It’s not just the looks and stares, but the calls and whistles that accompany an everyday walk around D.C. Street harassment are often uncomfortable, inappropriate and even threatening yet it continues to be part of life for women.
According to a new study conducted by Stop Street Harassment, 65% of all women in the U.S. had experienced street harassment. Leering, honking, whistling, sexist comments, vulgar gestures, kissing noises, or explicit comments define street harassment in this study. Furthermore, it was found that catcalling is one of the most common forms of harassment. Stop Street Harassment is a Washington, D.C. based initiative started by Holly Kearl that has recently began partnering with the Collective Action for Safe Space.
Senior Natasha Alexander from the School of International Studies says, “It’s taken me years to finally stick up for myself on the street. I think too many people think that it is not big a deal.” That’s the thing. Too many people think that street harassment is not a big deal at all. Though it happens often, many women aren’t talking about it or acknowledging it. Both men and women should be alert when someone needs your help in any form of harassment.
Street harassment is a global issue where catcallers bluntly vocalize disrespect. Senior Heather Kiningham, currently studying abroad in Morocco, responds to harassers by saying, “Here you just have to ignore them, even when it gets awkward. They say anything to provoke you. It doesn’t matter what you say, they want the attention and the acknowledgement.”
According to the Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault, “In a study of 816 women from 23 countries, almost one in four had experienced street harassment by age 12 (22%) and nearly 90% by age 19.” Therefore a little less than a quarter of girls have experienced street harassment before they have reached puberty. This time is crucial to a young girls self-efficacy.
Junior Karlee U. says, “I’m always afraid to even look at catcallers because of what they might do if I call them out.”
There has been a large push in the last decade to start the conversation around rape culture as the statistic of college women sexually assaulted increases. However, street harassment serves to some women as a reminder of their vulnerability and is often retriggering to survivors of sexual assault.
Start the conversation because the uncomfortable walks home need to end.