If you’ve been following the news lately, you’re obviously aware of the sexual harassment cases in Hollywood. It’s a huge problem but one that isn’t isolated to Hollywood and sexual harassment is something many women deal with regularly. Just like this infamous letter written from a father to his young daughter, women need to be treated with respect.
Sexual harassment also takes on many forms and street harassment or catcalling is one form of sexual harassment. While the perpetrators may think the honking, whistling, and cat-calls are a form of flattery, they obviously don’t get it. One young woman named Jansma was tired of all the catcalling and decided to post catcalling selfies with her catcallers along with what they said. While risky, she did the month long experiment to bring awareness to catcalling and hopefully bring about change.
She begins her Instagram account with this:
“This Instagram has the aim to create awareness about the ojbectification of women in daily life.
Since many people still don’t know how often and in whatever context ‘catcalling’ happens, I’ll be showing my catcallers with the period of one month.
By making the selfie, both the objectifier and the object are assembled in one composition. Myself, as the object, standing in front of the catcallers represents the reversed power ration which is caused by this project.
Please join me in the fight and post your own #dearcatcallers or send me a DM.”
Catcalling Selfies Project Starting on August 29
August 30
August 31
September 3
September 5
September 6
September 11
September 12
September 13
September 14
September 16
https://www.instagram.com/p/BZHFcNQlFMp/?taken-by=dearcatcallers
September 17
September 20
September 21
September 25
September 27
She ends her Instagram experiment with the following message:
“My month of posts has ended, but it doesn’t mean that catcallers are in the past as well.
To show that it’s a global phenomenon and that this art-project is not only about me, I’ll pass on the account to different girls around the world. This will be a process that will take some time, so please stay tuned.
I would also like to remember you that it is still possible to send in your own #dearcatcallers post.
Thank you for all the support and messages. It has made it clear that catcalling is still a common occurrence that many of us are dealing with.”
Street harassment is bullying and is illegal in a growing number of countries. Thanks to brave young women like Jansma, it will help other victims cope and deal with sexual harassment.
Please share this social experiment by Jansma to expose her experience with street harassment by posting catcalling selfies with your friends and family.
