Taking things into our own hands…
Check out this story about a woman who took things into her own hands when she was being harassed on the train… http://bostonherald.com/news/regional/view/20220421she-hulk_collars_alleged_t_creep_after_lewd_act
E.P.’s story
This happened yesterday on my way to work. I was walking on the sidewalk in a hurry and in a great mood, and a car slowed down next to me, a dude practically stuck half of his torso out of the window and looked back at me as the car passed me and yelled “You have a nice butt”, and then kept sticking his head out of the window looking back at me. I’m usually a fan of saying something that I feel is constructive, and won’t create more harassment, but I wasn’t sure what to say to this! And that was so frustrating! It was also so embarrassing because there was a stylish man walking behind me and another woman walking shortly ahead of me and I didn’t want to embarrass myself in front of my neighbors by yelling back something crude, loud, and untactful. My hands were full too, and it took me half a minute before I finally gave him the finger. I’m not sure if he saw it. I was pissed that I didn’t do more, and that even now I can’t figure out what the hell I could have done. And, damn, I am f*ing mad that they don’t care and don’t get punished in any sort of way—– but I DO! I am the one who gets socially humiliated and they are not. That is messed up. What makes me more sad, too, is that this is one of the main reasons that I tell friends of mine that I don’t look forward to summer because the simple act of walking down the street or going for a jog becomes a major breeding ground for harassment, and I hate that.
How you can help fight street harassment
Check out this post on feministing, by awesome street harassment fighter Holly Kearl, if you’re looking for ways to help end street harassment during International Anti-Street Harassment Week. Keep on fighting the good fight and remember to Hollaback!
Interesting, enlightening post on unwanted contact
Just read an interesting piece over at first the egg.
In the post, the author describes her realizations as she is filling out a form at the doctor’s office and seeks to answer the question about experiencing any unwanted/undesired physical or sexual contact.
She recounts her experiences and how those experiences are perceived as normal things that women should expect to happen to them over the course of their lives.
Check out the rest of the post here.
Airport Scanner Agents Target Female Travelers
A brief post on a rather scary abuse of power by TSA agents, originally posted at Hollaback!
BY VICTORIA TRAVERS
The TSA, the government body responsible for protecting the nation’s transportation systems to ensure safe travel, have received several complaints from women who claim to have been targeted by airport screeners to view their bodies.
According to online magazine Wired.com, Ellen Terrell, who travelled from Dallas-Ft. Worth International Airport told CBS News that a female agent appeared to be singling out certain females on request from male agents in an adjacent room. Terrell was even directed through the scan a number of times because the picture was said to be “blurry.”
Following the third scan the TSA agent apparently became agitated telling her co-workers on her microphone:
“Guys, it is not blurry, I’m letting her go.”
Terrell told CBS that she felt “totally exposed” and was positive that their only motive for sending her through the scanner multiple times was to “have a nice look” at her body.
Another woman said that she felt “targeted by the TSA employee to go through the see-you-naked machine because” she is “a semi-attractive female.” While another said:
“The screener appeared to enjoy the process of picking someone rather than doing true random screening. I felt this was inappropriate. A woman behind me was also ‘randomly selected.’”
CBS contacted the TSA and this is the response that they received:
“All of our millimeter wave technology units including those in Dallas have been upgraded with additional privacy enhancements that no longer display passenger-specific images… To further ensure passenger privacy and anonymity, a privacy filter was applied to blur all images.”
Good job too! It seems like a no brainer to me that males would be allowed to view females in the “see me naked machine,” particularly as pat-downs are always performed by the same sex, the same policy should be put in place for the scanning agents. I am absolutely happy to endure the most extensive of airport security to ensure complete safety when travelling, however, it is truly staggering that there are degenerate creeps that would abuse not only the system, but would violate an individual’s fundamental human right to privacy. Terrorists are not in the habit of hiding weapons of mass destruction in their bras.
Street Harassment in Foreign Countries
Check out this piece on dealing with street harassment in foreign countries, courtesy of a friend currently living and working in Vietnam. Some great suggestions…
International Anti-Street Harassment Week
International Anti-Street Harassment Week is coming up in March! If you have ideas for events or are interested in helping us out, shoot us an email!
Also, check out the website here. It’s full of some really great stuff!
Keep your eyes on our site for updates as we get closer!
Guys talk street harassment
From Jezebel- “Guys Explain the Common Catcall”
No time to write up a more extensive post right now, but read and share your thoughts.
