NYC Transit Plans Anti-Groping Campaign

by JeffHuang | August 6, 2008 at 02:07 pm

1193 views | 2 Recommendations | 20 comments

When I was in New York, the subway experience was quite interesting. Not so much the negatives, but I remember it was extremely stuffy and humid. There are constant entertainment with people performing on the subway hoping to get a buck or two. The loud squeaks of the wheel against the tracks whenever we do a sharp turn. It can be extremely crowded during certain times and I am not surprised women are getting sexually harassed during the ride. 69% is an extremely high number, and I agree that something needs to be done about this. An anti-groping campaign is a start.

New York City is fighting back against subway passengers who can't keep their hands to themselves.

People who get groped on crowded subway trains will be encouraged to report it as part of an anti-groping campaign being launched by New York City Transit next month.

The agency expects to distribute 2,000 posters throughout the subway system that tell people who are sexually harassed on trains to report it to an employee or police officer.

A study by Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer last year found 63 percent of women surveyed reported being sexually harassed while on subways and another 10 percent said they were sexually assaulted.

"Women, in particular, need a strong and smart response from the MTA," Stringer said.

Since the report came out, the MTA had considered various awareness campaigns. Meanwhile, posters stating, "Rob against me and I'll expose you," are decorating subway cars in Boston.

Most women CBS 2 HD talked to said that when they are touched on the subway they feel helpless and do whatever they can to move away from the person touching them.

"I don't know if there is much that can be done about it," straphanger Danielle Cheriff said. "It's sad but kind of true."

Stringer has a suggestion for every woman who feels as if she's been sexually harassed on the subway: "If you get touched you should complain, and the more people that complain the more the MTA will have to develop a set of ways to hear those complaints and respond."

The MTA suggests speaking to a transit employee or calling the police if you are groped on the subway.

The study also found that 69 percent of the women surveyed reported they had felt the threat of sexual assault or harassment while on the city subway system.

Lady friends of mine have often told me about horror stories which occurs on the subway. This just doesn't happen in New York, but Taipei, Japan, Shanghai, Vancouver, anywhere with public transit. If anyone has any creepy public transit stories they would like to share, please do post.

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cassy82

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 18:25 on August 6th, 2008

JeffHuang, I like this story. It's good stuff.

TremendousEd

at 06:41 on August 7th, 2008

New York Subway "Get in finally"
foto - Tremendoused

TremendousEd has contributed a photo to this story.

Adartem

at 07:07 on August 7th, 2008

Central Station NY. Late in the eneving during summer. Like me he was waiting the train staying in front of him. Tard dans la soirée pendant l'été. Il attendait son train comme moi qui me trouvait en face de lui!

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anique

at 07:16 on August 7th, 2008

Photo by RJ Mickelson for amNewYork.

anique has contributed a photo to this story.

flamingfeta

at 08:33 on August 7th, 2008

I took this on the downtown 1 train, on the way back from a day of shoot at the cloisters. This family looked how I felt.

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henriquepalazzo

at 08:50 on August 7th, 2008

Hot, cold, hot, cold, hot cold, every time, every day, every line, this is the NY subway!

henriquepalazzo has contributed a photo to this story.

Vagabond-Photos

at 10:28 on August 7th, 2008

nothing like realizing you probably got off on the wrong stop when you've exited out onto an empty platform! Provided a rare photo op. An empty platform in NYC....

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The Hanky Panky Report (not verified)

at 12:20 on August 7th, 2008

The mainstream media, including this article, widely cite a 2007 study which found that 63% of women reported being sexually harassed and 10% saying they had been sexually assaulted while on the subway. Based on this shocking statistic, it would seem that there is an epidemic of male molesters running amok in the Big Apple's underground.

There's only one problem - the statistic is totally unreliable. As was previously reported more than a year ago by both the Wall Street Journal and the New York Post, the study's methodology was fatally flawed. As a result, the 63% figure which has been so widely circulated likely grossly overstates the actual extent of the problem. This type of sensationalistic reporting has become so widespread that many don't even question how improbable these statistics sound any more.

Undoubtedly, steps should be taken to deter the victimization of women on the subway. Rather than starting a scare campaign based on bogus statistics, however, it would be more constructive to promote a campaign based in fact, which encourages and empowers women to deter this type of behavior by forcefully confronting it. As noted in the WCBS story, the failure to confront offensive behavior only invites further attacks - whether on women in the subway, or on men in the media.

sparrinaa

at 12:30 on August 7th, 2008

sparrinaa

at 12:28 on August 7th, 2008

The Tiger Newspaper editor, Caroline Rash and managing editor, Emily Sparr distribute the first annual Sex Issue of The Tiger Newspaper while on the New York subway. The issue was an great attempt at talking about all aspects of sexuality at a southern college. You can read more at www.thetigernews.com

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Orang1na

at 13:11 on August 7th, 2008

Times Square always feels like this to me.

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goobaby

at 15:08 on August 7th, 2008

As a native Californian living in Oakland, I was happy to compare my New York subway experience with our Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) system. I found the NYC subway much more user friendly, cheaper in average ticket cost, with more frequent stops and train times, as it obviously services thousands more commuters than the BART does. The people of NYC defines the subway experience and therefore, it's is a must-see for any NYC visitor. The noise, the smell, the diversity of the commuters, it all added to the overall subway experience.

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ericgillet

at 15:48 on August 7th, 2008

Miriam Toli from Vau de Vire Society travelling from San Francisco where they were awarded "Best Circus Troupe - Best of the Bay 2008".more info on www.vaudeviresociety.com
Photo Eric Gillet.

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jasongover72

at 15:51 on August 7th, 2008

For some reason, this photo is sideways. If someone could figure out how to flip it 90 degrees counter-clockwise, that would be great.

About the photo: I was in NYC on a work related trip for a week in October 2007. This is a shot of my travel partner, taken to memorialize the visit. As a professional artist, she travels to NYC quite often. I'm not sure if she has ever been groped on the subway. I do not envy the person that would make an attempt. They'd certainly get an earful. I'll ask the next time I see her. I was experiencing the NYC subway for the second time in my life on this trip. I wish my hometown of Seattle had the equivalent. As far as being groped, I'm almost 100% positive I was not. But at 6 feet tall and almost 200 pounds, I doubt I'm a target.

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matt.osgood

at 17:27 on August 7th, 2008

New York subway was a cool experience. Met a few characters the times I was on the trains but nothing so that I felt unsafe, in fact quite the opposite, it felt strangely safe. The only time I was a bit uneasy was traveling back from Coney Island and hundreds of kids crammed on. Its good that 'Anti-Groping Campaign' has been started, hopefully people, particularly women will feel safer to travel on there own on the subway.

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mdbradenjr

at 19:29 on August 7th, 2008

It was my first time in the New York Subway system, and I had always had these visions of how I had imagined it. Once I was here i tried to capture those visions, and this was one of them.

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karavita_lea

at 04:45 on August 13th, 2008

We enjoyed a weekend of shopping and shows.

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xoemcraig28

at 08:28 on August 20th, 2008

While I was in New York, I actually didn't ride the subway. I did get a chance to go down and get a look and I found it rather creepy.

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smpleo

at 05:28 on August 21st, 2008

I love the NY subway. Granted, it is not temperature controlled, but what an efficient way to get around the city. The tile work and musicians make art underground, and add to the atmosphere. I've always felt pretty safe there.

smpleo has contributed a photo to this story.