When someone is publicly harassed on the street, there might be some Good Samaritans willing to step in and defend them. Not everyone is comfortable with confrontation. Even fewer people are comfortable with catcalling. Catcalling is defined by any whistle, sexual comment, or shout usually directed at a woman on the street. The viral video “1 0 Hours of Walking In NYC As A Woman” showcases how common street harassment is. However, most people are unsure of how to intervene without endangering themselves and the person they are trying to help. Writer and activist Feminista Jones has the threeword solution.
The phrase “You OK, sis?” is a simple and effective way to safely curb street harassment. Numerous reports of women who were raped and murdered for responded negatively to catcalling prove how defending a stranger can save their life. However, the situation could be dangerously escalated and the defender could quickly become the victim as well. In 2014, Feminista Jones told a story about how she intervened when a mother pushing a stroller was harassed by a young man who grabbed her arm and repeatedly asked her questions. In an effort to show support and provide an escape from the harasser, Jones approached the mother and simply asked, “You OK, sis?”
After sharing this story online, Jones began a movement centered around street harassment. Jones encouraged everyone to “try to intervene when someone is being harassed, but in a way that won’t exacerbate the situation.” By asking if someone is okay, you cut off the advances of the harasser while providing the victim with a safety net. The focus is deflected away from the harasser and onto the Good Samaritan (that’s you) trying to help. The victim of catcalling can easily ignore the catcaller and escape the situation.
#YouOKSis primarily focuses on the street harassment that specifically targets black women. In an interview with T he Atlantic, Jones explained how she feels like “b lack women’s voices are not always amplified.” Although catcalling is a global issue, black women especially tend to experience more aggressive forms of street harassment, such as “‘H ey bitch” and grabbing. #YouOKSis not only sheds light on the international phenomenon of street harassment, but also gives black women the opportunity to share their stories.
It may seem daunting to intervene when one notices street harassment. Confrontation isn’t for everyone, but more often than not, harassment turns into violence. A similar tactic to protect someone from a potential predator or harasser is to approach them as if they were your longlost friend. There is safety in numbers. Beginning a friendly conversation with someone deters a potential harasser from targeting that person.
We must look out for each other. A catcall is not a compliment, it’s sexual harassment. Compliments are paid with respect, catcalls are assertions of power. Threats in disguise. Men who catcall most likely know that their victim is not going to turn around and start begging for sex. Catcalling proves that they can approach you, say whatever they want to you, make you feel uncomfortable, make you feel unsafe, and there is nothing that you can do about it. Nobody pays a genuine compliment by following someone down a city block or by yelling about their ass from a van. #YouOKSis shifts this power away from the aggressors and empowers women.
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