It is a sad commentary on the culture of DC when many women do not feel safe walking the streets. And yet this is the case. This feeling of not being safe is not experienced only in "bad" neighborhoods, but all over the city and not just at night, but at anytime of day as well. Being harassed while walking down the street is sadly a universal experience and something that women around the world encounter.
Holly Kearl, a nonprofit professional in DC, wrote her master's thesis on street harassment and started a blog dedicated to the subject (streetharassment.wordpress.com). Her website is a place for people to share stories and find a little bit of peace in being heard. There is also a section for men, and while the most grievous offenders may not read it, it still has some good food for thought for those who imagine that remarks called out to passersby are flattering and for those who participate by encouraging or condoning street harassment.
Kearl does acknowledge that street harassment is not solely committed by men towards women and describes her website as "a space for anyone to share their gender-based street harassment stories and strategies for dealing with it.”
She has written a book, Stop Street Harassment: Making Public Places Safe and Welcoming for Women and will hold a forum for folks who live in and around DC to discuss their experience, her book and strategies and resources for dealing with street harassment at George Washington University.
Stop Street Harassment Forum
September 2 from 5-7 pm
George Washington University
Marvin Center, Room 307
800 21st St. NW
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