Why catcalling could become a criminal offense in Argentina
Argentine lawmakers are considering a bill that would make catcalling a criminal offense.听
The new legislation was partially inspired by a viral YouTube posted in April by 20-year-old聽Aixa聽Rizzo. In the video, which received half a million views, she recalls being harassed by a group of male electricians outside her home in Buenos Aires and argues that verbal harassment could lead to physical abuse.听
"Lewd comments are just the tip of the iceberg that manifests itself in domestic violence," congresswoman Victoria Donda, who proposed the legislation that would make verbal harassment a crime,聽said聽in an聽聽with the Associated Press.听
A recent conducted by the Universidad Abierta Interamericana (UAI) revealed that the majority of women in Argentina have been on the receiving end of unwanted harassment while walking down the street. More than 70% of the women surveyed said they鈥檇 recently heard sexual comments from strangers, 56% said they cross the street when they see a group of men, and 42% said they are afraid of walking alone in public.
Under the new law, women could report sexual harassment in public places. The complaint would then be reviewed by a judge, who would interview witnesses and determine whether a fine should be levied.听
The proposed legislation has raised concerns from Argentine men, who worry that their well-intentioned compliments could be taken as more aggressive than they intended.听
"If we say nice things, what's wrong with that?" construction worker Elio Borlio. "Things like, 'Look at how beautiful you are.'"聽
The issue of catcalling has frequently found itself in the Argentine spotlight in recent years. In 2014, Mauricio Macri, the mayor of Buenos Aires, came under fire for saying on the radio that women shouldn't be offended by sexual comments from strangers.
鈥淲omen who say they don鈥檛 like it and are offended by it, I don鈥檛 believe it,鈥� Macri聽.听
Catcalling has even made its way into Argentine聽comedy. Comedienne Malena Pichot鈥檚聽 about a woman who is catcalled and fantasizes about murdering her harassers drew thousands of viewers and sparked debate.听
鈥淪ociety is against killing people. But society doesn鈥檛 seem to be bothered by you flashing me, and society doesn鈥檛 seem to have a problem with you telling me that you want to rape me," Pichot says at the end of the video. "So keep on saying it. Maybe one day you鈥檒l work up the nerve to actually rape me.鈥�
Some feel there are risks in implementing anti-catcalling laws.听Gabe Rottman of the American Civil Liberties Union writes in a New York Times聽聽that disorderly conduct laws "can be (and often are)聽misused against lawful protesters, people criticizing the police and individuals filming officers in public. Extending disorderly conduct laws to unwanted verbal interactions would amplify the potential for misuse in these and other areas."聽
The new legislation coincides with a widespread movement combatting femicide and domestic abuse in South American countries. Last week, thousands of Argentinians flooded the streets to protest violence against women.听
The proposed legislation appears to have wide support thus far, and two similar proposals are also being considered by the municipality of Buenos Aires. A vote is expected in the coming months. 聽
