Document Type : Research/Original/Regular

Authors

• Seyed Samad Beheshty ¹
• Yaser Rastegar ²
• kheyri Hamidpoor ³

¹ Department of sociology, Yasouj university

² assistant professor in sociology, University of Hormozgan

³ M.A in sociology , Yasouj University

Abstract

Street harassment, which is one of the most common current problems in society and also a banned forms of sexual discrimination against women, makes the public community insecure and undesirable environment for women social activity. This study with the help of qualitative method and grounded theory seeks to identify the reasons and bases of women's street harassment experience. The Yasouj city was considered to conduct this study, in this way, 18 girls of Yasouj university students were selected using Snowball sampling and theoretical saturation method and interviewed in a semi - structured scheme in this study. The data were analyzed using three coding schemes e.g. open axial, and selective. The validity of analysis was determined using two methods i.e. researchers and review of non-participating experts in the research. The findings indicate that the social background condition is patriarchy-dominant that one involve in. Lack of dressing regulations, cosmetic administrations and breaking taboo cause condition to Interrogate taboo-breaking women. The core category of this research is “from traumatic experience to desensitization”. Thus, the experience of girls from street harassment can be explained on a continuum manner i.e., some of them had traumatic experience with destructive fears and for others it has been commonplace and trivial. The general conclusion is that the existence of street harassment which could be seen as a sign of gender discrimination and laws inefficiency in society, apart from having negative psychological consequences for the individual, could led to marginalize women and the reproducing of hegemonic patriarchy.

Highlights

Results

Analysis of the data revealed that three conditions create this phenomenon: contextual conditions, causal conditions, and intervening conditions. These conditions refer to the objective and mental aspects of individuals. Characteristics of a patriarchal society were identified as the contextual conditions for street harassment. These conditions were identified in four core categories: patriarchal ideology, social learning in the vicious cycle of socialization, the inefficiency of the legal system, and gender discrimination.

Causal conditions of street harassment also include some of the behaviors perpetrated by women, such as failure to adhere to dressing rules and make-up (inappropriate clothing, excessive make-up, not adhering to society's dressing patterns, etc.) and violating taboos (rivalry with the harasser, flirting, Giving glad eye).

Intervening conditions do not directly cause women and girls to be harassed but affect the speed and extent of harassment. These conditions can be manifested in the form of the Situational factors of harassment. Situational factor is a representation of the temporal and spatial conditions and reactions of those around us. Being with others and asking them for help if necessary can help individuals create a sense of calmness.

The analysis of the interviews revealed two core categories: (1) Traumatic (negative) experiences and (2) Desensitization. Finally, a core category-''from traumatic emotional experiences to desensitization'- was obtained by combining the two categories. The girls' experience of street harassment can be explained on a continuum; In other words, these experiences are traumatic for some people and accompanied by a bitter and negative experience, and is insignificant and ordinary for others.

One of the important issues in harassment is the reaction of women to it. Interviews with participants revealed that they usually remain more silent in the face of harassment for fear of embarrassment and the re-experiencing harassment or give implicit answers to the harasser that can have negative effects on their self-esteem and self-confidence. In such situations, women use different strategies that can be categorized into passive, active, and demonstrative strategies.

Finally, the consequences of street harassment have led to discrimination and patriarchal gender structures; In other words, the effects of this harassment restrict women at home, deprive them of many legal rights and their initiatives and opportunity for creativity and activism in the public arena. In general, the consequences of street harassment can be investigated in terms of individual, family, and social dimensions and preventive actions.

 

Conclusion

Although harassment and violence against women have a historical dimension, paying attention to it as a social issue is a new subject. This issue (street harassment) is viewed as a barrier to women for asserting their individual and social rights. The study of contextual variables indicates the prevalence and extensiveness of this phenomenon in society since many women and girls of different ages and various occupations and educations are coping with this problem. Because of its prevalence, most people do not consider mild harassment as street harassment and hide it by indifference denial. But social studies show that street harassment, despite its oversimplification, has different effects, including loss of personal security, reduced social participation of women, and loss of security in families. This pervasive problem negatively affects the socialization process in the long run and can cause social indifference toward street harassment. In other words, the inferior view of women, the patriarchy ideology, gender sociability, and lack of legal protections as the context of this social problem have exacerbated harassment.

This study indicates that girls show their experience of street harassment in the form of traumatic experiences and desensitization. According to the results, most girls have lost their sensitivity to violence and street harassment due to the prevalence and extensiveness of street harassment.

Keywords

• street harassment
• Women
• Grounded theory
• Yasouj

Main Subjects

• Woman and family