One of the latest projects associated with Girl-Wonder.org is the Con Anti-Harassment Project. Attendance at conventions is one of the many things that gamers and comics fans have very much in common, so we asked Elizabeth McDonald to tell our readers a little bit about CAHP.
In July, my friend Rachel went to the San Diego Comic-Con, inarguably the world’s largest convention for fans. Rachel goes to a lot of conventions as part of her job, but this one stood out for her because of a guy with a “Free Hugs” sign: specifically, when he didn’t shrug off her “No, thanks,” but instead followed her, demanding to know why she was refusing him, and telling her that all he wanted was a hug.
This was unpleasant for Rachel, but it’s probably not surprising to any female readers. However, two weeks later, a popular comics blog written by a stuffed bull named Bully took the time to make an uncharacteristically serious post. The man behind the bull had been at SDCC and had witnessed various instances of stalking, harassment, and assault, and had tried to find out what policies were in place regulating sexual harassment; he was rather shocked to find SDCC had no mention of such a policy. His post was widely linked, and occasioned quite a bit of comment.
I’m not entirely sure whose idea it was to create a central location for a campaign to encourage Cons to adopt anti-harassment policies; but once the idea happened, I do know implementing it took less than 48 hours. All of the pages, the FAQ, the suggested letters, the links, and lists of Cons, were collaboratively written in a flurry of emails. I can identify certain bits that are mine, but some parts I’m honestly unsure if I wrote or just read and pumped my fist at. Karen Healey, Girl-Wonder.org president, exercised her particular genius for volunteering the unwary and had a graphic designer produce a logo for us.
The core of CAHP is straightforward:
Establish:
All conventions should establish policies against verbal and physical harassment, tailored to the specific atmosphere and demographics of their con. Some conventions have, to good effect. Many cons have not, counting on the common sense of their attendees or assuming that the general illegality of such harassment would adequately discourage it within the con.
Unfortunately, the volume of accounts from people who have experienced or witnessed harassment at conventions indicates this is not the case.
We encourage conventions to establish a firm and actionable anti-harassment policy; not as a complete solution, but as a first step towards reducing harassment and increasing safety in the con environment.Articulate:
Cons with policies against verbal and physical harassment should articulate such policies to their attendees, volunteers, and staff via important materials like con programs and websites.
Publicizing such policies tells potential harassers that they will not be tolerated and informs attendees and potential attendees that the con is serious about their safety, will actively discourage harassment, and will have procedures established for responding to harassment if it does occur. Establishing and articulating a policy against harassment also prevents harassers from using ignorance of unacceptable behavior as a means of avoiding the consequences of such behavior.
We encourage cons to articulate their policies in their relevant materials.
Act:
Cons should act upon their verbal and physical harassment policies.
Cons that respond promptly and consistently to harassment complaints and make it clear that harassment complaints will be investigated and acted upon further deter potential harassers and encourage safety and mutual respect among con-goers.
We encourage cons to support their anti-harassment policies by implementing clear procedures for addressing complaints, and to train their volunteers and staff to respond to complaints of harassment or related problems.
It has been fascinating to watch the response: many people immediately helped us promote the Con Anti-Harassment Project without wasting a moment, taking CAHP’s goals as eminently reasonable, and utterly desirable. And yet, a much smaller subsection has responded as if anti-harassment policies are, in themselves, a form of harassment. Why should they have to spend their weekend continually watching themselves, paranoid about how their actions and interactions might be perceived by some complete stranger, who might take it entirely the wrong way?
Why not? My sympathy is limited. Lots of women spend our entire lives that way.
Learn more about the Con Anti-Harassment Project at the CAHP site.
Site Administrator
tekanji