War Zone

http://www.mediaed.org

What does it feel like to be a woman on the street in a cultural environment that does nothing to discourage men from heckling, following, touching or disparaging women in public spaces?

Filmmaker Maggie Hadleigh-West believes that the streets are a War Zone for women. Armed with only a video-camera, she both demonstrates this experience and, by turning and confronting her abusers, reclaims space that was stolen from her.

War Zone is an excellent discussion starter for both men and women. It gives voice and expression to a disturbing daily aspect of being a woman in this society. It also gives men a direct personal feeling for what harassing behavior looks and feels like to a woman. Young men who may think such behavior is cool or funny will be forced to rethink their assumptions.

War Zone is a classroom, documentary edition of Maggie Hadleigh-West's first film by the same title. Her film has been screened and applauded at scores of festivals in the U.S. and abroad. She has appeared to discuss the film on the Today Show, CBS News, 20/20, BBC, NPR, CNN, and Eye to Eye with Connie Chung.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• MEF
• Media
• Education
• Literacy
• Critical
• Mass
• Industry
• Educational
• Sut
• Jhally
• Maggie
• Hadleigh-West
• Sexism
• Harrassment
• Women

[DamianGarcia92]

I love how they just get pissed once they are pressed about their actions. I admire Maggie for her courage and will to stand up against jerks like that.

[xxWine]

@MrRiseAboveitall

Perhaps perspective can be gained if you think of it not from just a woman's prospective but a woman you're close with.

Like a sister, aunt, mother.

If they were harassed, objectified, degraded and humiliated in public, would you tell them that they should have "considered it a complement"?

I am not sure if that helps you understand a bit more, but it's not always intended to be a simple compliment. There a many men who want more.

[bucketofpopcorn]

i don't get how the beginning relates to the video. why is she saying that boys said she didn't look good enough in the beginning, yet the rest of the video focuses on men, for lack of a better term, "complimenting" her body so they obviously think she looks good.

[MariLee1br]

@onemansrage Short skirts or jeans and t-shirt or long overcoats, we women have to hear this shit on the streets EVERYDAY regardless of what we wear. Go fuck yourself.

[MariLee1br]

@onemansrage Surely by your logic when a man takes his shirt off in a public place, he wants to be harassed or raped.

[hilby]

The men who can actually say their compliments to the womans' face, when she speaks to them directly, I don't mind. Those are compliments. But when you get the guys who will only say them to her when she's taken unawares, and then get all defensive when she asks them directly to repeat themselves, those are the creeps.

[MsRaphael7]

this woman was very brave

[onemansrage]

@foxcub156 I know, I know, women who walk around with their tits and ass hangin out all over the place are descent respectable women. Attention whores are people too. You just got to love feminism. The movement that turned women into ultra easy cum rags. And women even defend this behavior with any irrational excuse they can think of. Can men walk around with their dicks hangin out and demand respect at the same time? I bet not. Women who act like this are pathetic and will never have my respect

[foxcub156]

@onemansrage It's because some men think if a girl is wearing 'revealing' clothing, they want sex. There's nothing wrong with a women's attire, it's the lack of self-control and maturity that some men have that leads to the immature cat-calling and sometimes, unfortunately, rape. Don't be so ignorant by saying ALL women love having guys staring at them and calling them out when they're trying to get through their day. It's not like she stopped and questioned every guy she passed. Only the pervs.

[lupischuckle]

@onemansrage Cool story bro.

[onemansrage]

This is complete bullshit. Women dress themselvs in a way that catches the eye and love the attention they get from it. Then they turn right around and call men pigs for doing exactaly what the woman wanted him to do. Women are also just as bad about this kind of shit as men are, women are always looking at men the same way we look at them but they will never admit it. They believe they have moral superiority just for being born female. That film is a manipulation of reality to demonize men.

[onemansrage]

@fusilier45 Ah yes the shame talk attack. Attack my sexuality or my masculinity or claim I hate women. I've heard it all before. I dont hate women I just hate bullshit and lies told about men. This film was made for one purpose, to demonize men. This film is man hating, nothing more. This film was made with the specific intent of making all men look bad and women look like eternal victims. Women say mean shit to men all the time but its supposed to be ok when women do it. Its called misandry.