France Passed New Laws On Street Harassment, Days After A Video Of A Woman Being Attacked By A Catca

[demmiblue]

Catcallers in France now face on-the-spot fines of up to $870 under the law, which has been in the works for months.

Politicians in France have voted to approve a new law that imposes on-the-spot fines for sexual harassment in public places.

Catcallers on the streets and public transport in France can now be fined up to 750 euros (around $870).

The law — which has been in the works for months — being passed comes days after a video of a young woman being attacked by a man who sexually harassed her outside a cafe went massively viral and outraged France.

Marie Laguerre was walking home from work in northeast Paris last month when she says a man started making obscene comments and noises at her.

https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/matthewchampion/france-catcall-video?bftwnews&utm_term=4ldqpgc#4ldqpgc

[Aristus]

1. Thank you, France!

Over here, lawmakers would be saying: "Did you see what she was wearing? Did you see what she was wearing? Why was she wearing that? Why was she walking around in that neighborhood? Why should we penalize that guy? Wouldn't it ruin his life?"

[janterry]

2. They passed the law in just days

wow.

Even if we had a law in the works for months.....would it ever get passed?

[jberryhill]

6. It would be difficult to draft a constitutional law to such an effect in the US

Defined generally, it would be unconstitutionally vague. Defined specifically, it would leave a lot of room for avoiding particular expressions.

The general proposition is to make it a criminal offense to say "_____________________" to someone in public. Fill in the blank with the illegal speech.

[janterry]

7. You are right

of course.

But 2 years ago, when my daughter was still 13 - we did a lot of walking around town (waiting for my car to be fixed and waiting to move back up north).

She was horrified. It reminded me of what it feels like. Cars honked - I mean, six or seven in an hour. She's cute, but in the same way that every 13 year old was/is cute.

She walked on the inside (away from traffic) - with me, her middle aged mother - near the cars. She looked down at the ground, not sure what to do. She changed how she dressed (not because how you dress is a problem.....but the comments! It was really awful).

Those kinds of comments are harassment and make girls (and women) uncomfortable in their bodies, in the way they carry themselves in the world. They aren't meant to compliment, but to subjugate. And.....fwiw, they have their intended effect

[Demovictory9]

3. did they catch the guy?

[Crutchez_CuiBono]

4. The dude who grabbed the chair was ready to throttle him.

[Corvo Bianco]

5. With 90% public backing???

This lifts my spirits re: women's rights significantly. Catch up USA