The district is calling on those affected to report experiences of sexual harassment in public spaces
Whether it's lewd comments on the street, intrusive stares, or inappropriate messages on social media: sexual harassment in public spaces – also known as catcalling – is an everyday occurrence for many girls and women. With a participatory campaign for the nationwide Anti-Catcall Day on June 13th, the Groß-Gerau district aims to raise awareness of this societal problem once again.
"Catcalling" refers to sexually suggestive harassment without physical contact. This includes things like whistling, kissing noises, comments like "Hey, nice ass," or crude catcalling—situations in which people, mostly women, are sexualized in an unacceptable way. The legal classification is currently difficult: Catcalling is not (yet) a separate criminal offense. Nevertheless, the impact is significant: Many victims avoid certain places or feel restricted in their freedom of movement.
To raise awareness of the issue, the Office for Women and Equal Opportunities of the Groß-Gerau district is calling on residents to report any experiences of catcalling by email to catcalls@kreisgg.de . On the day of action, the anonymized statements will be written in chalk on streets and sidewalks in public places in Groß-Gerau, Rüsselsheim, and Riedstadt
The campaign is part of the nationwide movement against everyday sexism and builds on the #MeToodebate. Its aim is to raise public awareness, give a voice to those affected, and send a clear message against abusive behavior.
Further information is available from the Office for Women and Equal Opportunities of the Groß-Gerau district.
(GROSS-GERAU – RED/PSGG)
