Why Teachers Should Join the Global Movement Against Street Harassment
by
My student Grace testifying at the New York City Council Hearing on street harassment in October 2010. (photo by Ileana Jiménez)Last year, my student Grace did a very brave thing. Before a packed room of reporters, politicians, activists, and fellow testifiers, she shared her personal experience with street harassment to the leaders of the New York City Council.
During her testimony, Grace described how a man publicly masturbated in front of her on the subway and the humiliation and shame she felt as a result:
The moment which I have felt most degraded, belittled, and humiliated was at 6 p.m. on a Saturday getting on to the 1 train at Chambers heading uptown . . . His eyes flashed up to meet mine and I