RESTON, VA -- Stop Street Harassment (SSH) and
Defend Yourself are partnering with the Rape, Abuse & Incest National
Network (RAINN) to launch a gender-based street harassment national
hotline in July 2016.
RAINN operates the National Sexual Assault
Hotline, which provides confidential support those affected by sexual violence
in both Spanish and English. The hotline is available via online chat and by
phone 24-7. SSH and Defend Yourself will train RAINN staff who will be
answering the National Street Harassment Hotline, to be equipped to help those
calling about street harassment.
“We are thrilled about this new partnership and
the ability to provide a safe space for those impacted by street harassment to
receive help and appropriate resources,” said RAINN’s vice president for victim
services, Jennifer Marsh.
Gender-based street harassment affects at least 65%
of women and 25% of men in the USA, and it starts at a young age. It can range
from catcalls and unwanted sexualized and homophobic comments to illegal acts
like following, flashing, groping and sexual assault.
“Until now, there has not been a go-to place for
people facing gender-based street harassment to find help. They want to know
things like how to respond if they’re harassed, what their rights are under the
law, or to generally receive emotional support,” said Holly Kearl, founder of
SSH. “SSH is so pleased to be partnering with these two organizations to create
that system of support.”
A growing body of research shows that street
harassment negatively impacts women
emotionally. It can be traumatic for them,
especially for survivors of sexual abuse. “Mild” street harassment can escalate
into physical harassment without warning and many women and some men have an underlying fear that
verbal harassment will become physical. In January 2016, there were two cases – in Texas
and Pennsylvania -- of street harassment escalating into murder. In late March
2016, a mother in California was shot in the stomach by street harassers whom
she confronted for harassing her teenage daughter.
“Harassment is so pervasive, and it does so much
damage to the lives of women and LGBTQ people,” says Lauren R. Taylor, founder
and director of Defend Yourself. “Support can mean so much. We hope to empower
people by sharing skills -- and increasing options -- for dealing with
harassment in public spaces.”
Defend Yourself teaches
skills for stopping harassment, abuse, and assault. It works to
empower people -- especially
women and LGBTQ people – to end violence and create a world where
they can be fully themselves
RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National
Network) is the nation's largest anti-sexual violence organization. RAINN
created and operates the National Sexual Assault Hotline, and carries out
programs to educate the public about sexual violence and improve the criminal
justice system.
Stop Street Harassment is a nonprofit
organization dedicated to documenting and ending gender-based street harassment
worldwide through public education and community mobilization.
