This post is excerpted from What You Should Do When Someone Is Being Sexually Harassed on Public Transportation
By Joanna Chiu, BWSS, March 26, 2019
https://mailchi.mp/bwss/bystander-intervention-on-public-transportation-1265291?e=c5d6fe9959
Not a usual topic but one that’s an everyday occurrence for many: sexual harassment on public transport.
What is sexual harassment on transit?
• Comments about appearance, gender or sexual orientation
• Sexually explicit comments e.g., “Hey! You’re hot wanna get busy with me?”
• Vulgar gestures, leering, whistling, barking, making kissing sounds
• Following someone, flashing or exposing oneself, blocking someone’s path
• Sexual touching or grabbing
• Public masturbation
What to do?
Recently, Canadian journalist, Joanna Chiu, shared an experience of witnessing sexual harassment on a flight via Twitter, sparking a discussion of the role of bystanders.