The complaint of sexual harassment against Eric Raoult, denounced by his collaborator,
presented on the carpet about the ambient sexism, whether at work, at university or in the
street. The daily struggle remains to be done to eradicate these repeated violence and the
many consequences. ---- Since last March, the former mayor UMP Raincy (93), Eric Raoult,
the subject of an investigation following the termination of Agnes Desmaret, former
director of the municipal center for social action (CCAS) of the city, he dismissed after
almost a year of sexual harassment and more than 15,000 text messages of a sexual nature.
The line of defense of the elected reuses the classics: the negation of violence (it was
for him a set of mutual seduction), the excuse of joke (it was all a joke, the Women do
not really humor), and finally, the guilt of the victim, who, we learn, has been re
breasts during the term of Raoult, which means she was trying to say seduce him, right?
"The case-Desmaret Raoult," this is what living in silence thousands of women in the
workplace. That's about one in five women is affected by sexual harassment in the work;
only 5% of them complain. The trivialization of sexual harassment, as we try to assimilate
the simple drag, makes the identification of violence, often minimized and denied by the
victims and perpetrators. Added to this is the fear of consequences for those whose
stalker is a superior (boss, teacher): risk of dismissal or be demoted, fear of not being
able to finish his studies ...
Lately, we heard talk here and there of street harassment that could be defined by all
non-consensual interactions with strangers, that women face in the public space. It may be
"compliments" on physics, various invitations (to go for a coffee, to give his phone
number or - why piss with the formalities - for a blowjob or to take part in multiple sex)
up to the insults and threats.
The omerta reigns
This violence is still not recognized very often trivialized and depoliticized. Worse,
women who complain are accused of causing such reactions, their behavior or their mere
presence in the street.
In Paris, a collective (Stop Street Harassment, present especially on social networks)
rose to denounce the violence and remember that public space is a property that women
should enjoy without fear of assault. They made collages, and wish to lobby municipalities
to encourage them to write charters, leaflets for use by women victims of street
harassment. If with good intentions, we can not doubt that the results: we remember
"advice to women" provided by the Ministry of the Interior, urging women not to go out
alone or avoid deserted places, poorly lit.
The struggle against patriarchy can not simply measures "dressing" or action plans no
future. It is collectively by self-defense, solidarity and collective reappropriation of
public space that can be overcome machismo street.
Aur?line (AL Toulouse)
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» (en) France, Alternative Libertaire AL #239 - Sexual harassment: Let the street to machos (fr, pt)