How to deal with Street Harassment?
The Stop Street Harassment commissioned a national survey of 2000 people in the USA in the year 2014 which found that 65% of all women had experienced street harassment. 23% of them had been sexually touched, 20% were followed and the rest 2% were forced to be sexual. Another research by iHollaback and Cornell University reported that 84% of women have been catcalled by the time they reach the age of 17 and 13% are exposed to catcalling by the age of 10. What do all these stats speak?
Harassment on streets has become so common around the world. Teasing, catcalling, groping in public and stalking are some ways people harass men and women. When a woman crosses a street, hundreds of people watch her, but some people make obnoxious comments on how they look. Some people believe that these comments are compliments, but they do not understand that it is very disrespectful for a woman. No woman or man enjoys comments that are sexual in nature. These calls are offensive and why won’t they be? Why would anybody listen to what some stranger has to say about them or thinks about them? Actually, these comments are made from the perspective that the person will get an opportunity to get sexual with the person they comment about. These people will never be successful and yet they keep trying. The most common form of harassment is catcalling. Before we delve into what exactly is catcalling, let’s look at a classic example to understand the situation!
What Is Catcalling?
A catcall is a loud whistle or a comment of sexual nature. Comments like “baby,” “princess,” making kissing sounds, singing songs are catcalling. A woman is stared at and men make vulgar signs that disrespect a woman. Men feel entitled to comment on a woman’s body. They think they own the woman’s body and by making such unacceptable comments, they think they can get closer. A woman is never asked about how she feels about this and women bear this treatment almost every day and all day long at work, on the streets, and in the public transports. A woman cannot feel safe traveling alone or walk alone even around the corner of their houses. A woman should feel safe around men, but it is not so. Times have changed, and such men have become more encouraged because women do not protest most of the times.
Women usually feel that the person will make a comment and stop or they may never see the person again, but they do not understand the severity of the situation. A lot of times catcalling turns into stalking and abusing. Women must not ignore these situations as ignoring only makes the woman more depressed and self-conscious. The life of a female is extremely disturbed when such incidents take place in her life. It is very hard for a woman to forget if a man catcalls one day but if the woman listens to these every day then she will not be able to lead a normal life anymore. Thoughts about those comments and the man who harasses her will occupy her mind all day and night. She will be scared all the way to her home. In some cases, women stopped leaving their homes in fear that the man may stalk her and reach her home. Even if women do leave, they go out by changing routes. They are ready to take the longer route if that saves her from those catcallers.
more about…. How To Identify A Catcall?
Ways To Deal With It
Men are able to harass women because they are ensured that a woman will not revert aggressively. We know it can be dangerous to retaliate violently because you do not know how powerful the person may be or if they may be carrying some weapon. You cannot risk your life in any case. Unless women learn the right way to handle such disturbing elements in the society, catcalling will never stop.
#1. Don’t Be The Rose, Be The Thorn.
When a man catcalls you, the first thing you can do is to be quick. Wittily reply to the harasser quickly or repeat their comment loudly. If you are in a public space then repeating their comment loudly will make the public aware that you are being harassed. This will turn down the man who was trying to harass you. Don’t be a sensitive person. Be loud and bold enough to face the person without fear.
#2. Reject The Idea
You can reject the idea of your harasser by telling them that you are not interested or you feel disrespected. You should tell the person to stay away and that nobody likes the way people like them approach. It is always a better idea to speak rather than being mum about it. If the person knows that you are not interested, then they may not try again.
#3. Drama Classes At Work
If you have ever taken some drama classes in school or your college, then make the most of those classes today. Make weird expressions that show your disapproval, like rolling your eyes or looking weirdly at the person. Until you show your rejection, the person will keep on trying, and the more he tries, the more encouraged he will feel to take the next step. Bring out the actor inside you and use all of your disgust regarding the person to show it on your face.
Originally Published By: AskOpinion.com
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