Almost 90% of the time I leave the house, I get street harassed. Just this Sunday, a man passed me and blew me a kiss! A man I’ve never seen. He wasn’t even embarrassed or ashamed to do that out in the open! “God, what is wrong with him?” I wondered. But since street harassment is something I’ve encountered for so long, I didn’t give it that much thought.

Street harassment includes groping, sexual comments, whistling, being stared at or waved at, etc. Does it now ring a bell? Remember that one or many times you’ve been street harassed? Even though this happens to both men and women, it has happened more often to women. To some of us, it has happened so often that we are now “used to it” and we often brush it off. But did you know, street harassment has been termed as a global health pandemic! I bet you didn’t know. Many women have encountered street harassment so many times by the time they are 17 years old.

Women of all backgrounds, races, sexualities etc are susceptible to street harassment. However, it greatly affects members of the LGBTQ community and women of colour. Most of the men who face sexual harassment are harassed for being perceived as feminine or members of the LGBTQ community. This harassment has gone on for so long such that we have “normalized it” and has often been dismissed as not being that big of a deal. Some also say it is a product of how we wear or how we walk etc. However, it is important to note that STREET HARASSMENT IS NOT OUR FAULT.

What is the difference between street harassment and a genuine compliment?

  • A compliment is given out of respect and given with civility and regard while sexual harassment is an unwelcome sexual advancement. 
  • A compliment generally brings out the good in someone without objectifying them. Harassment involves objectifying someone.
  • Compliments are given to make a person feel good and valued but harassment seeks to intimidate and violate a person. It violates a person’s boundaries.

Examples of the two

  1. A lady on the road looking sharp.

Compliment: Your outfit looks great, where did you buy it?

Harassment: You look really sexy today. That dress really brings out your ass. 

  1.  A man who has been hitting the gym and looks fit is making his way home.

Compliment: You look very fit, have you been hitting the gym?

Harassment: “Spanks his ass” Firm ass man, wanna head home with me today?

There are several negative mental health impacts brought about by street harassment but since it has been normalized, it is difficult to get support to help get through these effects and trauma. Join us on the next post as we tackle the mental health effects of street harassment. Meanwhile, feel free to share with us your stories of street harassment.

SharonahKen ❤❤❤