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The Stranger in the Street: Street Harassment in Feminist Anti-Rape Activism, 1968-1980

Thu, Nov 14, 1:00 to 2:15pm, Hilton Union Square, Floor: Tower 3, 4th Floor, Union Square 10

Abstract

In the late 1960s and early 1970s, American popular discourse depicted the typical rapist as a stranger who attacked women in dark, deserted streets. In response to this threat, feminist anti-rape activists developed street safety tips and self-defense training for women. These resources often linked rape to “street harassment,” suggesting that intrusive behaviors like catcalling, leering, or following could quickly escalate into physical violence. This paper examines how the emphasis on stranger rape shaped feminist anti-rape activism and affected the impact of street harassment on women’s feeling of safety in public space.

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