What the catcalling video gets wrong | FACTUAL FEMINIST

Have you seen the YouTube video that shows an attractive young woman being harassed by men in the streets of New York City? It’s attracted more than 33 million views so far. Some say stopping the verbal assault of women in the street is the new frontier for human rights—and they see this video as a critical tool in raising awareness. Could they be right?

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Partial transcript:

Have you seen the YouTube video that shows an attractive young woman being harassed by men in the streets of New York City? Well, it’s had attracted than 33 million view so far. Some say stopping the verbal assault of women in the street is the new frontier for human rights—and they see this video as a critical tool in raising awareness. Could they be right? That’s coming up next on the Factual Feminist. Now, street harassment can be very annoying and it’s possible this video will do some good as a reminder to men that women often don’t appreciate it. But the feminist anti-harassment group that put out this video –Hollaback—it does not merely want to improve public manners. It wants to raise consciousness about what life is like for women under patriarchy. According to this group, street harassment is “a power dynamic” that silences women’s voices and reminds them of their subordinate status. Its website calls street harassment “the most pervasive form of gender-based violence.”

Let's check some facts: The viral video ad was created by an agency that specializes in creating viral video ads. It’s a riveting bit of advertising, but it forces the complicated issue of street interactions into the simplistic, Oppression 101 victimology morality tale. It is propaganda, not evidence of a crime against womankind. The video gives the impression that the woman is relentlessly targeted. But we only see highlights from a ten hour shoot. We have no idea what happened during the other 9 hours and 58 minutes. Viewers are lead to believe the harassment took place everywhere in the city. But some writers at the website Mass Appeal took a careful look and were able to determine that most of the footage—80 percent—is from one street in Harlem and Times Square. If the ad makers would manipulate our perceptions about the where the harassment took place, what else might they manipulate? Hey, I am not blaming them. It’s an ad.

But here is a second and more serious problem. The video overrides critical distinctions. Unsolicited attention from strangers ranges from friendly comments, to rude and annoying jeers—to stalking. Why conflate these? Street interactions are complex, and context matters, is it night? or is it day? what’s the neighborhood? Some women might feel flattered or delighted by comments like “good morning, beautiful,” while others would be put off. Amanda Hess argued that comments from a male strangers like “How are you this morning? “are “just another unearned claim for a woman’s attention.” Well, anyone who has ever walked a city street knows that there are many annoying, unearned claims to your attention. If we deserve to be protected from comments, then what about panhandlers, evangelists with pamphlets, and Greenpeace volunteers with clipboards? I love the environment, but I don’t like being shamed for not stopping when they ask “Do you have a moment for the environment?” Personally, I’d probably prefer that a man whistled at me, than have to respond to that.

Urban streets are free spaces—not gated communities with a rigid set of bylaws. And the First Amendment applies as well. According to Hollaback’s mission statement, the group is hoping to find a way to inspire legislators and the police to take action. They’re vague about what precise actions they have in mind. But Northwestern Professor Laura Beth Nielsen is not vague at all. She wants a law prohibiting, “uninvited harassing speech or actions targeted towards individuals in public spaces on the basis of sex,” because it would “weigh in on the side of equality.” Equality? Is she serious? Harassment can happen anywhere, but it is more common in economically deprived neighborhoods.

#aei #feminism

[QueenyMartha]

As a woman who has been even followed in the streets I agree with you 100%. I believe that thinking harrasment is someone saying "Hey beautiful" or "good morning" is trivializing REAL harrasment. We gotta stop being oversensitive and placing our emotions over rationality. 

[HushtheMag]

I don't Get it. Christina is a she uses logic and reasoning.

[calipto]

Christina, you give me hope for genuine feminism.

[advocatusdiaboli]

I thought telling someone good morning was just common curtesy.

[CrissyMoss]

It would be too easy for "harassing speach" to become "you disagree with me so you are going to jail." They are already getting it in some instances. A law like this would just make it easier. What a horrible idea.

[PlanetJohnny]

4:38 "The women in this park? Well, they're mostly professionals in Manolo Blahniks who work in nearby law firms or government offices. The harassing men?  They're homeless. They sleep outside on building stoops. I don't think it's the cat-callers who need to check their privilege. I think it's the women on Hollaback who need to check their facts".

You see, this is why #GamerGate loves Based Mom. She doesn't buy into radical feminist hype, and she checks her facts.

Also, let's be real here: whipping out your smartphone in Harlem to "record harassment" is gonna get you mugged far faster than it'll "prevent cat-calling". So good luck with that.

[sensationaldenny]

Christina Hoff Sommers is an incredible women doing incredible work.

[zukodude]

And when guys get catcalled then its a privilege.

[Eltercero]

Please. Why are you ruining an ideological narrative with facts?

[coweatsman]

Traffic lights make unearned claims to my attention. Bastards!

[mjarbo]

The woman that runs Cards Against Harassment has a similar set of videos. And most of them are in lower-income areas, and from Black males. I think there is a similarity between Hollaback and Cards Against Harassment's shooting locations.

[EisforEvil]

This is street annoyance, not harassment. 

[bude]

"unearned claim for a woman's attention".

Someone please tell me what the hell this means? I have to "earn" a "claim" for a woman's How on earth does one do that???? What would one do to earn this claim??

[SpectacularName]

Way to go internet feminism! You have equated a mildly annoying comment made on the street to actual sexual harassment! Thanks for not being insane.

[depenthene]

I get harrasment in stores constantly. They say good day to me and then try to force feed me product samples.

[DoomRulz]

"Some women might be flattered or complimented."

No, Christina. Those women are mere fools who have internalised this pervasive patriarchy which infects our culture. Quit being a harassment-apologizer.

Sarcasm aside, another great video, as always. 4:56, BURN!!!!

[Arkantos]

They must've walked past tens of thousands of men to get footage of that precious 0.0001%

[whybag]

"How are you this morning?" THAT'S harassment now? What's galling to me is that they have an entire day of footage, straight through to night, did they not have enough actual harassing comments that they had to resort to "How are you" as somehow harassing?

[thehrchannel]

I agree that catcalling is stupid but getting the government involved is worst. Just don't give them any attention.

[getrog]

Many years ago when I was in my early twenties I was working nights in an exclusive London nightclub to support myself through college. I was waiting tables. One night was particularly chaotic as we had a female celebrity who was celebrating her successful court case after being accused of tax evasion. I say successful but what that really meant was that she was found guilty and heavily fined but escaped going to jail for a long time. While I was working my way through the crowed with a tray in each hand this celebrity grabbed my crotch and didn't let go, saying, "what are you going to do now". I was twenty one, she was in her fifties. I was shocked by it and yes I felt violated but I could tell by her her expression and the sound of her voice she meant no ill or sexual intent and it was obvious alcohol played a significant part. My point is that although it was very wrong and extremely bad judgement on her partl, which left me feeling violated and humiliated, it didn't warrant such an extreme reaction as to accuse someone of something as serious as rape. In today's society it wouldn't be tolerated and indeed if the victim felt the need, they should report it, but rape is very explicit and by exaggerating every minor incident to the level of rape only serves to demonise those who are real victims of rape and make it all the more difficult for genuine victims to come forward and seek help.