Tell us a little bit about yourself.
My name is Jade! I’m a 17 year old artist living in Puerto Rico that loves to draw, paint and craft!
When did you start your account?
I started my account back in August of 2018!
Why were you inspired to start an account?
I was inspired to start this account because I saw so many pages relating to catcall awareness from all over the world, and I realized that cat calling is a very prominent issue in Puerto Rico so I really wanted to become a part of the community that’s helping to spread awareness on this problem in such a creative way.
Why do you think “chalking back” is a good method to raise awareness?
Because billions of people walk all around the world in their towns or cities every day, and something we look at daily is the ground we walk on. I think it’s such a smart method because we look down all the time, and chalk art will always catch your eye.
Why do you think ending street harassment is important?
I think ending street harassment is important because we all deserve to feel safe no matter where we find ourselves, and disgusting or sexual comments made to you by strangers are never welcomed nor ever taken as compliments.
What’s your favorite thing about your city?
It’s hard to pick one thing because I love everything about Puerto Rico, but I’d have to say it’s a tie between the landscapes or the food!
How can your city better address street harassment?
By using education and awareness. Educating people no matter their age to help them understand that street harassment is never okay, that it’s never the victim’s fault, and that the best we can do is to spread as much awareness as possible because we should never feel unsafe nor should those remarks make us feel bad.
What do you hope is the outcome of your account?
I hope it educates people everywhere, especially in Puerto Rico, and that people realize that sharing their stories is an important step in ending street harassment.
What’s the most difficult street harassment situation you’ve experienced?
I believe it was last year in the city of Luquillo. I was with my family walking along the food kiosks and I got distracted by a menu, so I was left behind by a few feet. When I noticed my family was walking farther, I kept walking to catch up to them and had to pass by a kiosk that was surrounded by creepy looking, middle aged men. I tried to keep my eyes forward, hoping nothing would happen until I walked past them and two of them whistled, while another said “Quédate acá, beba.” which means “Stay here, baby.” and proceeded to make smooching sounds. I completely ignored and caught up to my family, but I genuinely felt like they were gonna do something physical to me. I was 16.
What does being a part of this campaign mean to you?
It means safety and education. I feel at ease knowing that there’s hundreds of people willing to help each other out and sharing our experiences, and while it sucks it happens so often in so many places, it's something we can connect over.
