Press Release
AAUW's Holly Kearl Gives Talk, Signs New Book Tonight at GWU
Stop Street Harassment Looks at Solutions, Raises Awareness of Global Problem
Washington – AAUW Legal Advocacy Fund Program Manager Holly Kearl will appear tonight at George Washington University for the Washington, D.C., release of her new book about street harassment. The event will feature prominent activists and former Miss District of Columbia Jen Corey, who will talk about her experience with street harassers.
With the publication of Stop Street Harassment: Making Public Places Safe and Welcoming for Women, Kearl has firmly positioned herself as an expert on this particular brand of harassment. She will speak and sign books today at George Washington University's Marvin Center, Room 307, 800 21st St. NW, at 5 p.m. and on Friday, September 10 at the Bluestockings bookstore in New York City.
Generally dismissed as harmless or even complimentary, street harassment — which includes whistling, catcalls, sexist or sexually explicit comments, and can escalate to stalking, groping, and assault — is, in reality, a violation that makes women feel unsafe in public, especially when they are alone.
"To achieve true gender equality, street harassment must end," Kearl said. "While researching the problem, I was stunned by its global scope. I hope my book can help raise awareness and encourage solutions."
Stop Street Harassment draws on the experiences of more than 800 women from 23 countries. Ninety-nine percent of these women were harassed in public by men who were strangers, and related studies show this to be the experience of 80 to 100 percent of women. Kearl's book explores the societal contexts in which street harassment occurs and the role of factors such as race and sexual orientation. It also details how women experience street harassment, including their feelings and responses, and the ways it negatively affects their lives. Finally, the book offers strategies on how to address and end street harassment.
"Let's be honest. On any given day, at any given minute, in every major city, women experience street harassment and no one speaks up for them. In the book, Holly stresses the importance of male allies in ending street harassment, but too often men see other men engaging in this crude behavior and say nothing," said AAUW Executive Director Linda D. Hallman, CAE. "That is just one reason why AAUW and our nationwide community of women and men have been and will continue to be one of Holly's strongest supporters in her efforts to raise awareness surrounding street harassment."
AAUW is a sponsor of the D.C. Stop Street Harassment event.
Kearl isn't the only published AAUW staff member. Lisa Maatz, director of public policy and government relations, is a contributing essayist to The Secrets of Powerful Women: Leading Change for a New Generation. Released in February, The Secrets of Powerful Women is a collection of 24 essays written by some of the nation's foremost women leaders and thinkers. It focuses on the secrets to success — from personal tales of missteps to power pitfalls, power surges, powerful beginnings, and power suits.
"Our staff at AAUW is not only talented, but also extremely dedicated to improving the lives of women and girls, and I am proud of the work that Holly and Lisa do inside and out of AAUW. We are moved by the ideals of our founding mothers — and by those of men of good conscience — who were driven to make the world a more equitable place," Hallman said.
About Holly Kearl
At AAUW, Holly oversees the Legal Advocacy Fund, Campus Action Project grants, and the Student Advisory Council. She received a bachelor's degree from Santa Clara University and earned a master's degree from George Washington University, where she wrote a thesis on ways women fight street harassment. Her work on street harassment has been cited by the United Nations, CNN, the Guardian, Feministing, and Jezebel. Kearl runs the website Stop Street Harassment and has written about street harassment for Forbes.com, the Huffington Post, the Oregonian, and AOL.
Kearl's Upcoming Appearances
- Santa Clara University, Santa Clara, California, October 8
- University of California, Santa Barbara, California, October 14
- National Women's Studies Association Conference, Denver, Colorado, November 11.
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The American Association of University Women (AAUW) advances equity for women and girls through advocacy, education, philanthropy, and research. Since 1881, AAUW has been one of the nation's leading voices promoting education and equity for women and girls. AAUW has a nationwide network of more than 100,000 members and donors, 1,000 branches, and 500 college/university institutional partners. Since AAUW's founding 130 years ago, members have examined and taken positions on the fundamental issues of the day — educational, social, economic, and political. AAUW's commitment to educational equity is reflected in its public policy advocacy, community programs, leadership development, conventions and conferences, national partnerships, and international connections.