Title: Safety-The Unspoken Barrier to Women's Physical Activity
Author: Feltes, Linda
Source: Melpomene Journal, 16(3):9-11, Fall 1997. ISSN: 1043-8734
Publisher: Melpomene Institute

I don't run around the lake near my house after dark. I don't let my female baby-sitters walk the two blocks home alone at night. The last time I went to the baseball stadium with my five-year-old daughter, I wondered whether I should be parking a distance away from the stadium, where parking is free, and we can enjoy the walk.

[....]

I'm not the only one who limits her activities because of safety concerns. My friend is afraid to close her office and walk through her building alone in the evening. Another quit her business for safety reasons. Another friend felt sexually harassed from all the ogling she got, so she quit her fitness club.
          Recently, women have been killed while hiking in a national park. Women have been attacked along well-used walking paths. Girls are harassed in halls and classrooms. And children aren't free to walk to the ice rink alone, as I did most of the winter nights of my childhood.
          These are examples of the day-to-day realities of being a female in the late 20th century. Yet, when I conducted a literature search regarding what motivates people to be physically active, in only one of the 130 articles was lack of safety mentioned as a barrier to women's physical activity. The maltreatment of women in many parts of the world is recognized as a public health issue, yet a recent issue of the New York Times Magazine, in an excellent section devoted to women's health, allotted minimal space to prevention and treatment of abuse.

What's going on here?
What's going on is that even though our feet aren't bound and our bodies aren't corseted, we're kept in our place by the need to protect our safety. Women are leaders in almost all arenas, but we are not yet at liberty to live fully, because we need to tread in fear. Violence against women is pervasive -- it's supported by attitudes, laws and norms that at worst justify violence against women and at best fail to defend us from it. Perhaps the most insidious aspect of this problem is that we have learned so well to accommodate the threats to our safety and freedom that we often fall to identify, much less challenge them.
          In the research that's been conducted on what motivates and obstructs women from physical activity, the issue of safety seldom surfaces. Why? My hypothesis is that we women are so accustomed to living in an unsafe world that we take it for granted and so aren't conscious of it as a constraint. And researchers aren't conscious enough of safety as a barrier to ask about it. Yet, I know that concerns for my safety limit my physical activity. For instance, I'd like to be able to run after my two young children are settled in for the night. I can't always arrange the time during daylight hours. But I'd be foolish to go out alone after dark -- I'd be exposing myself to unnecessary risks, and I'd be [justifiably] fearful and tense the whole time.
          There is plenty of helpful advice available about the precautions we should take to protect ourselves, but when you stop and think about it, you have to wonder why we have to adapt to a world that so severely limits us when, in truth, it's the world that needs to change. The world needs to stop assuming that it's acceptable to harass and harm women.
          Because the possibility of igniting change seemed so daunting to me, I called upon several activists in the field of violence prevention to get their ideas. I realized that a lot of people are doing a lot of things right. I also learned that, while most of us are reluctant to talk or learn about abuse, focusing on its existence in our world can start a process of change.
          My ideas for creating change take more attention than time, more courage than vocabulary, compassion than confrontation.
          * First, notice your own attitudes; notice what you tolerate. In an August 1997 article in Minnesota Parent about sexual harassment at school, a girl describes a hostile environment of verbal and physical abuse. "... It was disgusting," she says. "But what I didn't understand was a lot of the girls brushed it off like it was fun, like they should be treated that way, like they didn't know better. [Harassers] are getting away with it. Somehow, the message has to get across to those girls that they don't have to be treated like toys."
          * How much are you willing to put up with? Notice what comments and jokes you let go unchallenged. Recently, I attended a neighborhood meeting regarding development of a park area. One spokesman for the park dared to say that the city parks were quite safe. The county sheriff, who lives in the neighborhood, chimed in that he ran around the lake at night. I had to say, "Yeah, but I don't feel safe running around the lake at night, and I don't think women should."
          * Speak up. When I noticed a poster of a buxom, bikini-clad model in my friend's son's room, I was uncomfortable, but I somehow convinced myself that if it was OK with my friend, maybe it was OK. I wish I had simply told the boy that his poster made me feel uncomfortable.
          * Notice the everyday habits you maintain to protect yourself from attack. I once had an illuminating conversation with my husband. I walked him through one day in my life, describing some of the motions I go through to protect myself: carrying my keys in my hand, looking around my car before getting in, looking both ways as I leave a building -- you know the routine.
          * Have you bought in to the myth that having a man will keep you safe? It ain't necessarily so.
          * Think about where responsibility lies. If a woman hikes a scenic trail alone and is attacked, is she to blame? If she hikes the trail alone at night and is attacked, is she to blame? If a woman camps alone and is attacked, do you blame her? Is there a point at which you begin to blame the victim?
          * Once you notice what makes you feel unsafe, begin to act. The battle for a safer world can be waged on many fronts. Choose an avenue that engages you and begin to speak, learn, write, risk within your comfort zone. Treat ignorance with compassion and education. Treat deliberately deviant behavior with caution. Report crimes.
          * Capitalize on your strengths. Speaking up challenges me, anonymously removing offensive posters excites me. Some people get right to letter writing. Others educate or diffuse tensions with humor. Still others teach their children in their own quiet manner.
          The Twin Cities Gay & Lesbian Community Action Council begs us to understand that "hate violence affects us all. Every victim ... of violence or harassment is a member of someone's family. Every victim or survivor is someone's friend, someone's co-worker, someone's community member, someone's parish member ...."
          Abuse of women is a community issue. We all have a role to play in the perpetuation or minimization of violence -- we women, men, kids, blacks, parents, gays, police officers, policymakers, construction workers, office support staff, all of us.
          The Minnesota Department of Children, Families and Learning has launched a year-long, statewide campaign called "Make the Peace." The goal of the campaign is to contribute to a climate of peace and hopefulness by promoting personal responsibility for peacemaking.
          One of their billboards reads: "You're the one who saw the tears behind the eyes. You're the one who can make the peace." A TV commercial says; "You're the one who thought the word that you didn't say so the fight didn't start so the knife didn't cut so the gun didn't shoot so the man didn't die so the hate didn't grow so the night was calm and the peace was kept. You're the one who can make the peace." I've heard those words before. Sounds like "let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me."
          I read an editorial recently that made a profound point: We always seem to need something to happen close to home for us to believe, confront or defend it. In my own experience, my brother's best friend throughout college came out as gay soon after. Of course, I still loved him. That love helped me become more aware of heterosexual privilege and a supporter of gay rights.
          Abuse is too profound, devastating and destructive to have to experience for ourselves, or with our sisters or daughters, before we take it seriously and begin to notice, reflect and act. I'm surely not going to wait any longer.

SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
          -- Be aware of/alert to your surroundings
          -- Don't wear headphones
          -- Don't carry a purse
          -- Know that daylight is only one variable
          -- Avoid isolation
          -- Let friends/family know your possible routes
          -- Project strength, authority and awareness
          -- Team up
          -- Know/be conscious of your own comfort level, and respect that of others
          -- Trust your instincts
          -- Don't be lulled into assuming the company of a man can keep you from harm
          -- Take self-defense training that teaches front-end de-escalation techniques, how to turn fear into the ability to act and how to fight back.
          -- Any time you are harassed or assaulted or witness harassment or assault, report it.

          Copyright ©  1997, Melpomene Institute
          [....]

Title: Posting Stop Signs Against Sexual Harassment on Campus
Source: Women in Higher Education, 6(11):27-28, November 1997.
Publisher: Women in Higher Education

Sexual harassment cases continue to rise, especially on campus. Whether it's the history of academe having been created by and for men, or an increased sensitization to more subtle forms of harassment, more women are speaking out. Both individuals and schools can develop strategies to prevent harassment, and stop it when it happens.
          In 1991, 25 sexual harassment cases were filed against colleges; in 1996, there were 78. Similarly, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission received more than 15,000 complaints in 1996, up from 6,000 in 1990. The sharp increase is mainly due to Anita Hill's having brought the issue of sexual harassment in the workplace to public attention during the 1991 Clarence Thomas Senate confirmation hearing.
          When faced with a climate involving sexual remarks, overtures or jokes, women need an arsenal of responses to stop the cycle of sexual harassment. Of course, you'll be most comfortable with your own type of response. In fact, you may not even recognize the behavior as sexual harassment because you've been tolerating it for so long. Now's the time to speak up!
          Being prepared with a plan to confront sexual harassment when it happens can help you combat it for you and others in your department.

Informal tactics
It's less complicated to resolve the issue informally:
          1. Good manners and a strong facial expression can shock the harasser, if nothing else. Play "Miss Prim," saying "Pardon me, you didn't say what I thought you said?"
          2. Name the behavior. "That comment is offensive to women; it's unprofessional and probably sexual harassment. That behavior has to stop," or "This is the third time you've put your arm around me. I don't like it and I don't want you to do that anymore." Sending a clear message that you don't like the behavior eliminates the defense "I thought you liked joking around."
          3. Repetition highlights sexually offensive jokes and remarks. Pretend not to "get it" and ask for clarification: "I don't understand what you mean." The jokester has to repeat the punch-line and explain the offensive material, which can isolate the incident and call attention to its inappropriateness.
          4. Humor connotes strength. Your playful response to a comment can confront the speaker without creating an uncomfortable situation. Unless you are exceptionally quick on your feet and can come up with bon mots at will, it's better to be prepared with rejoinders such as: "Is this a test to see how I handle sexual harassment?" or "Are you sexually harassing me? You'd better watch out before you get in big trouble."
          In your humor, be careful not to appear to join in the sexual jokes or laugh at the behavior, which could send the message that it's OK. Speak directly about the behavior in your joking.
          5. Notebooks can become a public warning sign to others. Write "Sexual Harassment" in bold letters on the front cover. When you experience sexual harassment, take out your notebook and ask the speaker to repeat the comment. To underscore the offense, check with the speaker on the time and date, and log your location. This kind of documentation also works well later in court.
          6. Research projects conjure up thoughts of testimony and data. This is a variation of the notebook. First, explain that you record all sexual harassment for a project you are doing and this is a prime opportunity. Ask questions such as "How are you feeling after you did this? How often do you do this? Is this behavior common in your daily actions?"
          7. Send a letter to the perpetrator. Your letter should consist of three parts, according to Mary Rowe of the Massachusetts Institute for Technology. First, describe the event using facts. Don't mix up feelings and facts, because then your emotional response will be the disagreeing point. Second, give your feelings a description and specify that these were your feelings. Third, state what you want to happen next, such as the behavior to stop and to be treated as a professional.
          Remember to make a copy of the letter for your files. A letter is an excellent response to create distance between you and a very hostile person. Keep it private, between you and the harasser, since a copy to a superior can create denials. The behavior may stop entirely at this point.
          8. Log or diary the incidents. Similar to the notebook, a log or diary records the time, date, place, witnesses and details. Although it's private so you can include details, the log can at any time be brought forward. This written evidence usually carries more significance with authorities if a formal complaint ensues.
          9. Don't ignore the event. It won't go away, and ignoring it can lead to continued harassment unless you object. On the other hand, if you feel unsafe, physically alone or isolated, it may be wise to keep quiet, and resolve to deal with it later when you do feel safe.
          10. Spread the word. Harassers are likely to be serial; an isolated incident is rare. You aren't the only one, and you need to create a larger system of support to deal with it.
          11. Check your school's written policy on sexual harassment. It explains the school's definition of harassment and the procedures you can take and whom to see.
          12. Send a copy of the school's policy to perpetrators. This could be included in your letter above, or it can be anonymous. Highlight the areas you feel are important or demonstrate the perpetrator's specific behavior.
          13. Union representatives can be a good source of information and support.
          14. Note your psychological stress level. High stress means it's time to speak with a counselor or mental health professional who understands your situation. Advice and comfort can help you keep battling or make a move. Consult a physician for physical symptoms.
          15. Report the behavior. Go to the appropriate individual, bring any written accounts you have and have a copy of the institution's policy with you already highlighted. You can always have a friend join you for support. Make sure to have a statement signed by the person handling the case prohibiting retaliation. In some cases, mediation can be used between you and the offender.
          16. Record all your interactions with school representatives. Your school has a legal obligation to deal with all complaints. If you feel you're getting the run-around or not being taken seriously, keep going up the administrative ladder. With your records, you are prepared to re-file if the event happens again, or file against your institution.

Formal complaints
If informality doesn't work, bring out the big guns:
          17. File a formal complaint with the school, carefully following your school's guidelines and procedures. If this fails to get you an adequate response, file with the appropriate governmental agency.
          18. File a formal complaint with the U.S. Education Department's Office for Civil Rights. Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972 covers all students and employees in schools receiving federal funding or financial aid, which is virtually all schools. You don't need an attorney to file a compliant. The proceedings can take many years, and you'll need to stay informed of the investigation and the progress of your case.
          One prod is to ask both your senators and your congressional representative to write letters to the Secretary of Education, asking to be kept informed of the progress and results of their investigation.
          19. Title VII with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) covers only employees. The federal and state commissions work closely together and to file a lawsuit you need permission from the EEOC.
          20. Civil lawsuits are filed under state laws and cover areas such as "intentional infliction of harm."
          21. Sexual assault and sexual abuse are illegal in every state. Report your allegations to the police. Unwanted touching of breasts and genitals constitutes sexual assault or abuse in most states. You may want to take a friend with you when giving the report.
          22. Finally, work to educate your school on how to set up workshops to prevent sexual harassment, and to create policies and procedures to deal with complaints.
          --KO
          Exerpted from Bernice R. Sandler's article in the fall 1997 issue of About Women On Campus.

          Copyright © 1997, Women in Higher Education