Street Harassment Spectator survey

In Bangalore, India, a group of young women got totally fed up with street harassment (in India it's called "Eve-Teasing") and started an activist group called Blank Noise; their blog is here.

Some of Blank Noise's actions consist of creating street art showing the nondescript, everyday outfits that targets of harassment were wearing when they were targeted. This raises consciousness among women, and men, too, that, contrary to the prevailing notion, women do not bring on harassment to ourselves by our clothing, actions or demeanor--that we don't "ask for it." It's spreading to other parts of India, too, and I've been excited to follow what these women are doing.

Until August 15, Blank Noise is doing a survey of women who have witnessed another woman being harassed on the street. They are asking what "spectators" have done, or not done, in response, and how it felt. I hope you'll consider taking part.

I'm remembering all too well times I was harassed on the street when I was young. It brings back memories of feeling so alone and vulnerable--naturally, since perps don't harass with witnesses, mostly.

For sure, I would love to be able to step forward and stop harassment, any time, if the circumstances allowed me to feel safe enough. I have blogged about how I stopped an aggressive voyeur in the library where I work, and the latest with him is that he came back this summer. So I walked up close to him, looked him dead in the eyeballs, and said, loudly, "Hello. How are you?" I wasn't smiling. I think he was startled to see me again, and I'm so happy that we haven't seen him since.

I've also written here about how I stopped the exhibitionist next door. Last year I followed up with a letter (exposing the exposer!) to several of his clergy-colleagues, but received no response. However, now they know. Yep, they certainly do.

On the street, I once hit a man on the head with my umbrella, but he was groping me, not another woman.

As to how I felt by taking action, on behalf of others, or of myself, it was a mixture of anger and joy. Along with hyper-vigilance, scanning the whole scene each time to make sure I felt safe enough to proceed, and to continue. So it's a good feeling, but very stressful. For that I hate the perps. For what they make us go through, no matter how it goes down.

And ... of course, the painful truth is that for each instance I remember fighting back somehow, there were about 100 times where I did nothing ... because I didn't know how to find the strength, the knowledge, the sense of self-worth, the certainty of my blamelessness, that I would have needed. And that's what Blank Noise is giving our sisters in India, especially the young sisters.

Blank Noise women? You have my respect and admiration for what you're doing. Sending heartfelt hugs around the world to you! I'm looking forward to reading the results of your survey.