When did you start your account?
I started the account in May 2020.
Why were you inspired to start an account?
I followed @catcallsofnyc for one year. I was so thankful I found the page because street harassment is an underrated topic in everyday life. And then one day I was walking to school and saw that there was a chalked catcall in the middle of the sidewalk. My first thought was that this movement is so empowering and the second was that I want to be a part of the movement, finding people who are the change they want to see in the world. I also wanted to empower myself more and be a voice for everyone who needs someone to fight for them, like everyone who is a part of the movement.
Why do you think “chalking back” is a good method to raise awareness?
Chalking back happens in public spaces so there are lots of people who can see it. It is a good method because the chalks are visible in everyday life. People start talking about it while walking by. While we’re chalking back, people ask questions or tell us that they have experienced similar situations. There are lots of people who come over to tell us that they appreciate what we are doing for so many different reasons. Street harassment is a huge part of everyday life for so many people and it is important to hear the voices of people who are harassed. Harassment is happening everywhere and also to so many different groups of people. Everyone needs to know about street harassment to raise awareness.
