A hidden camera video reveals that a New York City woman was “harassed on the street” 108 times in 10 hours by obnoxious, cat-calling men, the non-profit Hollaback!claims.
Sporting jeans and a crew-neck T-shirt, 24-year-old volunteer Shoshana Roberts drew repeated comments about her body during strolls around Manhattan — by guys who ranged from irritating to scary, the advocacy group said.
Dozens of men made comments about her figure, shouting “damn, girl!” and “nice!” — and even demanding she “say thank you!”
One creep followed her for five minutes, walking beside her in silence as she grew more and more uncomfortable.
The group released the video — which was shot over several days in late September — to raise money and awareness to combat “street harassment,” said Emily May, executive director of Hollaback!.
“I want people to see it and say, ‘Holy crap,” May said.
“All of these smaller comments add up, when you’re constantly bombarded throughout the day about how you look — it’s the sum of it all,” she said. “We hope people walk away with an understanding about how it feels.”
To shoot the video, titled “10 Hours of Walking in NYC as a Woman,” Roberts’ boyfriend, filmmaker Rob Bliss, strapped a hidden camera to his backpack then walked in front of her to record the dozens of catcalls, according to Hollaback!
In the video, men also hollered, “sexy!,” “bless you, Mami” and “Hey baby!” at Roberts. When she didn’t respond, one man blasted, ‘You don’t talk?!”
The group is working with the MTA and has visited schools to spread the word about ending street harassment, May said.
“Hollaback! created the video as a “viral tool to support advocates, legislators, citizens, and victims in their fight to raise awareness and end street harassment worldwide,” according to the organization.
It defines the “108 instances of verbal harassment” as any comment that where Roberts felt intimidated or uncomfortable.
The video can be viewed here
