Hey baby! Women speak out against street harassment

[seabeyond]

Head down, look straight ahead. Earbuds in, volume off. Walk quickly, but with purpose. Don't make eye contact unless you need to. Look behind you every few blocks, make sure you're not being followed. Don't be obvious. It's not nighttime. You're not in a known drug zone, or the sketchy part of town. This is simply how many women steel themselves when walking down a city street in broad daylight, or even when boarding crowded public transportation. Why? Because many women, regardless of age, weight, or appearance, say they've heard something along the lines of "Hey baby, you want some of this?" or "I like what I see" or "nice ass."

*

Brittney Gilbert knows this all too well. Early September in San Francisco, a stranger on the bus she was taking to work assaulted her. "He was sitting next to me to my right and as I got up to de-board the bus I had to take a wide stance to get around him and when I did he reached up and grabbed my crotch," she remembers. Gilbert went to work, but later decided that what had happened to her should be reported. "All I wanted to do was report the crime. ... My experience from there was disappointing and surprising. I didn't expect anyone to give me a hug but I was just surprised at how difficult it was to file a report. [The policeman] didn't say to me 'You can't file a report,' he just kept questioning if that's what I wanted to do."

*

Kareem Watkins, a 26-year-old insurance claims adjustor said: "A lot of times it's like pressure amongst men to like, you know, put on a show in front of each other. And kinda humiliate women sometimes ... We're raised to objectify women because we live in a TV world."

Watkins and his friend Jay Woods also put the onus on women for inviting commentary with their style of dress. "Did her mom tell her how to wear that? It's all about how you're raised," said Woods. And while neither of them could explain how a woman might command more respect while walking down the street, both did agree: "Women get treated the way they allow themselves to get treated." But for Marcus Jeffries, a 25-year-old student, catcalling is more about biology: "Men prey on women, unfortunately, because women [have] things that men want." His friend Tyrone Evans said it "makes you look like a pervert ... like [you've] never seen a woman before."

Jared Ripps, 39, says he's never even considered catcalling a woman. Why? "I have a sister and I wouldn't want people doing that to her," he said.

http://www.cnn.com/2012/10/06/living/street-harassment/index.html?hpt=hp_c2




we have talked about it. probably exhaustively. but, the reason i am putting this up is because it is on cnn. not just a "little" group of radfems that seem to allow any given subject dismissed so easily.

crispy reminded me about this video and watched again. for those who have not seen it.

[redqueen]

1. "We're raised to objectify women because we live in a TV world."

Whaaaat? Objectify women? What is he talking about? Does he treat them like furniture? There's no such thing as objectification!!!11!!! It's all nonsense made up by sex-negative, bitter old prude women who are just not enjoying good healthy sex lives!



Seriously though, so tired of victim blaming. Those comments that out the onus on women are the same rationalizations and apologia for bullying that we've seen for decades. It's outrageous that anyone accepts that kind of tortured logic anymore.

Lt. Stubkjaer of the San Diego Sheriff's Department recommended that in order to prevent harassment, women might choose to walk with a friend or in groups, and practice "basic personal safety protocols." But some women would argue that they should be able to travel independently.

What a radical concept!

[seabeyond]

2. pressure amongst men ... put on a show in front of each other. ... humiliate women sometimes

this is the reality. this is what SOME men will refuse to admit that we all know. this guy was honest. this is what women and girls feel. it is what they are meant to feel. and for any man to pretend otherwise makes them a misogynist. not just the simple sexist... who is merely ignorant. but full blown misogyny.

i am so fuckin tired of people pretending it is anything else.

[seabeyond]

3. as i said though... the purpose of OP is cnn and women all over the world. not just the

evil radfems of du.

and really redq, there is no way i can take anyoen seriously when they pretend objectification is made up. the are beyond serious consideration.

[redqueen]

4. Any thinking person realizes it's not just the evil radfems who care and are concerned

about these issues. But it serves some to pretend otherwise (as with the insistence that objectification isn't real).

It really is a good piece, though I wish they'd have addressed the problems with the victim blamers' quotes. Thanks for posting it.

[ismnotwasm]

5. No shit!

What's also bad is the 'mugger' analogy i.e. "men take a chance getting mugged or robbed walking down the street---like its the same thing. I've seen that argument at DU and other places.

Yeah right, that's why men are driven to form 'take back the night' marches, (although to be fair some of those marches are for the community of all) have organizations like hollerback, are driven to the desperation of slutwalks. Why the largely female nursing population where I work is offered security escorts to parking lots late at night. And so much more women do to try to be safe simply walking down the street. Pepperspray, mace, tazers, classes in self defense. They tell us not to carry weapons that can be taken and used against us. And thats off the top of my head. What we do to keep ourselves safe could be its own thread. and rape statistics, and sexual harassment are Still out of control. I mean WTF? Don't these objectification denying idiots see a pattern here?

I remember being told by a friend the best thing to do if I was being raped is memorize every thing I could about the rapist--so he could be identified and brought to justice. Ha!

Bullshit. I fought like a motherfucker and got away. Even so it was luck, not skill.