The summer is here and as much as I encourage my ladies to go out there and enjoy life, solo or otherwise, it’s more important than ever to be vigilant and safe in these streets that are calling our name.
We live in a fallen world, and you have to consider your own safety as a woman in the world. One of the many things that a woman–single, dating, or coupled–has to contend with at times is harassment in public places from strangers. From catcalling on the street to unwarranted flirting and touching from a random at the gym, approximately 78% of women have experienced some form of street harassment.
This includes other less abrasive examples like men telling women they do not know to smile, prolonged staring, and the list goes on. With that, I wanted to share this free resource for whoever is interested, because we actually all need a refresher on how to spot harassment and what to do if it happens to us or someone else.
I found out about Stand Up, a training program “designed to help prevent street harassment and build safe, inclusive spaces for all, powered by L’Oréal Paris in partnership with the NGO Hollaback!.”
Their goal is to help train 1 million people on how to help stand up to street harassment. You have the option to train as someone experiencing harassment or witnessing harassment, but the resource is mainly for us all to identify some practical and safe ways to help a woman or man experiencing street harassment.
Some challenges that may prevent us from even helping someone out are our own personal safety possibly being at risk, not knowing how to help, uncertainty if the help will be effective. The organization Hollaback! has a 5D’s methodology of options to consider for responding to the respective situation that you’re in.
Hollaback!’s 5D’s methodology response to harassment includes: Distract, Delegate, Document, Direct, and Delay.
Going through the easy-to-follow training, I found myself more comfortable using certain methods than others. As someone who has been street harassed, I did feel more equipped to spot when it is happening to someone else and taking the bold step to support someone else.
Join me and the over 277K people who have taken the training so you can identify realistic examples of street harassment and how to stand up for yourself and others.
Be prayed up and safe in these public spaces, ladies! Whether you’re going on a solo vacation or third date, I pray that you will be in tune with the Holy Spirit, and be “shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves,” as Jesus instructed the disciples in Matthew 10:16 (NIV). Be encouraged and enjoy your summer!
