Sexy street harassment

Gone Drinking · 29-10-2014 10:35am #1

I saw this video this morning:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p3mWt3cjN0Y

In case you can't watch it, its a montage of a woman walking around New York silently, receiving lots of random attempted chat up lines and some sexist remarks, based purely on how well she looks (In fairness, HOT DAYUM).

The video says at the end there was 100+ instances of verbal harassment during the 10 hour experiment.. I dunno, one of the ones on video was "Hey Beautiful, have a good day", would that fall under harassment? I'd be delighted if a woman said that to me when I was walking down the road :P

In fairness, there's one creepy guy who just follows her around for five minutes, this and a few of the comments are completely not on.

So what's peoples thoughts on this? Have any men or women here ever experienced similar?

suicide_circus · 29-10-2014 10:40am

Much more likely to happen in the US than here

Potatoeman · 29-10-2014 10:41am

Gone Drinking wrote: »

I saw this video this morning:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p3mWt3cjN0Y

In case you can't watch it, its a montage of a woman walking around New York silently, receiving lots of random attempted chat up lines and some sexist remarks, based purely on how well she looks (In fairness, HOT DAYUM).

The video says at the end there was 100+ instances of verbal harassment during the 10 hour experiment.. I dunno, one of the ones on video was "Hey Beautiful, have a good day", would that fall under harassment? I'd be delighted if a woman said that to me when I was walking down the road :P

In fairness, there's one creepy guy who just follows her around for five minutes, this and a few of the comments are completely not on.

So what's peoples thoughts on this? Has any men or women here ever experienced similar?

Give it ten years and she will be unhappy she is not getting random attention. :v

nxbyveromdwjpg · 29-10-2014 10:42am

I dunno, the only ones that weren't harmless, imo (and I'm not her so take with pinch of salt..) were the two weirdos that walked alongside her for an odd amount of time.

Hi how are you.. is that really harassment?

Barely There · 29-10-2014 10:42am

The kind of guys that shout out random stuff to good looking women in the street give the rest of us, who prefer a discreet perv, a bad name.

super_furry · 29-10-2014 10:42am

Does that happen to women in Ireland?

Uncle Ruckus · 29-10-2014 10:43am

You would swear these guys never saw a woman before in their lives.

nxbyveromdwjpg · 29-10-2014 10:45am

super_furry wrote: »

Does that happen to women in Ireland?

Definitely not as much as that.

There are probably a fair percent of the people in that video would have passed some comment or other no matter who walked past too.

kylith · 29-10-2014 10:46am

Gone Drinking wrote: »

The video says at the end there was 100+ instances of verbal harassment during the 10 hour experiment.. I dunno, one of the ones on video was "Hey Beautiful, have a good day", would that fall under harassment? I'd be delighted if a woman said that to me when I was walking down the road :P

In fairness, there's one creepy guy who just follows her around for five minutes, this and a few of the comments are completely not on.

So what's peoples thoughts on this? Has any men or women here ever experienced similar?

A lot of women would have experienced something like this and, after a while, even the innocuous ones are unwelcome because what it boils down to is that you can't step outside your house without people judging you on what you look like and what you wear, and feeling free to comment on that. It influences how you act and what you wear (I have clothes that I can't wear because I'm afraid of attracting comments). It's basically reducing a woman to a thing that you can say what you like about because, hey, she shouldn't have breasts if she doesn't want people to comment an them.

Last_Minute · 29-10-2014 10:46am

Yeah, having a giant American Eagle on your backside doesn't draw attention to it, also 10 hours of walking and 2 minutes of footage - and this was the worse stuff.

I'm not implying this is right, it's not. But these kinda 'videos' that pop up online have to be taken with a pinch of salt. You never know whats staged and whats not. That guy following her was creepy though.

O yeah, and don't forget to donate to the Hollaback! foundation who are dedicated to ending street harrasement - how exactly are they planning on doing that now?

It reminds me of that video that was recently on the web of some guys getting refused food from random people eating in the street before getting some pizza from a homeless guy - a pizza that they gave hime for free. Yeah, theres no difference at all.

Cantremember · 29-10-2014 10:50am

Let's make it illegal. Looking at people, talking to people, trying to start a conversation, trying to chat someone up? Penalties upon conviction?

Shenshen · 29-10-2014 10:50am

super_furry wrote: »

Does that happen to women in Ireland?

It does.

I think what makes it so annoying and at times outright creepy is not the one guy saying "Hi sweetie, have a nice day". It's the fact that there are so many of them doing it.

And, truth be told, as a woman you tend not to think "Great, he noticed how lovely my hair looks today", you tend to think "He's talking at me, what's he going to do next? Is he watching? Will he start following me? Should I step into that shop to throw him off my trail?"

It's not nice, it's scary.
Yes, some of them probably really don't have any ulterior motives and are just trying to be nice, but how do you know which one of them is the one who will turn out to be the nutcase you need to be aware of?

Grayson · 29-10-2014 10:51am

kylith wrote: »

A lot of women would have experienced something like this and, after a while, even the innocuous ones are unwelcome because what it boils down to is that you can't step outside your house without people judging you on what you look like and what you wear, and feeling free to comment on that. It influences how you act and what you wear (I have clothes that I can't wear because I'm afraid of attracting comments). It's basically reducing a woman to a thing that you can say what you like about because, hey, she shouldn't have breasts if she doesn't want people to comment an them.

Why do you own them? Not being argumentative, I'm just wondering why? Stupid impulse buys like the bright green velvet jacket I own? (yes, i was sober)

I like it when I'm walking along the street and exchange smiles. It's the mildest of flirting. I do think open comments can be a bit much.

Cupcake_Crisis · 29-10-2014 10:53am

Remember the video of the builders shouting lovely, life affirming stuff at women walking down the street? That was lovely.

LeBash · 29-10-2014 10:53am

kylith wrote: »

A lot of women would have experienced something like this and, after a while, even the innocuous ones are unwelcome because what it boils down to is that you can't step outside your house without people judging you on what you look like and what you wear, and feeling free to comment on that. It influences how you act and what you wear (I have clothes that I can't wear because I'm afraid of attracting comments). It's basically reducing a woman to a thing that you can say what you like about because, hey, she shouldn't have breasts if she doesn't want people to comment an them.

So Irish women wear tight fitting clothes and a lot of skin on show because in December its comfortable and not to attract attention?

Egginacup · 29-10-2014 10:55am

Oh FFS!!!

So "Hey beautiful, have a great day!" is fucking harassment now??

Friggin' American prudes.

Osmosis Jones · 29-10-2014 10:55am

Shenshen wrote: »

It does.

I think what makes it so annoying and at times outright creepy is not the one guy saying "Hi sweetie, have a nice day". It's the fact that there are so many of them doing it.

And, truth be told, as a woman you tend not to think "Great, he noticed how lovely my hair looks today", you tend to think "He's talking at me, what's he going to do next? Is he watching? Will he start following me? Should I step into that shop to throw him off my trail?"

It's not nice, it's scary.
Yes, some of them probably really don't have any ulterior motives and are just trying to be nice, but how do you know which one of them is the one who will turn out to be the nutcase you need to be aware of?

Of course a woman should be allowed to walk down the street without feeling harassed, but surely a man should be allowed to make a nice remark without being judged as some sort of pervert or worse.

kylith · 29-10-2014 10:56am

Grayson wrote: »

Why do you own them? Not being argumentative, I'm just wondering why? Stupid impulse buys like the bright green velvet jacket I own? (yes, i was sober)

Impulse buys, or something that I thought looked ok but isn't (sometimes it's not until you have it on properly at home that you find that it's lower cut than you thought), or even things that you think are fine, but you keep getting comments when you wear it out.

Rightwing · 29-10-2014 10:56am

kylith wrote: »

A lot of women would have experienced something like this and, after a while, even the innocuous ones are unwelcome because what it boils down to is that you can't step outside your house without people judging you on what you look like and what you wear, and feeling free to comment on that. It influences how you act and what you wear (I have clothes that I can't wear because I'm afraid of attracting comments). It's basically reducing a woman to a thing that you can say what you like about because, hey, she shouldn't have breasts if she doesn't want people to comment an them.

Nonsense.

Dr. Lollington · 29-10-2014 10:58am

I'd safely assume most good looking woman, if not all woman, have experienced it to some extent in Ireland. I know I have.

I've had cars beeping their horns at me and men shouting out the window. It's usually just harmless stuff 'heya gorgeous' but it's still humiliating. I know men always think they'd love it if women were shouting heya handsome at them in the street but it doesn't work that way for woman. Sometimes it's playful and I brush it off, but other times it can be quite intimidating or just plain disgusting!

I was living in Brixton in London recently and I couldn't leave the house without being harassed. That was properly scary at times. I'd go across the street to buy some milk and have men hissing at me and saying things like 'heyyy white girl, shake it for me'. I used to find it funny telling my boyfriend some of things I heard afterwards but at the time it was pretty frightening!!

I was in New York when I was 17 and I got loads of hassle there too. I remember one man in particular saying to me 'hey baby, your skin is so white, your body is so pure'. Shudder!!!

biko · 29-10-2014 10:59am

Done two years ago in Belgium too
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/aug/03/belgium-film-street-harassment-sofie-peeters

Tabnabs · 29-10-2014 10:59am

Osmosis Jones wrote: »

Of course a woman should be allowed to walk down the street without feeling harassed, but surely a man should be allowed to make a nice remark without being judged as some sort of pervert or worse.

maybe you could think it, and give the other person the right not to have your opinions on them shared without their assent?

Penny Tration · 29-10-2014 10:59am

Are some women really freaked out by men passing comments, to the point where they won't wear certain clothes?!

I'm female, and tbh, I couldn't give a monkeys.

I wear whatever i feel like wearing. If it attracts comment, whatever. If it doesn't, whatever.

I'd never be careful how I dress so as to avoid comment from men. I don't see the big deal. If they call you beautiful, say thanks. If they're creepy, tell them to fcuk off.

kylith · 29-10-2014 11:00am

LeBash wrote: »

So Irish women wear tight fitting clothes and a lot of skin on show because in December its comfortable and not to attract attention?

I can't comment on why people may choose to wear what they wear. However I'm sure that you'll agree that there is a vast difference between a woman wearing skimpy clothing when out for the night, and a woman such as the one in the video who wasn't wearing anything that remarkable.

Rightwing wrote: »

Nonsense.

How so?

Rightwing · 29-10-2014 11:01am

Dr. Lollington wrote: »

I'd safely assume most good looking woman, if not all woman, have experienced it to some extent in Ireland. I know I have.

I've had cars beeping their horns at me and men shouting out the window. It's usually just harmless stuff 'heya gorgeous' but it's still humiliating. I know men always think they'd love it if women were shouting heya handsome at them in the street but it doesn't work that way for woman. Sometimes it's playful and I brush it off, but other times it can be quite intimidating or just plain disgusting!

I was living in Brixton in London recently and I couldn't leave the house without being harassed. That was properly scary at times. I'd go across the street to buy some milk and have men hissing at me and saying things like 'heyyy white girl, shake it for me'. I used to find it funny telling my boyfriend some of things I heard afterwards but at the time it was pretty frightening!!

I was in New York when I was 17 and I got loads of hassle there too. I remember one man in particular saying to me 'hey baby, your skin is so white, your body is so pure'. Shudder!!!

Were they black racists having a pop at whites? Getting their own back eh ?

Dyr · 29-10-2014 11:02am

Does she want to bring back slavery?

Duggy747 · 29-10-2014 11:02am

Those 2 guys following her were slimy bastards, alright.

Penny Tration · 29-10-2014 11:02am

LeBash wrote: »

So Irish women wear tight fitting clothes and a lot of skin on show because in December its comfortable and not to attract attention?

I wear tight clothes because they're comfortable to me, as that's what I'm used to wearing. Also because I look like a heifer in baggy clothes.

Showing off skin isn't a comfort thing, but I don't see how tight clothing isn't a comfort choice.

Osmosis Jones · 29-10-2014 11:02am

Tabnabs wrote: »

maybe you could think it, and give the other person the right not to have your opinions on them shared without their assent?

I wouldn't think it as imparting my opinion so much as giving a harmless (or what I would consider harmless) compliment.

Obviously some comments can be too extreme.

nxbyveromdwjpg · 29-10-2014 11:08am

biko wrote: »

Done two years ago in Belgium too
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/aug/03/belgium-film-street-harassment-sofie-peeters

That one escalated quickly

Dr. Lollington · 29-10-2014 11:08am

No, I don't think it had anything to with race in Brixton really. The majority of people there are black to be fair but there's a fair clatter of white people there now too.

it's just men hanging around on Brixton hill drinking cans of cheap p*ss. They probably mean no harm and are just bored or they find it funny. It never really bothered me but one time a gang of about four men started walking in front of me and circling me. That was scary and taking it too far.

i think that's what it comes down to. No women is gonna mind a man saying' Hey sexy. have a good day'. You might even be flattered. It's just knowing where to draw the line between the messers and the genuine weirdos who could actually harm you. There's an underlying fear that's been instilled in woman to be on your guard in case you're dragged down a lane-way and raped! Sad but true.

Sexy street harassment

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