A Feminist Poster Campaign Against Street Harassment

Illustrated by the cartoonist Sophie Bédard, this campaign from the Centre d'éducation et d'action des femmes (CÉAF) can be seen in public spaces, including Montreal's public transit, from October 7 to November 7, 2019. It include four posters showing different street harassment situations experienced by a diverse groups of women, pulled from 250 personal accounts received from the centre as part of a 2017 questionnaire.

The CÉAF invites you to download the posters to print and share.

These posters were co-created by CÉAF activists and three focus groups composed of women from diverse backgrounds and with varying experiences. Sick of being told that it's up to women to speak out against the violence they experience and learn to defend themselves, they decided to turn the spotlight on harassers, bystanders and the general public to encourage them to get involved.

This campaign has multiple objectives:

• Tell harassers that they can no longer act with impunity and that they are fully responsible for their actions
• End the generalized indifference toward street harassment in Montreal and lower society's threshold for dealing with the problem
• Mobilize bystanders to take action in solidarity with women being harassed
• Take the blame off of women who are being harassed and help them realize they are not alone.

In addition to the poster campaign, the CÉAF is leading a study to document the impacts of street harassment on Montreal women. Next step: a focus group will be held on November 24. The CÉAF is especially interested in hearing from women who have been harassed based on their disability, religion, sexual orientation, age, Indigenous background or “race.” Interested in learning more? Contact the research team at recherche.hdr@gmail.com.

Learn more about this campaign in which the TGFM is a partner, along with Women and Cities International, the Conseil des Montréalaises and the Mouvement contre le viol et l’inceste.

> Video (in French): On discute de harcèlement de rue, On va se le dire, 11.11.2019