The 3A’s of Street Harassment Disruption are a plan to deal with Street Harassment as it occurs. They are designed to provide the Target of the harassment a strategic response. The response is designed to have an effect on four entities.
1. Target- Provide the Target with a response that will make the Target feel better.
2. Harasser – Provide the Harasser with a response that discourages this type of behavior.
3. Bystanders – Provide a response that encourages Bystander support of Target.
4. Community – Provide a response that discourages Street Harassment in general in society.
ACKNOWLEDGE – It is important for the Target and Bystander to acknowledge that she or someone else is being targeted for harassment. That this behavior is harmful not only to the Target, but to all those that witness it. Adolescents are most at-risk.
ASSESS – The Target and Bystander need to rapidly assess several factors in order to formulate the most effective response.
Assess what type Harasser is involved and what is the Harasser’s immediate Intention.
Assess the environment for intervening and mitigating factors such as other supportive Bystanders, police, or more Harassers.
Assess the Target’s and the Bystander’s realistic ability (strengths & weaknesses) to confront the Harassment.
ACT – If there is no immediate threat to personal safety, the action should let the Harasser know that his behavior is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. To avoid escalating the situation, this message should not to be conveyed with anger , but with a strong voice and body language that leaves no doubt about the inappropriateness of the behavior. "Not interested!", “Stop harassing women.” . “Don’t touch me.” “Move away.” “Back off!” are examples of assertive phrases designed to deter some types of harassing behavior.
Response actions can be divided into three main types:
1. Visual - A signal from the Target using body language.
2. Verbal – Calculated words or phrases from the Target in response.
3. Physical – Physical movements from the Target in response.
The most effective responses will usually be Compound Actions and use multiple types of Actions.
The idea here is to understand WHAT type of reaction the Harasser WANTS and give him one that is the most opposite to what he WANTS. For example, if he wants to shock and disgust you, you show amusement and contempt for his “ability” to shock and disgust.