HandsAway, the Parisian association fighting against sexist and sexual violence, has just launched the shock campaign "This is not consent". A much-needed PR against harassment.
We can never repeat it enough: no! A woman dressed short is not responsible for any assault she may suffer. The only one responsible is the aggressor. "This is not an aggression" reminds us of this clearly and clearly, through several fairly explicit photos.
If the Weinstein case and the #MeToo movement have allowed a certain liberation of women's speech, there is still a long way to go to achieve equality. And one of the great feminist battles still to be waged is to stop blaming victims of sexist or sexual violence. Thus, HandsAway took advantage of this campaign to express itself unequivocally:
"Because a woman's outfit, whatever she is, should never be considered consent. The desire to wear a tight outfit, a short skirt, a plunging neckline, or to reveal a piece of nudity should not be seen as an invitation, or even more seriously, as an element legitimizing verbal or physical aggression, as is still too often the case today.
HandsAway – Press Release
Recall that according to a survey by the association Traumatic Memory and Victimology, conducted in partnership with the IPSOS institute, 27% of French people would consider that the responsibility of a rapist would be mitigated, if the victim wore a sexy outfit. Admittedly, this poll dates from 2016 (before the Weinstein affair), but this figure remains terribly indicative of the road that remains to be travelled.
In addition to the "This is not consent" campaign, HandsAway has created a mobile app to combat street harassment. Since 2016, it has allowed a threatened woman to geolocate and describe her situation. Support is also provided to help victims who feel in a reduced psychological state following an assault.
So let's hope that "This is not consent" will allow an awakening for some people. And for those who would like to discover the whole campaign, here are the photos unveiled!
