Sexual street harassment in Brixton

[kittyP]

I find it strange that the OP talks about the harassment she experiences, where she lives, that she wants to write about for a local blog, and lots of people are so keen to tell her it isn't that bad, it's worse elsewhere, other places have harassment problems too. What's the problem with writing about a local issue?

Nothing, but articles should be properly researched.
Other people have said those things because they are their genuine answers I would think.
Should people limit the information given or not say what they think the issue really is in their point of view?

 

[kittyP]

I'm not saying that the article can't be about brixton.
I'm not saying she should only write an article about sexual harassment over all.
I'm just saying impo, there needs to be some comparison to tell you whether Brixton had a particular problem.
At the end of the day the op can write whatever she likes and I genuinely applaud her approaching an article about this subject.

 

[shygirl]

I find it strange that the OP talks about the harassment she experiences, where she lives, that she wants to write about for a local blog, and lots of people are so keen to tell her it isn't that bad, it's worse elsewhere, other places have harassment problems too. What's the problem with writing about a local issue?

Something I wrote a bit earlier: . ..the OP worries me a bit as Brixton is very much associated with the Afro-Caribbean community by those living outside who aren't aware of its actual diversity. Somehow, by isolating Brixton from, say, the rest of the world, you run the risk of sexual harrasment becoming racialised. I am not suggesting that your agenda is racist, but there are already comments on here referring to sexual harrasment as being cultural, when we know that it transcends all racial, class, cultural, groups. I agree that it may manifest differently from one place to another, but I think that embarking on post-code analysis of this problem is potentially dangerous. Its your research and you will do what you see fit, but I would be much more comfortable with something that doesn't negatively highlight one particular area.

Maybe I'm over-sensitive to criticism about Brixton, that I feel is usually a sub-text for racist sentiment. "ooh, its rough there" (said with a meaningful look), "You're brave living there", and, more lately, "I hear its getting better", meaning, there's more white people moving in. I take your point that S A Villarino should be able to research/write what she chooses, I guess I'm asking her to consider the ramifications of a piece of research about sexual harrassment limited to one specific area, that will potentially be attributed to one community . I say that because already on this thread posters have referred specifically to Afro-Caribbean men.

 

[Manter]

I think she is taking on board a lot of what we are saying, asking questions, soliciting input etc. whatever she writes will be an opinion piece, so by definition subjective and some people are not going to be happy, but she doesn't strike me as someone looking for anecdotes to back up an existing agenda. She's asking, exploring and sharing her thinking.

 

[shygirl]

I also think there's something about social cohesion here. It would be easy for any one of us to identify particular faults or cultural behaviours in every community, but I believe we have to look at our reason for doing so. Some issues, such as female genital mutilation, forced marriages, abuse of children, absolutely have to be vigorously challenged (I include the abuse of children here as some people try to argue its a cultural thing). But in this instance, I'm not sure its helpful to do so.

 

[kittyP]

I think she is taking on board a lot of what we are saying, asking questions, soliciting input etc. whatever she writes will be an opinion piece, so by definition subjective and some people are not going to be happy, but she doesn't strike me as someone looking for anecdotes to back up an existing agenda. She's asking, exploring and sharing her thinking.

I agree.
I also agree that it's right for people to raise any concerns and thoughts they have so she has a balanced amount if information for her article.

 

[S A Villarino]

I think there's been some kind of misunderstanding. I am going to reference other people's experience outside Brixton and within it. In fact, I've asked people to share their experiences outside of Brixton too with every intention of saying it's bad there too and many women think Brixton is better than many other places. This thread is to collect experiences and thoughts of sexual harassment. As Thora said, this is for a local blog and so I will be talking about my and other people's experiences in Brixton. This is a pretty long thread so completely understand if people haven't read all my posts where I say this is a problem for everyone and everywhere - not just brixton.

 

[shygirl]

My last post reads as if I'm accusing SAV of looking at one community. She isn't, and I agree with Manter, she seems to be genuine in what she writes.

 

[S A Villarino]

I agree.
I also agree that it's right for people to raise any concerns and thoughts they have so she has a balanced amount if information for her article.

I am taking these on board and have every intention of saying

I think she is taking on board a lot of what we are saying, asking questions, soliciting input etc. whatever she writes will be an opinion piece, so by definition subjective and some people are not going to be happy, but she doesn't strike me as someone looking for anecdotes to back up an existing agenda. She's asking, exploring and sharing her thinking.

Yes, this is precisely my approach. Not trying to shit stir, just trying to highlight and explore this important and complicated issue.

 

[shygirl]

My last post reads as if I'm accusing SAV of looking at one community. She isn't, and I agree with Manter, she seems to be genuine in what she writes.

Well, I won't be happy with singling out Brixton. But it feels like you will go ahead with it anyway.

 

[shygirl]

I think there's been some kind of misunderstanding. I am going to reference other people's experience outside Brixton and within it. In fact, I've asked people to share their experiences outside of Brixton too with every intention of saying it's bad there too and many women think Brixton is better than many other places. This thread is to collect experiences and thoughts of sexual harassment. As Thora said, this is for a local blog and so I will be talking about my and other people's experiences in Brixton. This is a pretty long thread so completely understand if people haven't read all my posts where I say this is a problem for everyone and everywhere - not just brixton.

Meant to quote this one. So, none of our views have convinced you to widen the geographical area of your study?

 

[S A Villarino]

Meant to quote this one. So, none of our views have convinced you to widen the geographical area of your study?

What would be your ideal way of me writing about this issue for a local blog?

 

[Thora]

Well, I won't be happy with singling out Brixton. But it feels like you will go ahead with it anyway.

Do you feel it isn't appropriate to discuss any issues specifically in reference to Brixton, or is it just sexual harassment?

 

[shygirl]

Sorry, but it feels like middle-class, entitled-type behaviour, riding rough-shod over local people's feelings. There are times when is a brave thing to do, but in this instance, it feels like something that is divisive and unhelpful.

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

What would be your ideal way of me writing about this issue for a local blog?

I'm just curious. Who is the blog aimed at? What part of Brixton's male population will actually read it and realise their behaviour upsets women? Is it only to be published online?

 

[shygirl]

What would be your ideal way of me writing about this issue for a local blog?

Not sure, would need to give it more thought.

 

[Thora]

Sorry, but it feels like middle-class, entitled-type behaviour, riding rough-shod over local people's feelings. There are times when is a brave thing to do, but in this instance, it feels like something that is divisive and unhelpful.

That's ridiculous. She wants to write about her experiences of being sexually harassed where she lives and that is somehow entitled and riding rough-shod over local people?

 

[shygirl]

Do you feel it isn't appropriate to discuss any issues specifically in reference to Brixton, or is it just sexual harassment?

Tensions between different communities, for example. We might know about things on the ground, but we have to be very responsible in how they are raised and in what forum. Its not about censoring the discussion about sexual harrassment, but why would anyone wish to focus on any one area. Live magazine, which is produced in Brixton by and for young people, regularly carries stuff on sexual harrassment, exploitation, etc, but I've never once read anything that alludes to any one community or geographical area.

 

[Thora]

Tensions between different communities, for example. We might know about things on the ground, but we have to be very responsible in how they are raised and in what forum. Its not about censoring the discussion about sexual harrassment, but why would anyone wish to focus on any one area. Live magazine, which is produced in Brixton by and for young people, regularly carries stuff on sexual harrassment, exploitation, etc, but I've never once read anything that alludes to any one community or geographical area.

Why would someone want to write about an issue that affects them and their local community? Gosh, no idea! Maybe because solutions are often local and community based as well?

 

[shygirl]

No need for sarcasm, Thora. I agree that solutions are often local and community based, but very often the work is done behind the scenes. As a community activist, I have learnt that it doesn't always help to discuss these things on a very open and widely read forum. That is because it can lead to a hyping up of the problem, misunderstanding and increased tensions.

 

[ViolentPanda]

I find it strange that the OP talks about the harassment she experiences, where she lives, that she wants to write about for a local blog, and lots of people are so keen to tell her it isn't that bad, it's worse elsewhere, other places have harassment problems too. What's the problem with writing about a local issue?

There is no problem, as long as the issue is represented as "Brixton, like other places, has a problem with...." rather than otherwise. let's just say that in terms of press, Brixton has had more than its' share of poorly informed and entirely uninformed bad press over the last half century, so people are (rightly or wrongly) often a little anxious to emphasise that there are few problems unique to Brixton.

 

[ViolentPanda]

That's ridiculous. She wants to write about her experiences of being sexually harassed where she lives and that is somehow entitled and riding rough-shod over local people?

That'll depend on how the article projects the issue, surely? It's entirely possible to do both (although I very much doubt that's the OP's intention).

 

[S A Villarino]

There is no problem, as long as the issue is represented as "Brixton, like other places, has a problem with...." rather than otherwise. let's just say that in terms of press, Brixton has had more than its' share of poorly informed and entirely uninformed bad press over the last half century, so people are (rightly or wrongly) often a little anxious to emphasise that there are few problems unique to Brixton.

I think that's a good way of framing it. As it's for a local blog, it needs a local slant but it'll definitely be in context of harassment in wider context.

 

[ViolentPanda]

Tensions between different communities, for example. We might know about things on the ground, but we have to be very responsible in how they are raised and in what forum. Its not about censoring the discussion about sexual harrassment, but why would anyone wish to focus on any one area.

There's always, but always a tension between bringing issues to light and the possibility that by doing so, the issue is exacerbated. Unfortunately, sometimes it's impossible to predict whether the former will cause the latter, and it's also nigh-on-impossible to predict whether "censoring" an issue to any extent will have any effect (good or bad).

Live magazine, which is produced in Brixton by and for young people, regularly carries stuff on sexual harrassment, exploitation, etc, but I've never once read anything that alludes to any one community or geographical area.

TBF, a lot of sociological research uses geographical locales with "rich" (meaning diverse) demographics as the basis for research, so I can see why a journo might take the same route.

 

[ViolentPanda]

No need for sarcasm, Thora. I agree that solutions are often local and community based, but very often the work is done behind the scenes. As a community activist, I have learnt that it doesn't always help to discuss these things on a very open and widely read forum. That is because it can lead to a hyping up of the problem, misunderstanding and increased tensions.

Although, to be scrupulously fair, this happens often enough out in the "real world" community too.

 

[shygirl]

There's always, but always a tension between bringing issues to light and the possibility that by doing so, the issue is exacerbated. Unfortunately, sometimes it's impossible to predict whether the former will cause the latter, and it's also nigh-on-impossible to predict whether "censoring" an issue to any extent will have any effect (good or bad).



TBF, a lot of sociological research uses geographical locales with "rich" (meaning diverse) demographics as the basis for research, so I can see why a journo might take the same route.

Really good points. I've just said to SAV in a pm that I am uncomfortable with my own stance on this, as it does smack of censorship. Struggling with it a little, but still have that gut feeling about singling out one area. I'm glad that SAV has said she will put it in context of sexual harrasment being a problem everywhere.

 

[shygirl]

Although, to be scrupulously fair, this happens often enough out in the "real world" community too.

True enough.

 

[geminisnake]

Funnily enough, the men I was most dreading passing - a group of Scottish football fans dressed in kilts and getting tanked up at 11am in King's Cross - were absolutely fine.

Stop believing the stereotyping I don't think I've ever noticed any harassing while in Brixton. Maybe I just don't notice it

 

[Vintage Paw]

Really good points. I've just said to SAV in a pm that I am uncomfortable with my own stance on this, as it does smack of censorship. Struggling with it a little, but still have that gut feeling about singling out one area. I'm glad that SAV has said she will put it in context of sexual harrasment being a problem everywhere.

And to be fair, she said she was going to do that all along.

 

[Kizmet]

As always for you, it's always the fault of everyone else/a clique of people out to traduce you, never you.

Prove different. It should be easy if you are to be believed.

Fact is its protectionist "you're not one of us' bullshit. Anyone outspoken against the herd gets ostracised. Simple really.

However on urban thankfully there are still a fair few people who don't wish to be part of the herd. Lets all assume for the sake of convenience its only these people I am really interested in having discussions with.

Perhaps one of the clique could start up another private conversation thread about it...