Anti-Street Harassment UK- a new feminist group.

And everyone knows that "unwanted attention" generally means getting attention from a guy who's not hot/cute/good looking.

I haven't got a problem with that. But why do we men have to step in? According to you feminists, you females are equal with us. So why can't women step in as well? Why is it only men that should step in?

And don't be naive in thinking every man on this planet gives a damn about your "dilemmas". There are more important things in life to worry about than men shouting across the road "Alright darling!" But you feminists can't just grow a pair (not literally of course) and get on with your life. Why can't you focus on more important things in your life and stop wasting our time with such trivial matters (in comparison to global issues)?

Also, what if the woman doesn't show any sign of being "uncomfortable" or "upset"? And everyone knows that "unwanted attention" generally means getting attention from a guy who's not hot/cute/good looking.

Like I said, grow a pair.

Where did I say that only guys SHOULD step in? I've stepped in before. I've asked someone to back off a woman because she was very clearly upset by the attention. I've also pulled aside a male colleague who was being hit on by a male workmate despite indicating he didn't enjoy the attention and asked if he was okay. Sometimes a "Hey, are you okay, is X bothering you?" is all that's needed. If more is needed.. well, now there's two of us.

Or she's not single and doesn't want the attention.

Or she is single and not looking to be otherwise.

Or she's gay and not interested in anyone without boobs.

Or she just doesn't like guys who yell across the street.

I was obviously referring to single girls who are looking for relationships. But yeah, those are good points.

Why do you keep saying that? It has nothing to do with feminism, its about women not feeling comfortable when men yell things at them from their vans or on the street, because its embarrassing and at times, really quite threatening, depending on what they do.

And concerning women stepping in, I think you'll find that a lot of women stand up for their friends or others when they are being harrassed in the street, I've done it many, many times. And I've seen men get involved too. In fact, I've seen men become furious when their girlfriends/sisters/female friends are harrassed in the street.

The problem is, guys don't know which it is -- not by looking. So the girl who backs off from attention might be thinking the guy is ugly, sure. Or she might have a million other reasons which she won't think to explain.

I think aggressive harassment is wrong, but I like wolf-whistles/horn-honks :L

There is a difference between suggestive looks and harassment, I'm sure most reasonable people can recognise that.

I don't see what's irrational about disliking being accosted on the street? And supposing you are a rational person, do you think this sort of thing should be allowed to continue unchecked? Is it reasonable and fair that so many women should be subjected to this is? It does make places horrible to visit, surely it should be classed as anti-social behaviour.

It can. However, this has been studied, and one of those intangibles is that people hire people who "look like them". White middle-aged guys hire white guys because they'll "fit in with the department" and well, that's who's always worked there.

That particular company was also engaging in some highly dodgy practices at the time, including making the only female senior director redundant and then re-advertising her role a month later. I saw my department shrink from a third female to barely an eighth before I left. I wasn't the only one picking up the hiring practices and making tracks.

It was a major multinational company, which I'm not naming as it would be recognised. They have HR practices which mean they should be justifying promotions pretty firmly. Those practices just started being ignored.

but if you don't endear yourself to them, if you don't make them want you for whatever reason, is that really there fault?

If you're trying to sell cars for example, and you have to choose between an attractive girl and an ugly girl, you choose the attractive girl.

Likewise if you are trying to sell TVs or sports cars or something "male", speaking as a guy, you'd rather have a guy sell it to you.

it's not sexist, it's smart


A) I wasn't married, or even dating at that time. Why should I be considered more a risk than my male colleagues (one of whom was in a serious relationship) just because I have ovaries? Wouldn't they be distracted by a child? What if the child was sick? What if they ended up a lone parent?

B) ...and if they had so much as whispered that I would cheerfully have sued them into next week, because taking that into consideration is illegal.

I in no way think it's right, but so long as men arent touching women as in just saying something (so long as it is not a threat of violence) I don't see how you can make it illegal without taking away a persons right to free speech.

So it's a tricky one.

Did anyone even read the article?

Nobody ever said they were going to make anything illegal!

They said people should discourage the behaviour among their friends and make an effort to make the behaviour socially unacceptable.

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