My name is Kelly Brassington, a fellow member of the WITNESS Project who is participating in the It’s Not A Compliment street harassment campaign.
We at WITNESS Project have conducted several previous campaigns, all of which addressed the issue of violence in different ways. The main aim of this campaign is to make citizens of Guyana aware of street harassment and its toll on society through the use of posters.
I, myself am a victim of street harassment. I was walking on the road with a friend, heading home from a gathering, when someone shouted at me “Aye sexy!” It did not make me feel good about myself. Instead, a feeling of disgust came upon me towards the perpetrator. It was not a compliment in my eyes. It was a way to be obnoxious.
To the persons who tend to indulge in these acts, I feel pity on them, as they do not know how to properly address someone who they believe is beautiful and would like to tell them. I do not condone these kinds of behavior and I would encourage all to speak up for themselves, to the perpetrator, and tell them how you feel about what just took place.