Comments for Shedding more light on female harassment on the CTA

Shedding more light on female harassment on the CTA

2009-06-22T11:00:00Z

This blog has always railed against harassment of women on the CTA, whether it be by flashers, gropers or wankers, including what to do if you're a victim.

That's why it's fabulous to read about young women rising up against this type of harassment. The Sun-Times reported last week that a group of young women has taken action against harassment through education and better lighting, among other efforts. Just raising more awareness of the issue is important. From the Sun-Times column:

"A lot of people don't realize that when they're getting catcalled or someone touches them in the wrong way, that's harassment," said Lillian Matanmi. "They think that's just part of their day."

This weekend, these young women, part of the Rogers Park Young Women's Action Team, will hold a poetry slam about sexual harassment on the CTA. The event will be held from 2 to 4 pm Saturday, June 27, at Berger Park, 6206 N. Sheridan.

The CTA has urged any victim of harassment to notify the rail operator or bus driver immediately. And by all means call the police with a detailed description. If you can, take a cell phone photo and share it with police.

Comment from CCWriter on 2009-06-22

2009-06-22T15:17:31Z

How about some advice from the CTA on exactly how one goes about "notifying the rail operator"? Do you press that button (the one that says please answer if you press it by accident) and how can you quickly find where it is located, especially in a full car? Or do you exit the car and run up to his window, if you can get there before he leaves the station, but if not, then how do you avoid getting left off the train if it is not your stop, or then who do you notify? Or is it better to stay where you are and call the CTA on the phone, and is there a way to quickly get through the menu to a live person? Can the CTA patch you through to the train operator if you call them on the phone? If not currently, is it technically possible to this up?

I suppose it's fairly simple to notify the bus driver--you just let out a loud scream or yell "help, pervert!"

Comment from Sarah Koz on 2009-06-22

2009-06-22T16:24:13Z

I hate the wankers. A special CTA wanker-hotline would be nice.

Comment from James Reyes on 2009-06-22

2009-06-22T20:05:01Z

I have suggested that people e-mail pictures of a crime in progress from their Internet equipped camera phones.
In the Sun Times article, guys asking for phone numbers was also considered sexual harrassment.Unless the guys only date Luddites,they should ask for e-mail addresses-it is safer for all concerned.

Comment from Martha on 2009-06-22

2009-06-23T03:19:12Z

That guy who wrote the stupid books was right: everything you need to know you learned in kindergarten. Keep your hands to yourself; don't say anything to someone that you wouldn't want someone to say to you; don't touch your privates in public.

That said, I commend the young ladies for trying to build awareness of the effects of these behaviors. I think most guys aren't predators, just clueless.

Here's a good rule of thumb (as it were): if you wouldn't want someone to say it to your sister/mother/aunt/wife/female cousin/girlfriend what makes it ok to say it to some random woman? That's the question I posed to a very drunk "Cubs fan" who was harassing every female withing a 10 foot radius on the Red Line at about 10pm last night (the game was over around 4pm, right?). Not surprisingly, he didn't have an answer. At least it made him shut up for a bit while the gears were grinding.

Comment from Joe the Cop on 2009-06-23

2009-06-23T07:11:22Z

Thanks for writing about this.

I hesitate to refer to a lot of this behavior as "harassment" because, to me, that reminds people of simple unwanted attention, like a skeevy coworker hitting on you. Exposing yourself is a crime, public indecency. Touching someone in an insulting or provoking manner is a battery, a misdemeanor. If the touching is overtly sexual it might be criminal sexual abuse, another misdemeanor. The people who commit these offenses are, more often than not, serial offenders, and they'll keep doing it until they get arrested.

Comment from Anna Pulley on 2009-06-23

2009-06-23T20:03:32Z

have you read this jezebel article? http://jezebel.com/5231386/when-youre-not-sure-if-someone-is-masturbating-against-you-in-a-crowded-subway

a humorous take on mass transit harassment.

Comment from Lynette on 2010-07-28

2010-07-28T17:06:49Z

I've had two "incidents" on the trian (blue line)... the first, a man standing in the aisle, rubbing his crotch against my upper arm... the second (just last night) a man - at first just crowding me (he was in the aisle seat - I was in the window) then rubbing his foot/leg against mine, "accidentally" putting his hand on my thigh. I tried dirty looks, I said "Do you mind?" - he continued until I was able to get up and out of the seat.
I'm sorry to say I didn't report either incident. I fear other riders will think I'm overreacting. They'll resent me delaying their commute. Maybe it stems from my childhood when any expressions of feeling uncomfortable were responded to by adults saying I was making too big of a deal of things. I don't know. I know I wish I was braver - for fear these men will escalate until they hurt a woman or child... at a minimum put another woman or girl through feeling like I do.