Tag Archives: ihollaback.org

In class we’ve discussed the goods, evils and just plain bizarre opinions of different mediums of social networking. Well today I came across a New York Times article Keeping Women Safe Through Social Networking. I would like to classify this under GOOD intent, but I’m hesitant about the movement this site is promoting. I will explain why:

In this article, the author tells us about a new Social Networking site created and available to women to increase our safety and comfort level. ihollaback.org “is a movement dedicated to ending street harassment using mobile technology,” according to it’s website. “Ihollaback is taking awareness to a new level in helping to create a platform where people can talk about this worldwide,” said Holly Kearl, author of “Stop Street Harassment: Making Public Places Safe and Welcoming for Women,” and creator of Stopstreetharassment.com.

Basically this site is encouraging women EVERYWHERE to share their experiences with street harassment, and also ask them to map out where this occurred. The site, as viewed above, actually has a map with these points/place specified, right on their homepage. I’m guessing it’s supposed to help women know where to expect it. I understand how as women we feel objectified and at times uncomfortable being approached or harassed by men whom we at times classify as creepers. These sites obviously are to shed light on this area of discomfort and fight back using the most popular form of Communication we have, which is the internet and by default, our phones. However I’m wondering how exactly this will STOP street harassment. If you go to the site, it gives you options to share stories, information about street harassment, and locations on your facebook or twitter.

I’m not sure exactly how I feel about this site. Parts of me are like: hell yeah! empower us! make the street harassment stop! but another part of me wonders, how exactly it will help stop something that clearly occurs and is ignored in our society. I guess I’m skeptical, but found it interesting, nonetheless and thought I would share it.