What is Street Harassment?

Written by Patricia Casamata

Photo from Mihai Surdu

Harassment is very common nowadays and it does not give standard to any people, so it can be of all ages, any gender or high family you came from. Though many people know about harassment there is also some people around the Philippines that harassment can also happen to them in the street without them knowing it. According to the Advocates of Human Rights, street harassment can be in a form of verbal, physical, or even psychological harm that can mostly happen to woman in public spaces and that is done by men. They also stated that it is compilation of stalking, assault and sexual harassment and the different forms of street harassment like cat calling, whistling, touching or even threats towards the victim and many others. In this article, it shows that street harassment can be in any form that is done to a woman but I other article it is also stated that street harassment can also be done to a male, mostly gays. Stop Street Harassment stated that 81 percent of woman and 43 percent of men experience street harassment. It shows that street harassment is not choosing a victim, its can be either be men or women, old or young and others can be a possible victim of harassment happening on the street.

In the Philippines, catcalling and whistling is the common known street harassment that may happen in the public places. Nowadays many people mostly women, has said or post online had already come out about them experiencing street harassment. Street harassment also implies judgments to the people and in this judgments it may affect either the psychological and emotion of the victims. Teen pregnancy is also now the most common issue in the Philippines but how people judge them in the public spaces can also be called a kind of street harassment. In conclusion, harassment can also happen in the public spaces and it does not selecting a victim or anyone a victim of this. People should be aware and know that they have the rights to stop people who made them experience harassment in public places.

Reference:

http://www.stopvaw.org/street_harassment_2

http://www.stopstreetharassment.org/