An emerging idea is that flattering words — even saying “Have a nice evening” — are a form of abuse called “street harassment“:
A 24-year-old aspiring actress has been filmed being catcalled 108 times as she strolled around New York City – even though she was wearing a plain T-shirt, jeans and sneakers.
Shoshana Roberts, a graduate of Kutztown University in Pennsylvania, was captured on a hidden camera by her friend, Rob Bliss, as she walked through the city’s streets.
Over a ten-hour period, she was pelted with dozens of unsolicited comments, including: ‘What’s up beautiful?’, ‘Hey baby’, ‘Smile’ and ‘Have a nice evening darling’.
She was even followed by some men for several minutes, with one repeatedly asking her: ‘You don’t wanna talk? Because I’m ugly?’ Others winked at her, whistled and made inappropriate noises.
The shocking video, filmed in August, was later posted on YouTube and Facebook by Miss Roberts, who describes herself as ‘a New York City-based actress with a black belt’.
Alongside the clip, Miss Roberts wrote: ‘This happens daily to so many people. We don’t put up with harassment in school, at home, or at work, so why should we have to put up with it on the street?’
She added: ‘Everyone has a right to feel safe.’
Really? That’s a fascinating “right.”
What constitutes harassment, anyway?
I don’t like it when strangers ask me for money on the street. I for one would prefer to be complimented on my physical appearance, and although such days are long in the past, I used to enjoy compliments, and even (horror of horrors!) the occasional sexually suggestive remark. I find it less irritating and threatening to be solicited for sex than for money.
But asking people for money is considered constitutionally protected behavior, while what they call “street harassment” is being called a “gateway crime”:
Street harassment is a gateway crime that makes other forms of gender-based violence OK. Studies conducted show that between 80-90% of women have been harassed in public. With legal recourse to address school and workplace harassment, streets remain one of the final frontiers in addressing and affirming basic, guaranteed civil rights.
Comments range from “you’d look good on me,” to groping, public masturbation, and worse. These “compliments” aren’t about sex or about chivalry. They are about power.
In the old days, women would simply haul off and punch a guy who got “fresh.” Now the activists want crude remarks to be criminalized, and the laws changed to enable women to sue railroads, transit authorities, and bus lines when a passenger tells another passenger she is beautiful or to have a nice evening. The list of possible offenses includes “leering” (a.k.a. the “male gaze“).
Where’s my right to feel safe?
Comments
7 responses to ““Everyone has a right to feel safe.””
No, in the old days we didn’t haul off and paste someone who harassed us; we put our heads down and moved away from the creep.
I agree that the term ‘street harassment’ is used far too casually, but it does happen, like someone blocking the sidewalk or the doorway of a store and demanding money. Many cities have laws making ‘aggressive panhandling’ a crime, like someone threatening you with violence if you don’t give him a ‘donation.’ Aggressive panhandlers are arrested every day at tourist destinations like Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco.
No one has a right to not be offended.
freedom of speech except for the guy holding up sign in front of gov. christy who was taken away by “security.”
It is all about equal rights. Women want to be equal to men. Except when it is inconvenient.
when women have become equal to men we will see.
You are a creepy old man.
In the old days, women would simply haul off and punch a guy who got “fresh.”
Yeah. Sure.