Street Harassment: Insecurity and depreciation ---- Early August, the street harassment
has been the subject of controversy after the launch of a video made with a hidden camera
by a young Belgian showing how and how often it is challenged in the street. ---- Street
harassment is the fact that a woman in the street or in another public place, such as the
fruit and vegetables from the supermarket or the National Assembly, to be each time and
often several times challenged by men (harassment is collective in this case). The arrests
ranged from "you're lovely", "pudding! "To" bitch "through a variety of phrases, whistles
and rumbling. Defenders of the "drag" street have attempted to explain. "Do not mix at
all, certainly there are insults but just nice and charmed types who want to enter into a
relationship ... It's not so bad, it is not aggression ... not women should be flattered ..."
These arrests were common characteristics of being neither sought nor hoped for. No, a
woman who will buy his bread, which released his dog walks or simply does not be
approached in any way whatsoever. And no woman waits for a unknown type his opinion on his
physique.
Constant vigilance
These remarks have another characteristic: the men who indulge do not expect at all that
the woman responds "nice, find a quiet corner and I suck" or even "cool, I'm glad you I
dealt with, let's take a pot. " No, they know that their collision will not have this
effect. It is therefore not "flirt" (which would be inadmissible as not already asked) but
only to say that women's bodies are collectively owned by men, therefore, have the right
and to give their notice to the wings. Of course, the public space is less dangerous for
women than private space. But these behaviors lead to women a state of constant vigilance
in order to deal with these inquiries. A man can go about their business with confidence,
spirit light. A woman will be constantly on the alert, ready to respond to the
interpellation, it is really aggressive or disguised in touch "friendly".
How to quantify the serious consequences of this constant vigilance, all this energy that
could be devoted to other things, and the feeling of insecurity and worthlessness that
accompanies it? Its repeated aggressions against women have a variety of reactions such as
preventing cross the street when they see several men on their way, do not look men in the
face, or ensure dress modestly, which is used to because nothing like rape, arrest street
uses sex as a tool of power and does not care about clothes of the target. And then they
insult, act as if they had heard anything or trying to explain to an apology when it is
possible. But can act collectively. We must affirm its solidarity with the women trying to
extricate himself from clumsy intervening in the discussion, demonstrate pedagogy with men
interpelleurs to explain how their behavior is unpleasant ... But let us be clear: as a
society treat women as sexual objects available - Porn, pub, prostitution - the
possibilities to intervene in individual attitudes remain low.
Christine (AL Orne)
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Violence: The feminist self-change of attitude
Development of courses and training in self-defense feminist invites highlight another
report to feminist struggle.
Feminist analyzes highlight the social relations of domination suffered by women in
particular in terms of physical violence and more specifically sexual. However, the
difficulty is that when asked is in fact not deny that victim status while enabling women
to develop a capacity to combat this situation of domination and violence situations. The
development of feminist self-defense is thus the prospect of such a logic. It is to
develop self-confidence and the ability to respond to women in the public space especially
when faced with violence.
Nevertheless, it is possible to note that this is not about women's self-defense, but that
is affixed to the term feminist.
Another reflection on self-defense
This point is explained by at least three reasons. The first is that it is not practical
to develop a simple physical defense regardless of the sex of the practitioner. The second
point is that it is not practical to develop a simple physical defense. It is a political
practice learning defense techniques developed for women by women. This has several
consequences. The first is the fact that it is a practical defense for women is not
insignificant. This does not mean only that the techniques are, for example, in connection
with the thoughts physical template of most practitioners, but it is also for example to
take into account women's inhibitions socially constructed not only in report physical
violence, but simply in assertiveness. A second consequence is that it is not just women's
self-defense, that is to say, physical defense techniques for women. The feminist self
develops a reflection on modes of non-physically violent defense as defense verbal and
body language. This discussion also includes the place of solidarity, that is to say,
group attitudes, in a situation of physical danger. In short, attempts to construct
feminist self defense techniques that are not a version for the wife of a virile self-defense.
Multiple developments ...
The feminist self-defense includes several different methods that vary in their approach
particularly in defense techniques and mental and physical. Include among the two main
streams femdochi and seito Boei. A final point worth noting also is that feminist
self-defense begs the more general question of the defense of persons in a state of
physical vulnerability as the disabled or elderly.
Irene (AL Paris North East)
For more information: ? Irene Zeilinger, No it is not!, Editions Zones / Discovery, 2008,
also available on: http://www.editions-zones.fr / ? Garance Association (Belgium): http:/
/ www.garance.be / cms / Association ? Diana Prince (Paris region)
http://www.myspace.com/feministselfdefense/blog /
Bron : a-infos-en@ainfos.ca
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