So, last nights disablist street harassment included the usual “give us a lift, love” and “give us a go on your scooter” and included the novel variation “give us a go on your asshole instead, then?”
So, what’s going on, there?
So, what’s going on, there?
All street harassment is about demonstrating male ownership of public space. Reminding women of their role as objects in Male psychodramas.
Disablist street harassment is about the complex objectification of visibly disabled women. We’re fetishised by a small minority of men. But a larger group of men riff off the prospect of objectifying women who aren’t conventionally attractive, or visibly disabled
I reflect on this. A lot. Because men who are strolling along with incredibly attractive, not-visibly-Disabled women, are happy to street harass. Why?
They are demonstrating to the women they’re with, that they are owners of public space. That they offer ‘protection’
They are demonstrating to the women they’re with, that they are owners of public space. That they offer ‘protection’
They’re showing that no woman is safe, if she travels in public spaces without an owner.
But that’s not all. They’re also demonstrating to other men. Both when in pairs, or in mixed/Male-only groups, or as single men on a street where other men also are.
But that’s not all. They’re also demonstrating to other men. Both when in pairs, or in mixed/Male-only groups, or as single men on a street where other men also are.
What are they demonstrating to men?
That they share ownership of the space.
That they assert dominance over men who allow women to pass without harassment.
That they share ownership of the space.
That they assert dominance over men who allow women to pass without harassment.
But I believe that harassment of mobility-impaired women has even more sinister aspects. Because we can’t run away. And they know that. And so do all the other people on the street, both Male and female.
They know that we are literally a ‘captive audience’, and that we’re not going to risk violent repercussions, because of this. They know that we are forced to remain visible, through use of mobility aids (especially scooters and wheelchairs)
They’re affected by media narratives about ‘scroungers’ and ‘fakers’, and feel entitled to comment on, even to ‘test’ disabled people, to make sure we’re genuine. They make it unpleasant, so that we would stop, if we could.
That’s ‘Stop’ being visibly disabled by either ‘stopping’ being disabled (because they’re so certain that large numbers of us aren’t ‘really’ disabled) or stopping being visible, by getting off the public street
They use women who aren’t attractive to ‘practice’ ‘chat-up lines’, so that they increase confidence when they see a woman they are attracted to. Lucky them, huh? Because any man who street harasses is a Prince among men
I’m absolutely fed-up that the cost of my access to public streets includes being frequently sexually harassed, or subjected to disablist harassment. It’s unacceptable. Support from people on the street would be appreciated
What does support look like?
Men: It means saying “Stop” to men who do this. It means becoming a physical barrier between harassing men and their disabled victim.
Thank you.
Men: It means saying “Stop” to men who do this. It means becoming a physical barrier between harassing men and their disabled victim.
Thank you.
Women: don’t put yourself at risk. Men are dangerous. But if you feel able to verbally respond to harassers, that would be appreciated. I can use the opportunity to escape.
Thank you
Thank you
