At Union of Brunel Students, we are dedicated to ensuring the safety of our female students and are introducing a Women’s Safety Campaign. The aim of this campaign is to protect female students against the potential threats, harassments or violence that women may face while in public.
Catcalling
Catcalling or street harassment is a pervasive form of violence against women. It refers to catcalling, derogatory or unwarranted comment, gestures, honking and uninvited sexual advances from strangers in a public place. According to a YouGov online poll, 68% of women have been sexually harassed in South Africa, India, Brazil and UK have not reported it to the police, with 50% saying they believe it would be pointless.
Sexual Assault
Sexual or indecent assault is an act of physical, psychological, and emotional violation in the form of a sexual act, inflicted on someone without their consent. For more information, please visit the Sex @Brunel Campaign.
Types of abuse in public places
- Leering or unwanted staring
- Making sexually explicit comments or gestures in public – whether on the street, in a bar, on public transport or another public place
- Leering or unwanted staring
- Sitting uncomfortably close on public transport
- Unwanted questions about someone’s sex life
- Unwanted sexual attention or asking for sex
- Upskirting (taking pictures or filming up someone’s skirt without them knowing)
- Flashing
- Stalking (a pattern of obsessive behaviour which can include sending unwanted presents, making unwanted communication, damaging property, physical or sexual assault. This can be perpetrated by an ex-intimate partner, a stranger or anyone known to the victim)
References
https://www.actionaid.org.uk/blog/voices/2018/04/11/catcalling-not-a-joke-not-a-compliment-its-harassment
https://enough.campaign.gov.uk/