From bystander to upstander: the role of men in street harassment
Since July 2024, sexual harassment in public spaces has been a criminal offence in the Netherlands. While street harassment was long approached primarily as a public-order issue, it is now increasingly understood in relation to sexism, gender inequality and violence of which women in particular are victims.
How is this behaviour learned, normalised or, conversely, challenged? And what makes it possible to influence these social dynamics? We discussed these questions with Mischa Dekker.
‘What are you looking at me for?’
Street harassment entered the political agenda around 15 years ago as a ‘public-order disturbance’ and was often associated with young men from migrant backgrounds. At the same time, feminist organisations and policymakers in France placed street harassment within the broader context of sexism, gender inequality and violence against women.
Recent figures show that more than one in three young women have experienced sexual harassment, compared with one in twelve men. LGBTQ+ people, people with disabilities and people who are visibly religious are also disproportionately likely to experience harassment in public spaces. One consequence for young women is that they often take responsibility for their own safety: assessing risks, taking precautions and avoiding certain places.
High-profile cases sparked wider debate
Dekker: ‘Research findings are now being incorporated more actively into public debate. Active and independent feminist movements have broadened the discussion around gender-based violence, as have high-profile cases such as MeToo and The Voice of Holland. As a result, policy now pays greater attention to perpetrators from all sections of society.’
Specialised government bodies focusing on gender issues also contribute to policies in which gender is considered more explicitly. In countries such as Spain and New Zealand, gender equality is a distinct policy area with its own government structures. Some cities have adopted a similar approach. Vienna, for example, has a gender-mainstreaming department and a city councillor whose portfolio includes women’s affairs.
The consequences of framing
Dekker: ‘in a context where street harassment is commonly associated with migration and racialized minority men, it becomes more difficult to address men directly and involve them in discussions about street harassment. Policymakers and professionals try to avoid certain forms of representation to prevent the stigmatisation of men of colour. Addressing men directly can therefore become uncomfortable.’
Campaigns on street harassment sometimes try to avoid stigma by depicting perpetrators not as people, but as predators or shadows. This can make the problem highly abstract, and less likely for men to recognise themselves in such campaigns. A politically safer option is to shift the focus towards victims and what they can do to become more resilient. It is easier to reach agreement on this than on changing perpetrators’ behaviour. Dekker: ‘This creates a paradox: men are increasingly described as part of the solution, while their responsibility is simultaneously diluted, displaced or abstracted.’
According to Dekker, awareness-raising is more effective when it connects the message to the lived experiences of different groups and creates space for discussion and recognisable situations. Read more about how framing and social background influence whether boys take responsibility in the earlier interview ‘From street harassment to abuse of power: the social dynamics behind gender-based violence’.
Digital influences
Ideas promoted online by male influencers spill over into young people’s everyday lives through sexist comments and by undermining the authority of female teachers. The online world can also spill directly into offline behaviour: young men film themselves approaching young women in the street and push boundaries further and further in pursuit of views on social media.
Tradwife content, which idealises a traditional division of roles with women as homemakers and mothers, also reaches audiences in the millions. Its seemingly nostalgic image of perfect family life has proved highly popular. The problem does not lie in this lifestyle as such, but in some of the attitudes and behaviours associated with it. Dekker: ‘There is a great deal of victim-blaming in these circles, while gender-based violence is often portrayed as something that happens entirely outside one’s own group. In the Netherlands, we also see far-right influencers such as Eva Vlaardingerbroek using these issues to argue for closing the borders.’
Breaking social patterns
Legislation establishes an important norm, but it does not immediately change the social processes underlying transgressive behaviour. Interventions that actively engage men are also needed. In schools in Utrecht, for example, positive male role models are being used to open up discussions about ideas of masculinity. Young people explore which behaviours cross boundaries and which forms of masculinity contribute to respectful and equal relationships.
The strength of such role models lies primarily in their ability to build connections. Dekker explains: ‘They can act as a bridge between a municipality or organisation and a specific target group. A message may be perceived as coming from outside, but a role model can connect it to the norms and ideas of the group, making it more likely to be taken seriously. It is important that the approach resonates with the group’s experiences and identity.’
When norms begin to shift
According to Dekker, we should not look only at who did what, but also at the context that enables certain behaviour. Dekker: ‘Ideas about masculinity and sexuality, status, group loyalty and hierarchy can influence which behaviours are tolerated, who challenges others and who looks away. Within organisations too, dependency and fear of reputational damage can prevent transgressive behaviour from being reported, allowing patterns to remain hidden for a long time.’
Without stigma, however, not without responsibility
Involving men in efforts to tackle gender-based violence requires a careful balance: there must be room for dialogue without immediate condemnation, while still making responsibility for behaviour and its consequences clear. Dekker: ‘Interventions that make gender norms open to discussion, allow participants to practise skills and encourage self-reflection are particularly effective.’ The issue, therefore, is not only who engages in transgressive behaviour, but also the role men play when they witness it, excuse it or challenge it. By recognising it as a men’s issue too, responsibility for prevention no longer rests primarily with women. Only when men see themselves as part of both the problem and the solution, can the underlying patterns be broken.
How can you recognise gender-based violence, and what can you do about it as a professional? The Gender-Based Violence course explores current issues such as street harassment, coercive control and femicide. The next edition starts in December 2026. Want to find out more? Visit our website for more information about the (Dutch) course.
Course (Dutch)