Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Shutterstock

Column Shouting ‘nice arse’ isn’t innocent, and we shouldn’t ignore it

Seemingly innocuous comments to women are part of a spectrum of harassment – and it’s time we did something about it, writes Jenny Dunne.

Yesterday we looked at the response to the Hollaback! Dublin campaign against street harassment. Here co-director Jenny Dunne outlines the behaviour that the project aims to combat.

MY WALK HOME from the Luas station takes an extra ten minutes or so because of a particular road that I can never walk down alone again, after a group of young men followed me down it, threatening to rape me. This is street harassment.

Street harassment can be anything from verbal assault to groping or stalking. There are no statistics available for Ireland yet, but studies from other Western countries have found that 80-90 per cent of women have experienced street harassment. As nearly every woman I know has a story about being street harassed, there is no reason to believe that Ireland is an exception to the rule. Hollaback! Dublin has been established because we believe that street harassment can no longer be an accepted aspect of being a woman in this world.

The most common form of street harassment is seemingly innocuous. Hearing comments like ‘nice arse’ or being leered at while waiting for a bus. These things happen all the time. For the most part, anyone who is bothered by such statements is told to brush it off, that it’s nothing. I can’t agree with that. You shouldn’t have to wait until you’re groped or threatened with rape before you complain. If you feel harassed, you are being harassed. In the same way that living in a society where shouting homophobic slurs at someone is acceptable makes gay-bashing acceptable; allowing unwelcome lewd comments makes greater sexual violence like groping and rape more acceptable.

Street harassment is difficult to report. In the case of my story above, I never reported it to the Gardai because I had very little idea what my harassers looked like. After the first time they shouted, I kept my head down and walked as fast as I could. Street harassment is often brief, with the perpetrator disappearing into the crowd leaving you feeling powerless. That’s what street harassment is all about of course – power.

Power

No-one really thinks that shouting “Nice tits, love” at a woman walking past them on the street will charm her so much that she will turn around and fling herself at them. Street harassers are asserting their power over their target. They can call you names, grope you, threaten you and there is little you can do about it.

The Hollaback! movement is a way of reclaiming some of that power. The organisation was founded in New York in 2005 and is now operating in 62 cities and 25 countries, including in Dublin as of this week. People who have experienced street harassment can use the site to share their experiences or show their support for others who have been street harassed. Sharing your story is cathartic. It is a way of acknowledging that you are not ok with being street harassed. It is a way of documenting for the naysayers that street harassment is a problem that exists in Dublin.

Some people think that street harassment is a compliment. It’s not. Street harassment is something that is scary or threatening. The point at which something becomes scary or threatening is different for everyone. 42% of women in Ireland experience sexual assault or rape in their lifetimes. Being targeted in a sexual way, from catcalling to being followed or flashed can be extremely upsetting to women who have been sexually violated before. There is no way of knowing what a woman who is being street harassed has been through previously, and there is no way of knowing how she might feel about it.

This type of harassment is happening every day to women and LGBTQ people in Dublin. It is time to stop accepting it. Many of the stories that we have received at Hollaback! Dublin have been from teenagers. They are just starting to experience the world as women instead of girls, and already they are disappointed, intimidated and threatened by some of the men that they encounter. It doesn’t have to be that way. It’s time for Ireland to join this worldwide movement to work towards creating a culture where street harassment isn’t accepted.

Jenny Dunne is the co-director of Hollaback! Dublin, a social site designed to combat street harassment. For more information visit their website, Facebook page or follow them on Twitter @HollabackDublin.

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

View 223 comments
Close
223 Comments
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Patrick McEneaney
    Favourite Patrick McEneaney
    Report
    Sep 20th 2013, 8:14 AM

    Is it too late in the year to whipp out the bbq for one last hurrah?

    69
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute ThomasFrancisMeagher
    Favourite ThomasFrancisMeagher
    Report
    Sep 20th 2013, 8:23 AM

    Not at all. Get it out. Mount Congreve Gardens are open in Waterford this Sat & Sun for a rare weekend. Try & get there if you can, the place is magical.

    33
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Barry Aston
    Favourite Barry Aston
    Report
    Sep 20th 2013, 8:00 AM

    SCANGERS!!!!! Please leave the 40 foot alone! Or at least take your rubbish with you.

    68
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Fergal Reid
    Favourite Fergal Reid
    Report
    Sep 20th 2013, 8:53 AM

    SCANGERS!!! Head to the 40 Foot. Howth will be, umm, on fire.

    23
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Gahan Frost
    Favourite Gahan Frost
    Report
    Sep 20th 2013, 7:36 AM

    Nice!!!

    43
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute ThomasFrancisMeagher
    Favourite ThomasFrancisMeagher
    Report
    Sep 20th 2013, 8:21 AM

    The Sunny South-East leading the way again.

    22
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Matt
    Favourite Matt
    Report
    Sep 20th 2013, 11:30 AM

    Im in Dublin this weekend 22 degrees Sat-Mon Woohoo

    12
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dermot Fennelly
    Favourite Dermot Fennelly
    Report
    Sep 20th 2013, 8:22 AM

    has to go down as the best summer ever ,

    41
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Lloyd Christmas
    Favourite Lloyd Christmas
    Report
    Sep 20th 2013, 7:48 AM

    Just in time for the match, next week Oktoberfest

    33
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Matt
    Favourite Matt
    Report
    Sep 20th 2013, 11:56 AM

    The first 2 weeks of October last year we had temperatures up to 26 degrees. Never forget it. Then Halloween it dropped to 9. Lets hope we get a repeat this year.

    13
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Simone Behal
    Favourite Simone Behal
    Report
    Sep 20th 2013, 8:12 AM

    The ocean will be freezing ! Brrrr! And the Dr will have a bumper week with all the flu’s from all those who stripped off !

    12
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute P O Leary.
    Favourite P O Leary.
    Report
    Sep 20th 2013, 8:40 AM

    Buzz killer !!!!

    28
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Matt Connolly
    Favourite Matt Connolly
    Report
    Sep 20th 2013, 8:41 AM

    I’ll ask them to put the immersion on for you.

    20
    See 1 more reply ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Matt Connolly
    Favourite Matt Connolly
    Report
    Sep 20th 2013, 8:46 AM

    Actually – it looks like average sea temperatures are actually HIGHER in September than in July.

    http://www.seatemperature.org/europe/ireland/dun-laoghaire.htm

    26
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Johnny Ace
    Favourite Johnny Ace
    Report
    Sep 20th 2013, 7:44 AM

    Yesssssss!

    11
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute john cleary
    Favourite john cleary
    Report
    Sep 20th 2013, 9:03 AM

    Sea isn’t cold. Was like summer last Friday and Saturday in Lahinch, great surfing.
    Same again this weekend!

    10
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Cathal Leonard
    Favourite Cathal Leonard
    Report
    Sep 20th 2013, 7:44 AM

    Great video, freeeeeestyleeee thanx

    9
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tús Nua
    Favourite Tús Nua
    Report
    Sep 20th 2013, 11:15 AM

    Despite the economic downturn a bit of sunshine can lift the spirits

    9
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute AggressiveSecularist
    Favourite AggressiveSecularist
    Report
    Sep 20th 2013, 11:21 AM

    20 degrees is far too cold for swimming. It’s not warm whether by any standard.

    7
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ian Walsh
    Favourite Ian Walsh
    Report
    Sep 20th 2013, 11:44 AM

    Maybe in you whiney opinion…

    9
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute On Raglan Road
    Favourite On Raglan Road
    Report
    Sep 20th 2013, 12:07 PM

    Don’t worry. We’re going to ship you up some warm water from Miami. It’s 86f down here:)

    4
    See 1 more reply ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Liz Bond-Blanch
    Favourite Liz Bond-Blanch
    Report
    Sep 20th 2013, 4:32 PM

    The sea requires a lot of energy to warm up. This has been happening over the great summer we’ve had so the sea temperature is most likely better now than in July!

    7
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute 1 Human Being
    Favourite 1 Human Being
    Report
    Sep 20th 2013, 5:42 PM

    The elimination of two seasons is getting beyond a joke it’s autumn. Spring and autumn are seasons in Ireland. So if they are included and not americanised this is normal type of weather for the season that is in it seen as it is harvest time and not the fall THIS IS AUTUMN. Rant over

    4
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.
JournalTv
News in 60 seconds