Category Archives: Sexist Putdowns and Sexual Harassment

She didn’t always seem to be. The fleet-footed forward, who has helped Team Canada to a 1-1 start at these IIHF women’s hockey championships, was polite and pleasant in interviews in past years, but was rarely particularly wordy.

These days, she has stories she seems to want to tell. Give her a chance, she’ll readily go on about women’s hockey and the Canadian program and her own off-ice career as a constable in the Vancouver Police Department.

Women in Vancouver are being warned to walk in pairs and be aware of their surroundings following a recent bump in violent sex assaults.

Fincham notes police are taking this very seriously and have put many resources towards the investigation. “We are talking about sexual assaults with some level of violence, above what we traditionally see with gropings in Vancouver, so we would associate those differently. We are talking about a series of serious violent sexual assaults.”

The Vancouver Rape Relief and Women’s Shelter‘s Samantha Grey says women are already doing all they can.

“No matter what time of night that we’re walking home, no matter how we’re dressed, or the route that we go, it’s not those decisions that end up in us being attacked. What it is, is the men who rape us. That’s what determines that happening.”

A year after his report detailing the disturbing conditions responsible for the disappearance and murder of dozens of women in the Downtown Eastside, retired judge Wally Oppal says little has changed in the troubled Vancouver neighbourhood.

The women who walk the streets alone at night remain as vulnerable as ever.

“The Vancouver police and the province have accepted all of my recommendations and are working on them,” Mr. Oppal says. “So I’ll take them at their word. It’s never as fast as you’d like, but some of this stuff isn’t easy, and I recognize that.”

He is, however, concerned about the lack of meaningful change in the Downtown Eastside. And about the fact little has been done to protect defenseless women in northern B.C., many of whom have died after striking out alone on Highway 16, the infamous Highway of Tears. At least 18 who were last seen on the highway disappeared or were murdered in the previous few decades.

A chill went through the University of British Columbia last weekend after a violent sexual assault. A 20-year-old woman walking alone at night on campus was jumped from behind and forced to the ground. She fought her attacker off and escaped. Before the assault, there were reports of an intruder with a similar description lurking around campus housing.

There’s a reason people are gripped by fear over these assaults: They are terrible and terrifying, and play into the chilling scenario of our deepest fears – someone in the shadows, ready to pounce.

But women are far more likely to be assaulted by someone they know. In the majority of sexual assaults against women, the accused is known to the victim – in three-quarters of sexual offences in 2011, according to Statistics Canada.

I understand the terrors of an assault by a stranger – it comes with an element of danger that we tend not to think of with someone we know. And I in no way mean to discount that. But sexual assault by a known culprit demands attention – not only because it’s more likely to happen, but because it can be much more complex. Also, as a smart friend pointed out to me, women who are assaulted by a stranger are more likely to be believed.

To protect ourselves against the far less likely scenario of a stranger attacking, women – the onus placed on vulnerable us – will go to self-defence classes, maybe attend that police seminar and receive advice such as don’t go for a jog when the streets are deserted, and stick to well-lit areas.

Michael Smith, 43, who plays Bubbles on the show, was charged with misdemeanour domestic battery against a woman early Friday morning at an L.A. hotel.

He was released on US$20,000 bail.

In the same Trailer Park Boys statement, Smith says “Georgia is a friend” and describes what happened as a “loud and heated dispute.”

“That is all. At no time did I assault her. I am not guilty of the misdemeanour charged against me.”

DeCoutere tweeted about her resignation and said it was linked with the allegation against Smith, adding she had spoken with both her co-star and Ling.

The actress asked that her name not be covered by a publication ban when she testified against Ghomeshi, a former CBC radio star who was acquitted on all charges of sexual assault and choking last month. Judge William Horkins said he couldn’t rely on the testimony from the three Ghomeshi complainants, including DeCoutere.

I grew up being catcalled. I was groomed to believe it was a compliment I should enjoy. Though it vibrated uncomfortable, I looked for it on days I felt especially unpretty.

Part of me still looks for it. I was recently downtown wearing a shortish skirt expecting to be catcalled. I had my best glare on and was running through one-liners in my head: “Creep!”

Powerlessness is key here. Especially when our culture generally continues to see street harassment as a non-issue. Women should be able to enjoy public spaces without being harassed. We should be able to walk the street naked and not be harassed. That’s the kind of city I want to live in.

Women are told, not just by men, but by other women to lighten up. “Oh please! Someone whistles at you, roll with it; it’s a compliment. Someone thinks you’re hot!”

A dude yelling at me in the street isn’t trying to make me feel good. He’s trying to make himself feel good by putting me in my place. It’s not about an inability to take a compliment, you guys. It’s about safety and respect. It’s about stopping rape culture from continuing to subtly entwine itself through my streets.

The website also offers advice on how to safely respond to street harassment and how to intervene as a bystander if you witness street harassment.

The group emphasizes they are fighting street harassment against everyone, including lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning people.

“Public spaces are some of the biggest targets for people in terms of their vulnerability so certainly on public transportation we hear stories about people being harassed,” said Parker.

In January, Dredge helped create a Metro Vancouver website to share stories of sexual harassment on public transit and in April she supported a transit police initiative to crackdown on offenders.

Now she is urging everyone — victims and bystanders alike — to take action to stop street harassment.