Pssst!

LONG gone are the days when street harassment in the British county of Nottinghamshire was seen as harmless catcalls. The behaviour is now classified as a hate crime, specifically “misogyny”, and is a chargeable offence in that jurisdiction. The offence will apply to a range of incidents reported to the police, from street harassment through to unwanted physical approaches.

But here in Jamaica, catcalling remains par for the course, with women from all walks of life still subjected to the crass utterances of men — and boys — who have no qualms about expressing their erotic desires boldly and loudly, and even resorting to physical assault when their advances are rebuffed or ignored.

Lawmakers have tabled a sexual harassment bill in the House of Representatives, but it speaks only to sexual harassment in the workplace and in landlord-tenant relationships. The bill seeks to outlaw sexual intimidation, coercion and pestering in the workplace, institutions and in landlord-tenant relationships. Claims can be brought to a resident magistrate’s court, or to a proposed sexual harassment division that is to be set up under the Industrial Disputes Tribunal.

Below, several women of varying ages, some of them still cringing from the memories, recount to All Woman their worst catcalling experiences.

Jada, 22, media practitioner:

The worst experience I’ve ever had on the road was when a man threatened me for calling him out on his inappropriate comments. After describing sexual acts to me lewdly, he challenged me to do something about it.

Pat, 42, hospitality worker:

I was walking along Knutsford Boulevard with my sister who was around eight years old at the time and I was about 20 years old. So right outside Burger King there was a food vendor on the sidewalk. As we approached the stall, the man started psst-pssting at us. We ignored him and as we walked past him he reached out to touch my little sister’s breast. I said, ‘What the hell yuh doing, yuh nuh see dat she is a child?’ Him say him nuh care, from dem can say “mama”!

Katie, 25, customs broker:

When I was a customer relations officer at Customs, a client of mine blatantly and disgustingly told me that I looked so good he would put his penis in all the holes in my body, inclusive of my ears. I was so disgusted and astonished that I excused myself from my duties for 15 long minutes.

Shauna, 30, PR practitioner:

My worst experience was a man demanding that I answer him, and because I ignored him, he started to tell me how “some a unnu look good and no live anywhere”. The next day when he saw me, he proceeded to ‘cuss’ me again. I just ignored him until he stopped after the fourth day.

Kimberly, 28, artiste management agent:

The worst experience for me was walking in Half-Way-Tree as a teenager and an elderly man with rotting teeth shouted the things he’d do to my naked body — including eating me from head to toe.

Janice, 30, immigration field officer:

Someone had the nerve to propose marriage to me as he stopped at a traffic light allowing me to cross the street.

Haley, 32, public relations officer:

My area was going through a construction boom in the early 1980s, so a lot of houses, apartments and townhouses were being built. I used to take the bus from school and walk the mile or so home. One day I had done that and had just entered the cul de sac I lived on when I heard the familiar, “Psst, baby, mi woulda @%$# you now” from one of the construction workers. I ignored the catcall and kept walking with a barrage of bad words trailing behind me. I realised the cussing was getting closer and then I heard, “Hey, BC gyal, see what mi have fi yuh yah.” When I spun around, there he was with his penis in his hand. He approached, shaking it at me, but thankfully my neighbour must have seen, because she gave a big shout, “Leave har alone before mi chop yuh up.” She actually had a cleaver in her hand and the guy took off running. From then on my mother picked me up from school, but my mouth still goes dry at the thought of what could’ve happened if my neighbour hadn’t intervened. It may not be the worst incident, but I was only 14 and terrified.

Denize, 44, motor sales representative:

Once I was standing in Linstead and a group of guys stood nearby. They were calling to me but I wouldn’t pay them any mind. One in particular, because I was ignoring him, came over and touched me on my bottom and his friends laughed. I turned around and told him not to do that. But I guess his friends were urging him on. He did it a second time. Again I told him not to. He laughed. Then the third time he grabbed my breast. I was so angry that I shot him a box same place. I was not a fighter, but I suspect it took him off guard. He walked away and his friends laughed, then urged him to hit me back. But fortunately a man was there who defended me. Days later the aggressor sent threats to me to the point where police had to be involved. So catcalling is a serious thing that can lead to sexual harassment and violence against women.