Education – Safer streets for women and girls

Behaviours, actions and gestures

Fundamentally, Public Sexual Harassment is unwanted sexual behaviour, actions or gestures. These can be verbal, non-verbal, physical or technology enabled. Specific behaviours include leering or persistent staring; following; sexual propositions; sexual gestures; sexually explicit comments; intrusive persistent questioning; so called ‘wolfwhistling’; nonconsensual physical contact, such as kissing, groping and stroking; technology-enabled sexual behaviour, such as ‘air dropping’ unwanted illicit images to someone’s phone (also known as cyberflashing); ‘upskirting’ and viewing or showing pornography in public.

Who can you call?

If you, or someone you know, is in danger or in an emergency, always call 999 otherwise you can contact the police on 101

You can also report an incident anonymously with CrimeStoppers by calling 0800 555 111

Men who need help with relationships and anger can access free support help to prevent violence and abuse within their intimate relationships with women. Groups are for men over 21 living anywhere in Somerset & Avon, B&NES and North Somerset offering a safe space to discuss their problems and feelings.

To request a free place or find out more:
Call or Text 07976 225462
Email reprovide-men@bristol.ac.uk

Myths around sexual harassment

Myth: Men of certain races and backgrounds are more likely to commit sexual violence

Fact: There is no typical rapist. People who commit sexual violence come from every economic, ethnic, racial, age and social group. People who commit sexual abuse look and act like the rest of us – they are people in our communities and people that we know.

Myth: People often lie about being raped because they regret having sex with someone or for attention

Fact: False allegations of rape are very rare. Most victims and survivors never report to the police. One reason for this is the fear of not being believed. It’s important we challenge this myth so those who’ve been through sexual violence can get the support and justice they need and deserve.

Myth: Women are most likely to be raped after dark by a stranger, so women shouldn't go out alone at night

Fact: Around 90% of rapes are committed by known men, and often by someone who the survivor has previously trusted or even loved. People are raped in their homes, their workplaces and other settings where they previously felt safe. Rapists can be friends, colleagues, clients, neighbours, family members, partners or exes

Myth: When it comes to sex, women and girls sometimes 'play hard to get' and say 'no' when they really mean 'yes'

Fact: Everyone has the legal right to say ‘no’ to sex and to change their mind about having sex at any point of sexual contact; if the other person doesn’t stop, they are committing sexual assault or rape.

Myth: Alcohol, drugs, stress or depression can turn people into rapists

Fact: Drugs and alcohol are never the cause of rape or sexual assault. It is the attacker who is committing the crime, not the drugs or alcohol.

Myth: Women and children who are raped or sexually assaulted "ask for it" by the way they dress or act.

Fact: Reports show a wide diversity in the way women who are assaulted act and dress. Women and girls of all ages and physical types, in almost any situation can be sexually assaulted. No matter how women act or what they wear, they are not to blame for their assault. This myth takes responsibility of the rape/abuse away from the rapist and shifts it to the victim.

Myth: Men who rape or sexually abuse women and children are mentally ill or sexually starved.

Fact: Studies show that most sexual violence is committed by ordinary or normal men coming from every economic, racial, cultural, age and social group. Rape/sexual assaults are not sexual acts but acts of violence that involve asserting power and control over another person. Rapists are not men who cannot control their sexual desires; rape is a premeditated crime