Photo: Andre Schneider
Louisa Schwenke uses street chalk to paint a few words on a path in Bad Salzelmen’s spa gardens. The high school student looks shy, but determined. In any case, your action attracts quite a few glances. She fights against sexual harassment in everyday life – with street chalk and a page on the social internet network Instagram.
After just a few minutes, the first passers-by stop. Even if only briefly. “I just want to draw attention to the topic,” says Louisa Schwenke. She seems to be successful.
Own experiences in the city
And the fight against sexual harassment in everyday life always seems necessary. “This is a real issue in Schönebeck,” says the activist. Especially at festivals like the Brunnenfest, her friends have often told her about harassment. She herself has also already been a victim of the ugly allusions. Schwenke remembers a situation at a sales booth: “The seller approached me and made suggestive remarks.” Sayings like “ey doll” are still harmless.
“Most of the time it is disguised as a compliment or sold,” explains the high school student. But the “brisk sayings” of the mostly male hooligans have little to do with nicely meant, encouraging words. Sexual harassment could be “any undesirable, sexually determined behavior that aims or causes the dignity of the person concerned to be violated”. This is what Saxony-Anhalt’s Minister for Justice and Equality, Anne-Marie Keding (CDU) explained in a press release. Specific examples could be unwanted sexual acts or solicitation to do so. Comments with sexual content are also included.
One should fight back
According to the minister, anyone who falls victim to such harassment should defend themselves. “Anyone who gets into such a situation has to take action themselves, even if it is difficult,” said the minister in an information brochure. “A clear, loud no and a clear rejection are usually effective.”
But that’s easier said than done. Louisa Schwenke knows this from her own experience. Because not everyone has the right saying to counterattack on their lips or the victims often do not dare. But the queasy feeling often remains. The initiative of the young Schönebeckerin can help. She receives messages from those affected on the social internet network Instagram.
She has created her own page for this: Catcalls of Schoenebeck (written together and Schönebeck with oe). Here, those affected can write their experiences in a private message without major hurdles. “You will of course remain anonymous,” promises the activist. She then visits the scene – armed with street chalk. She “chalked up” the events in public. In doing so, she does not mince her words, but publishes the full wording of the sexist insults.
At the moment, the Instagram page is not very well known in the Elbe city. But that should change. Schwenke plans to advertise their project and also to print flyers. That would put Schönebeck in good company. The chalk pictures can often be found in large cities such as New York (where the “chalk back” initiative was invented), Los Angeles or Cape Town. But smaller German cities are now also taking part. Like Schönebeck.
In any case, Louisa Schwenke has given her “starting shot”. She is ready to educate about the subject. “It would be nice to have a conversation with people,” says the Schönebeckerin. In any case, her chalk pictures seem conspicuous enough.
The term: sexual harassment
The term “catcalling”, which comes from the English colloquial language, is predominantly used to describe harassment in public spaces.
Mostly sexually connoted shouting, talking, whistling or other sounds are described, whereby the understanding of the term is inconsistent in detail.
The question focuses on the verbal sexual harassment of women.
Source: Bundestag
Comment from Andre Schneider: Women are not dolls
Where do compliments end, where does sexual harassment begin? This question is not easy to answer. There is probably no sensible rule of thumb. But principles of courtesy – they always exist. A young woman is not a “doll” and certainly does not want to indulge in any absurd sexual fantasies or desires of completely strange men on the street. That doesn’t need any definition or rule, just a pinch of common sense. And one more thing: sexual harassment is anything but a trivial offense. It is considered a criminal offense. Actually, I would advise affected women to defend themselves. But I rather wish that this shouldn’t be necessary at all …
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