Street harassment is a scourge that intrudes into the lives of young girls from an early age. On the occasion of the international day dedicated to the fight against gender-based and sexual violence, on November 25, the Petites Glorieuses publish the results of an investigation. The numbers are alarming.
It has happened to all of us at least once. To a friend, a daughter, a sister, a mother … A man hissed at us, insulted us, rubbed us in transport or followed us home, and fear took hold of us. For most women, street harassment is a daily reality for which they were prepared at a very young age. Because yes, unlike a boy, a girl, from her earliest childhood learned how to behave in public space. "Do not talk to strangers", "address yourself to a woman when you have to ask something", "pretend not to have heard when someone approaches you when you have not asked for anything", "do not don't provoke ”,“ never go out alone at night ”, etc. These recommendations are passed on from generation to generation, for the simple reason that the danger still exists, and poisons the lives of women.
A survey, conducted by Les Petites Glorieuses, in partnership with L’oréal Paris, reinforces the unease. Through a harassment questionnaire, to which 1,238 young cis * and trans women aged 14 to 24 responded, one edifying figure emerged: 99%.
99%, this is the percentage of girls questioned who declared having already experienced a situation of street harassment, where a person looked at them insistently and / or moved. Shocking, isn't it?
In detail, what are women undergoing?
There are many ways to harass a woman in public space, but it is true that some facts keep coming back. Also, in the survey, we observe that beyond the unhealthy looks, 96% of girls have encountered someone who repeatedly noises at them to get their attention. Do you see what noises we are talking about? The psssts and whistles, for example, which are usually used to tell your dog not to pull too much on the leash.
Insults and / or sexually suggestive words too, of course. The famous "Answers dirty bitch!" ", which often occurs when the reaction provoked is not up to what the individual had hoped for or obscene noises or gestures, as frightening as they are degrading for the one to whom they are addressed. 86% of respondents said they had heard and suffered this type of assault.
And finally, being followed in the street for part or all of your trip: this has happened to more than 3 out of 4 girls.
Women sexualized from an early age
At 14 or 54, it is clear that it is quite possible to be harassed. And for good reason, these assaults start very early, whether you are of age or not. According to the survey, 89% of the women surveyed had been harassed the first time when they were minors.
Camille, 15, confided in Chloe thibaud, editor-in-chief of Les Petites Glorieuses, as part of the investigation. “What I hate is when I have to wait for my bus for more than 10 minutes to get home from class. I can be sure that every time there is going to be an older guy who will make me uncomfortable. We can tell ourselves that a look is nothing, that it risks nothing. But when I feel someone staring at me, watching my chest, I start to breathe harder, to feel warm. I just want to hide and be left alone. " This kind of situation is far from isolated in a woman's life, and occurs in adolescence.
Three years after the #MeToo tidal wave, street harassment still exists, and it doesn't seem set to go away tomorrow. Mentalities are changing in the right direction and it takes time to change an entire society, we will be told? Perhaps. In the meantime, during the study, conducted from October 13 to November 3, 2020, 59% of young women surveyed had been harassed in the previous month. And they probably have been again, as of this writing.