejournal.com]

yeah - i think that may be why so many of our male friends don't quite get why we make 'a fuss' about it - they really dont' realise how often it happens. We're almost desensitised to it now!