I’ve chosen the subject of ‘Social Responsibility’ for the focus of my final year study. Social Responsibility is (very briefly), is a societies behaviour and what is seen as ‘good’ and/or ‘acceptable’ behaviour.
Introduction
I’ve been living and studying in Leeds for nearly two years now and previously coming from living far out in the country side, where everyone was either taught by your grandfather or went to school with your mother, I found it difficult at first to feel comfortable and safe walking around by myself; but soon got used to it. Although back home it’s expected to say good morning to a stranger if you pass them by and smile, it’s no where near as friendly as that in Leeds, mostly because of the obvious reason that Leeds is full of people.
Not to suggest the people of Leeds aren’t friendly, but they’re often closed off to other people until they either:
1. Bump into you
2. You bump into them
3. Both at the same time.
There have been moments (often at bus stops) where I’ve engaged in small talk with strangers, small talk itself I feel is some sort of social acceptance that we’re only speaking because it’d be awkward or perhaps even uncomfortable is we didn’t. But just as many as the friendly little moments - I’ve had people make sexually suggestive comments towards me either by shouting them across roads or refusing to leave me alone on the street, make comments about my body and appearance and sexually assault me by touching my breasts. I’ve also witnessed other women being victim to similar behaviour by others in public, in the past two years I’ve only ever seen the victim look uncomfortable and remove themselves from the situation as quickly as possible or smile and pretend its a compliment, in hopes of getting that person to leave them alone. Personally I’ve been in situations where I’m so intimidated by someone and feel so uncomfortable, that I’ve smiled and pretended to have taken the behaviour as a positive thing - because I’d rather get out of that situation as quick as possible then risk angering the person.
‘Social Responsibility’ means that the individuals within a culture/society behave respectfully and in a sensitive manner towards social, cultural, economical and economical issues. This extends to how these individuals socialise with one another within their solitaires in a manner that does not change regardless of race, religion, gender, age, sexuality and so on. However there are instances which I’ve witnessed for myself where aggressive behaviour is directed towards someone because of their gender, appearance, race or religion and no one defends the victim nor do they voice their disgust about that behaviour. Not only this, but the victim themselves is silent to the abuse they’re being subjected to. I myself have hurried away from someone who has just grabbed my breasts, shouting insults in my head that I wish I could say out loud; but never do. Personally I believe women in particular act to these situations with a silent smile and a quick departure, despite the clear sexual harassment because it isn’t socially acceptable to shout at a stranger with vibrant words for ‘being nice’ or ‘giving you a compliment’. It’s become the norm for some women to be victim of sexual harassment on a daily basic and I’m starting this project to encourage them to just tell those people to ‘fuck off’.
Project outline
I’m planning on developing a comic/zine about street harassment. This project will define the difference between what is socially acceptable behaviour and what is harassment, taken from what I’ve witnessed, read, heard from victims of sexual harassment and personal experience as a woman walking down the street. I want this project to resolve itself in the end with the victim defending herself by telling the harassers to ‘fuck off’ and not just smiling and walking away. I want this project to focus on us as individuals and our obligations to our societies responsibility as feminists. I also want this project to give confidence to victims of street harassment and that it's okay to be offended and angry at someone being verbally or physically abusive towards you.
Methord/Material
I plan to hand illustrate these cartoons and to digitally colour them in photoshop, although I may change my mind as I’m really enjoying using Copic markers right now - I just can’t afford to keep replacing them.
Research
I plan to conduct my own research by speaking to other women about the sexual harassment they’ve faced publicly and how they dealt with it and how they wish they had dealt with it.
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