Abstract :
[en] Frequently viewed as benign gestures or awkward attempts of seduction, until few street
harassment had been ignored by scientific literature as well as by politic and mediatic scene.
In July 2012, Sophie Peeters’ report “Femme de la rue” is broadcasted. Highlighting ordinary
sexism on the street, this story affects public opinion, arouses an important mediatic and
politic mobilization in Belgium and results in the adoption of a law condemning sexist discrimination
in public space. In France, the case Weinstein and the phenomenon
#Balancetonporc generate multiple disclosures. Thousands of women share their stories on
social networks and protests calling to fight against harassment and sexual assaults emerge.
Following which, included in the plan against violence on women, the French government
submits a proposal of creation of an offence of sexist contempt, targeting street harassment.
In recent years similar actions have spread in Europe and all over the world. Rising awareness,
disclosures with domino effect, indignation on the part of public opinion, claims and
penalization; sexual harassment in public space is more than ever in the news.
Notwithstanding issues regarding gender equity and access to public space, despite the
ethical concerns raised by proposals of penal qualification and although many persons are
exposed every day to sexual harassment in public space, few researches has addressed this
topic thus far. Using self-administrated questionnaires on a large scale, our study aims to
underscore specificities of sexual harassment in public space in terms of frequency, contextual
features, protagonists’ attributes but also in terms of associated attitudes. Results provide
information about means of expression and suggest promising areas for prevention.
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