RAB Source Entry 1- Ariana Dominguez

Ariana Dominguez 

  My research question is: How does sex-based harassment in public space affect women? 

This topic interests me because as a woman I usually don’t feel safe walking outside. Every time I turn on my tv or go on to social media there is always a post on how woman are attacked or verbally harassed. I have been in many situations like this, making me feel uneasy and scared. I could be minding my own business heading to work when I hear a male voice by my ear say some inappropriate words. I see women get harassed even when they wear loose clothing. Women feel like they’re cant talk back to the catcalling because there afraid to get attacked. What can society do for catcalling to come to an end? What can women do for other women when they are being harassed. Women constantly live in fear not knowing if they’re going to be safe walking outside. 

Source Entry #1 

Part 1: MLA CITATION 

Bosman, Julie. “A College Student Was Killed by a Man Whose Catcalls She Tried to Ignore, Prosecutors Say.” The New York Times, 27 Nov. 2019. NYTimes.com, https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/27/us/chicago-college-student-killed-catcall.html?searchResultPosition=1

Part 2: SUMMARY 

         In Julie’s Bosman 2019 New York Times article she talks about how young women experience getting catcalled. A college student named Kayla Massey stated “she endures street harassment constantly, and her response varies based on the circumstances: what time of day it is, wheather she is alone or in a pack of friends.” She shares the story of a young honor’s student named Ms. Ruth George from Naperville who was catcalled by a man as she was walking to her car. She had taken an uber to a parking garage where her car was but unfortunately she was killed by her catcaller Mr. Thurman. He had made a disturbing comment to Ms. George, who she ignored, made the cataller angry, leading him to follow her and commit first-degree murder. Other college students heard the news on what happened to Ms. George and they were angry about the situation. A college student named Maryann Tharian says “ We’ve all had experience being catcalled, we’d do the same thing Ruth did. Ignore them and keep walking. It’s just terrifying.” Many college students speak out on catcalling and talk about how catcalling occurs at any point it can happen while being in a large group or just on your own. Kayla Massey says she doesn’t know whether to speak up when being catcalled or be quiet and keep walking.

Part 3:  REFLECTION 

           This article makes me understand the importance of how catcalling has affected women on a daily basis. Catcalling is happening more often than you know, especially towards young women. The fact that this has become normalized is insane. This shouldn’t be a thing, there should be more awareness towards this issue. So that way there aren’t more incidents like the case of Ms.George where “she was just trying to get home”  but unfortunately never made it to her family. I agree with Maryanna Tharian that women endure verbal harassment by men because it can be scary to talk back to someone who’s twice the size as you. But women shouldn’t have to go through these verbal harassment in the first place, they’re just unnecessary and unwanted comments. I can relate to the writer Julie Bosman because as a woman it’s important to share awneress to other women’s safety. You never know what could happen when your face to a similar situation as Ms. George. I myself have had times where I have been left in shock and horrified. One afternoon I went to hang out with my friends at the movie theaters. We were all having a great time but it was time to head home when all of sudden an old creepy guy made a disturbing comment but as usual we just ignored it and kept moving. I had realized we were being  followed by the same old creepy guy. We didn’t know what to do so we sped up and he sped up behind us, our faces went blank and our hearts started to race very fast. We did our best to lose him and when we did, the relief we felt knowing we were safe.

Part 4: RHETORICAL ANALYSIS 

            Julie Bosman is a reporter in the midwest, she’s a writer for the times on the coronavirus pandemic, education, politics, law enforcement and literature. The article “ A college student was killed by a man whose catcalls she tried to Ignore, Prosecutors say”,  style of writing is to inform. The purpose is to inform the public, mostly women, of the effects of catcalling has on women. The author’s tone is informal, she’s trying to inform readers what women have to go through on a daily basis when getting catcalled. The New York Times is a reliable source because it’s opinion based but also factual. 

Part 5: NOTABLE QUOTABLES

“The man, Donald Thurman, followed the 19-year-old student, Ruth George, as she entered a parking garage, prosecutors said on Tuesday. He followed her from behind and put her in a chokehold, they said.” (Bosman)

“We’ve all had experiences being catcalled. We’d do the same thing Ruth did. Ignore them and keep walking. It’s just terrifying.”(Bosman)

“When she is catcalled, which is often, she doesn’t react to the men, believing that is the safest exit from a threatening situation.” (Bosman)

 “Then later, I’m mad at myself and I wish I could have responded in a different way,” Ms. Luciano said. (Bosman)