479 - (Women's Self Defence Series): Challenging Aggressive Street Harassment with Vocal Assertiveness
Series continues with part 5
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Contents:
1 - Vocal assertiveness
2 - Video example
3 - A list of questions and notes to consider
4 - Playing roulette with safety?
5 - The Two Situations Rule - how to know if and when to use force
6 - Street harassment: Two responses
7 - A possible progression of responses - examples of how to respond at various stages of an encounter… from verbal to physical… witness considerations
8 - But…
Part Five:
“Aggressive street harassment” includes the possibility of situations that culminate in some sort of physical assault.
The individual(s) targeting you can be distal to you or very close.
The situation can range from feeling disrespected right through to the possibility of physical and/or sexual violence.
With this in mind, consider the position of dealing with unknown persons not just in public but also in places where you are alone with them.
Vocal Assertiveness
There are those who advocate always answering and challenging any kind of harassment in any situation not just when in a public place.
Firstly, they say that the common experience of behaviour like catcalling or unwanted attention tends to go unanswered as women learn to become silent and then also become more likely to be victimised.
Secondly, that this creates a kind of feedback loop of negativity, the lack of response teaches the offender that this is an ok way to behave or even that it is secretly appreciated.
Refer to the video from part 3 in this series:
Some questions and possible considerations:
- Does this make you reconsider a direct verbal challenge?