*(actual street harasser quote as per a Hollaback NYC report)
Summer is well upon us, and as a result I’ve been (as per usual) a victim of some leering and catcalling regardless of whether I’m wearing a minidress or a burlap sack. As soon as the clothes come off to beat the heat, it seems some people think they got their permission slip to yell and ogle as much as they like. I talk a mean game, but to be honest there’s times when the discomfort of someone’s comments causes me to feel vulnerable, mute and well, afraid. Case in point: after I ignored one guy’s invitation to come over and have a beer with him and his friends, he proceeded to call me an “ugly bitch.” Street harrassment may sometimes feel like a fact of life, but looks like there’s some people unwilling to accept it and willing to do something about it.
Hollaback Canada is a website that describes itself as follows: “If you are a Canadian woman who is harassed, catcalled, commented on, kissy-noised at, or otherwise bothered by men on the street, whip out your camera and snap a pic of the offending jacka**. Then email the pic, along with the location of the incident (as specific or vague as you like) and your comments, and we will post it for the world to see.”
Oh, sweet vindication. Hollaback Canada is a site that is not affiliated with the originator of this concept, Hollaback New York, but the concept is identical: embarrass the street harrassers and create a forum for women to discuss, share and protect themselves. The Canadian site is a little meager right now, so check out the NY site to get an idea of how women (and men) are working together to eliminate the problem. There’s some great testimonials from real people who want to help to empower women who have been victims of leering, inappropriate comments and even touching and groping. One lady who had her “butt touched” on a subway had this to say:
My advice to all of you? Talk it out if it ever happened to you. If you do find yourself in that situation, remember that everyone is on your side. There is no doubt that what he is doing is unlawful… let everyone know in the car who the pervert is so this won’t happen to someone else you care about.
Interestingly enough I was at the Hillside music festival last weekend and got to experience the sheer joy of stripping down without discomfort. Hillside is a haven of all sorts of eco/gender-friendliness, and when me and some girlfriends decided to change on the beach before a swim the family-friendly/queer-friendly environment meant that flashing our wares momentarily was a-okay. Many a girl that weekend wandered the grounds of the site in a bikini top or bottom without fear of harassment. I wonder if there’s a correlation between the fact that the event was as environmentally friendly as they come (composting! reusable dishes and cups!) and the fact that it was comfortable to semi-clothed? Why is it that in some scenarios showing skin seems natural, while in others (like the subway, for example) wearing a too snug turtleneck will get you a catcall and a leer?
I’m interested to hear what other readers have experienced with this issue out in their world, and whether or not you think it’s possible to eliminate this kind of harassment from our culture?
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seven comments
What happens if a harrasser sues one of the Hollabacks and wins?
Posted by Michelle
August 6, 2007, 9:51 AM
I asked this question on a blog and here's what I got as an answer from a helpful (legally trained) commenter:
"Well the picture should be fine so long as it was taken in a public place.
But if you post specific details about the identity of the person pictured, that's a gray area. I'd be careful about that if I were you. For example, you probably shouldn't post addresses, phone numbers, full names, etc.
But, truth is on your side. They can't get you for defamation if what you say is truthful.
However, even if what you say is truthful, if it encourages other people to harass or harm the person pictured, that might not be legal. Sometimes it's legal and sometimes it's not legal, usually depending on who's publishing the personal information and not on what the specific information is about.
So, be careful how you phrase things."
Hope this helps?
Posted by Stacey May
August 6, 2007, 10:28 AM
I'm incredibly glad you posted this Stacey May -- this topic occupies about an unfortunate proportion of my summertime thoughts. Because a good 15% of my outside summertime time is spent attempting to ignore or deal with unwanted attention.
I have that intangible and unfortunate quality where regardless of what I wear, how I look, where I am, I get called at, commented on, whistled, touched (or attempted touches), you name it.
CBC's summer program "Hidden City" actually briefly touched on this during this past Saturday's show. One of the segments dealt with the bubbles urban dwellers have around them, and how iPods have given women a new tool to use in creating some breathing room for themselves -- both blocking out the offending calls, and instantly making you look otherwise occupied.
I'll send in some of my experiences and how I've chosen to cope with them to Hollaback. But I am right there with you on the feeling of being mute and afraid. In my case I think that comes from feeling like other people /are not/ right there with you. That you'll be seen and treated as overreacting, paranoid etc. It has taken me a long time to decide that even if that's the case, I don't care, and would rather speed up my reaction time in turning the situation around on the harasser. The fiance actually gave me some help with perspective on that. As he said, if you confront someone who didn't do it on purpose, he'll only get angry with you if he's a jerk. And who cares if a jerk gets angry with you?
On the exact day you posted this, as a random example, I was walking down College Street and out of the corner of my eye noticed the tell-tale too-close-approach to my right. Followed by leering "heeeey", "hey you", "hey dark glasses", "hey nice pants", etc. It was hot, I was annoyed, and though I've had worse content-wise, my reaction was to turn and tell him to fuck off. To which he replied: "Be nice. It's a nice day, be nice."
Right there. That's what drives me crazy. That by asserting my space and right not to be shouted at as I am out for a walk, I am not "being nice". That somehow, in his warped little brain, I had done something wrong. That he felt the right to be indignant. It boggles the mind.
Posted by catherine
August 8, 2007, 11:25 AM
I used to get cat called a lot. These days I hardly ever get hollered at - and something that perturbs and confuses me is how every now and then that makes me question myself. I find myself thinking, "Hey, no one's violated my personal space today! Is there something wrong with me?"
In the same way, my mum talks a lot about how now that she's older and not considered sexually desirable, she feels like she's invisible and doesn't exist. At the same time I've also heard women of her age group say the same thing, but how they like being invisible, because it means they're left alone.
It's not like I ever liked being harassed on the streets! But the absence of it makes me realise how on some level, the cat calls gave me a feeling of validity or importance. I'd like to make it clear that I don't wish that people would cat call me again. What I do wish is that as a lady, my feelings of self-worth weren't so connected to whether or not I gots sex appeal.
Yah, I can work on this on my own and meditate and get to a point where I recognise my own immutable inner divinity. But I also exist in a culture where I learn daily that if I'm not nubile, I'm not noticeable.
Does anybody relate to this?
Posted by Thea
August 8, 2007, 1:23 PM
This goes along with my "Staff Shame" idea, moments when we (the Shameless ladies) catch ourselves giving into the very things we fight so hard to help others resist.
So yes Thea, I identify.
There's quite a few factors in my life right now that have caused me to reduce my femme factor, primarily because my new work from home status means that PJs are the uniform of choice and "going out on the town" means meandering over to Starbucks for a latte. My domesticated couple status also adds to a reduction in my "effort," which is a whole new shameful ball of wax.
I've reduced the daily femme and as a result feel a tad invisible on the streets. So yes, I relate.
Posted by Stacey May
August 8, 2007, 1:34 PM
Then again, femme sometimes has nothing to do with it... in high school I once got honked and hollered at while wearing a hooded yellow raincoat that came down past my knees. For all Mr. Honkypants knew I could have a dude, or eighty-five years old. Some people just like to make a hobby out of letting you know you're in public.
Posted by Anna
August 8, 2007, 2:12 PM
Yah, the connection between the way you look and how much hollering you hear does seem a little iffy. Hotness is so subjective (some people are just really into raincoats...) that it seems even more absurd that it bothers me when I don't get harassed!
Posted by Thea
August 8, 2007, 2:20 PM
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