Street Harassment leaves a mark.

Written by Grace Alarcon

We are living in a generation where the society thinks that it is okay to do whatever they want to do and would not think of the possible consequences of their actions. Nowadays, there are many cases of harassment happening everywhere, but it usually happens in the street. Street Harassment is not a joke. It is something that could scare someone for a longtime.

According Haparimwi (2016), as defined by Stop Street Harassment (2015), Street Harassment is a is unwanted comments, gestures, and actions forced on a stranger in a public place without their consent and is directed at them because of their actual or perceived sex, gender, gender expression or sexual orientation. Some people think that street harassment is harmless because they tend to address it as a compliment or a joke. Street harassment also brings the victim psychological effects. Study shows that victims of street harassment developed eating disorders, anxiety, and depression to which made them traumatized by their experiences and made them feel unsafe in their surroundings.

According to Mcgowan (2017), effects of constant act of street harassment can cause the victims to behave as if they are hunted. They furiously become aware of their surroundings and eagerly scan for possible threats. Victims are now afraid of what might happen to them if they walk around the streets especially at night. Street Harassment is a form of social control that restricts our ability to move freely in public spaces. It takes away our freedom of being able to roam around the streets alone, where any clothing that we want to, and be able to move freely without being preyed by harassers in the streets.

In a world full of unwanted happenings, it is very important to be aware of things like street harassment. Anyone can become a victim of this unwanted crime. Anyone can be affected of the aftermath of being harassed. Being able to learn and know more about this topic would help protect not only yourself but also the people surrounding you.

References:

Stop Street Harassment. 2019. What is Street Harassment. Retrieved from http://www.stopstreetharassment.org/about/what-is-street-harassment/

C, Haparimwi. 2016. Street Harassment Isn’t Just Annoying: It’s Psychologically Damaging. Retrieved from https://medium.com/athena-talks/street-harassment-isnt-just-annoying-it-s-psychologically-damaging-d38571a94388

E, Mcgowan. 2017. The Long-Term Psychological Effects Of Street Harassment, Because It's Never "Just A Compliment". Retrieved from https://www.bustle.com/p/the-long-term-psychological-effects-of-street-harassment-because-its-never-just-a-compliment-3201057