Insta-Account writes the sayings on the street
–
Catcalling isn’t flirting – it’s sexual assault
01/13/21 | 6:07 am
Sayings about the figure and obscene gestures are everyday life for many women in public and at work. It’s called catcalling. Some people only realize later that this is sexual harassment. A Berlin Instagram account will help them. From Anke Fink
–
Almost every woman knows it. When she is out on the street or in public places, whistles are sometimes heard or rough pick-up lines are called after her. However, this has nothing to do with compliments; it is sexual harassment and is called catcalling. The victims – mostly women – feel uncomfortable and cannot defend themselves. Kissing noises or suggestive gestures have nothing to do with flirting. They are an exploitation of power and are found all over the world.
–
Spilled over from New York to dozens of countries
But there is resistance. In March 2016, New York student Sophie Sandberg started her Instagram account “@catcallsofnyc” [www.instagram.com/catcallsofnyc] and within a very short time inspired imitators in 150 cities in 49 countries – including Berlin. Your weapon in dealing with verbal sexual harassment is chalk. You write the slogans that catcalling victims had to listen to at the exact point where the attack happened. The goal: to attract attention and show what catcalling really is.
–
In Berlin, a team of 13 takes care of the account “@catcallsofberlin” [www.instagram.com/catcallsofberlin]. One of them is 24-year-old Ingy, who has been with us almost from the start. She is one of those people who chalks – that is, who write the sentences in chalk on the street. According to her experience, the sayings last two to three days on the asphalt, if the fire brigade is not called to spray away, like in early December in Augsburg [www.instagram.com/catcallsofaugsburg]. The saying on the street was not only sexist, but also racist [instagram.com/catcallsofaugsburg]. This shouldn’t be expected of passers-by for too long.
–
It gets worse reading
The sentences Ingy wrote on the streets of Berlin are sometimes very crude, for example: “I would like to take you. Can’t you even come over so I can see your ass?”, “It’s difficult with your ass, you not to touch “,” Lift your skirt! You can still train a little, but it’s enough to fuck “. Chalking on the asphalt gives them an even more violent impact than if you just hear them. You are perceived differently.
“I don’t know a single woman who hasn’t had catcalling or some other type of sexual harassment on the street,” says Ingy. That’s why she was electrified when she discovered the Insta account and wanted to participate. Catcalling is a much deeper problem than people often pose when they say that these are just compliments or that one should ignore the sayings. It is a symbol for the power structures in society.
–
Only punishable if it is physical
Ingy believes that catcalling should be a criminal offense. “I see no difference in only being allowed to report someone if they are physically violent towards me.” Verbal violence must also be able to be prosecuted. In catcalling there are also often moments when violence is threatened.
For the legislature, however, sexual harassment is always something physical. The only exception is so-called upskirting, i.e. the unsolicited under-rock photography of women. This has been a criminal offense since July 2020 and is punishable by up to two years in prison.
–
There is already a petition in connection with catcalling “It’s 2020. Catcalling should be a criminal offense” [www.openpetition.de] from last year with almost 70,000 supporters who according to a report by “Funk” [www.youtube.com] was submitted to the Ministry of Women. However, the House referred the petition to the Ministry of Justice because it concerns criminal liability issues. And the Ministry of Justice saw no need for action in catcalling, as the report continues.
–
Only the Greens would make catcalling a criminal offense
Other countries are already further along. Catcalling is prohibited in Belgium, Portugal and the Netherlands. In France, verbal harassment has been punished with a fine of up to 750 euros since 2018. In Germany, not even parliament has dealt with the issue. The parties have already formed opinions. Only the Greens support the idea of making catcalling a criminal offense. The Left and the SPD are open to the idea. The Union, FDP and AfD are against it. However, they condemned all forms of sexual harassment, it said.
According to a report by “taz” on the catcalling petition 44 percent of German women have already experienced sexual assault. Half of it took place verbally. The numbers come from a Study by the Federal Ministry of Family Affairs from 2019 [www.bmfsfj.de]. In other studies, the numbers are significantly higher.
–
Awareness has to be created first
This is in line with the experiences of the “@catcallsofberlin” team, who receive submissions with new slogans almost every day or every other day. According to Ingy, who is studying rehabilitation pedagogy in her master’s degree, many report experiences that were months or even years ago, because it was only now that they became aware that this was sexual harassment. She, too, only penetrated the subject more deeply through the gender studies courses she had in her bachelor’s degree. “The deeper I got there, the more I became aware of the power structures that exist in our society – both politically and on all other levels.” Now she can raise her voice and name sexual harassment.
–
Affected people ask about their own fault
Ingy says the reactions on the street when she writes down the sayings in chalk are often positive. Most of them walked past or trudged over the sentences, but those who asked sometimes even thanked them because they realized that catcalling is not flirting. “You feel good after a compliment,” says Ingy. Nobody who sends “@catcallsofberlin” submissions feels good after such a situation, not even when they say “great ass”. Those affected would get “totally the dirty feeling” when catcalling. They looked down at themselves, feeling dirty, and wondered if their clothes were provocative. “As soon as the person feels that way, it’s harassment,” says Ingy. Those affected are not to blame. Rather, it should be talked about what the knockers do with the catcalling.
–
Corona does not put an end to catcalling
Most often, at 46 percent, women are harassed by strangers in public places, according to the “Funk” report. The second most common victim of verbal abuse, at 41 percent, is in the workplace or training place. The corona pandemic has changed little in this regard. On the contrary: the closed clubs and restaurants even lack the general hustle and bustle of a big city like Berlin, which ensures that you can ask for help from passers-by at four o’clock at night. If a woman is harassed alone in the subway in the evening, says Ingy, she can often only ignore the sayings or, if things get dangerous or unsafe, seek specific help.
–
–
