According to American campaign group Stop Street Harassment, the definition of street harassment is: Street harassment"Unwelcome words and actions by unknown persons in public places which are motivated by gender and invade a person’s physical and emotional space in a disrespectful, creepy, startling, scary, or insulting way."
According to American campaign group Stop Street Harassment, the definition of street harassment is:
“Unwelcome words and actions by unknown persons in public places which are motivated by gender and invade a person’s physical and emotional space in a disrespectful, creepy, startling, scary, or insulting way.”
In other words, street harassment comes in many forms and is, judging by comments on the Everyday Sexism Project’s twitter feed, a widespread phenomenon.
It doesn’t only include the creepy stray hand on public transport, but also the intrusive holler on the street and the lewd stare directed at you simply because you happen to be a woman.
Left Foot Forward wanted to gauge just how common the problem is. We would also appreciate comments on your personal experiences of street harassment – as well as whether or not you think the problem is getting worse.
By highlighting the extent of the problem, hopefully we can go some way to combating it, for no woman should have to suffer street harassment.
While we are aware that street harassment can affect men and women, this poll is intended for those who identify as female.
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9 Responses to “Poll: How often do you experience street harassment?”
Quirin
I don’t see it written anywhere in the article that their aim is to get the issue legislated. Apart from that, women and LGBTQI people do get sexually harassed a lot more often than men. Plus: A problem being common doesn’t mean we should just accept it and not fight against it.
privilegedmalestudent
so it is usefull and possible to change social norms without legislating, it is viewed by many people as acceptable to wolf whistle or yell at girls on the street. Changing of social norms can start by kicking up a big fuss about this issue so lets at least try that.
Beth Granter
This poll is difficult to answer because it mainly (for me) depends on what I’m wearing, and whether I’m accompanied by a man at the time. When going out in the evening, if dressed femininely, and unaccompanied by a man, I get harassed at least once in about 50% of occasions. When dressed tom-boy-ish, and unaccompanied by a man, I get harassed about 10% of those times. When accompanied by a man, I never get harassed at all.
Patrick Nelson
I have yet to know anyone privileged who calls them self Jacko unless they are a wealthy Cambridge attending mockney.
I think you probably live in a bedsit (you certainly think about them as you accuse others of living in them) and watch daytime TV whilst fantasizing yourself to be the sort of overly wealthy person who the Tories serve.
Take a look in the mirror, do you really want to get ill in a Britain with no NHS?
In most countries people live in dread of getting illnesses that go beyond the limits of their health insurance.
My wife’s family recently had to raise £40,000 to continue a cousin’s cancer treatment and it is possible the same amount again will be required. I never want to see this sort of thing in the UK, do you?