As warm weather approaches, most women on campus will switch from Winter’s warm pants to Spring’s maxi dresses and high-low skirts. While these clothing choices may be extremely comfortable, the extensive amount of catcalls that accompany them is an uncomfortable side effect. Street harassment around Penn’s campus is a problem that the Penn community should recognize as intolerable. Clothing for warmer weather may increase the incidence of this harassment targeted at females, but there is a huge misconception that only these clothes alone elicit these types of remarks. Personal experience and stories from women around Penn’s campus prove that it does not matter if you are wearing a dress or sweat pants; street harassment is everywhere.
Sophomore Lauren Kus mentioned how she gets hit on when walking to her yoga class on 42nd and Chestnut: “There are people on their porches saying things at me as I walk by…I’m on my way to work out, leave me alone.”
Alicia Ahlgrim, a junior on the crew team, complained about being catcalled repeatedly on her way to practice in the early morning: “While walking east on Walnut near the Penn Bookstore, I witnessed a man saying ‘Oh yeah, you run baby!’ to a woman as she ran past him, keeping her gaze downward.”
Senior Genevieve Deutch told of a time when she had to walk from 32nd street to Houston Hall for an event. “I was wearing heels and a dress, and I got whistled and honked at six times over the course of three blocks. It was construction workers, two people in cars, and even the policeman directing traffic. The dress was lower thigh length, not short enough to warrant that type of attention.”
Hollaback, a website dedicated to ending street harassment, conducted a research study around the world proving 80 to 99% of women experience street harassment in their lifetimes. Information like this warrants attention. Not only does street harassment create a sense of uneasiness for the receiver, but they’re also left feeling dirty and violated in some way.
Ciara Stein told of her experience this past Halloween on campus: “I was walking alone, wearing a conservative costume, when a car stopped and the man inside asked me ‘how much?’” She went on to describe her anger and discomfort from this personal attack, mentioning how it offended her more than the usual car honks she receives on a regular basis. Interestingly, while Ciara told her story, her male friend sitting near her reacted with genuine surprise after admitting his disagreement to street harassment being an issue on campus. Unfortunately, his disagreement makes sense considering that most women keep quiet in response to these verbal assaults.
Every person interviewed on this topic mentioned how they did not have any retaliation to their harasser, saying that it would be “pointless” and “counterproductive”. Taking into account Genevieve’s story above of the policeman joining in on the harassment, it’s logical why these women feel like it’s useless to speak up. Most women feel that there is no solution. Fortunately, many websites such as Bust Magazine, Hollaback and Stop Street Harassment have grown into supportive groups for those affected. Though this topic creates debate, at least it is being brought into the forefront of discussion. March is Women’s History Month; visit the websites mentioned above to take action.