RAB Source Entry 3- Ashley

Part 1: MLA citation

Bates, Laura. “Everyday Sexism.” Www.ted.com, 4 Feb. 2019, www.ted.com/talks/laura_bates_everyday_sexism?autoplay=true&muted=true&language=en. Accessed 18 Nov. 2023. 

Part 2: Summary 

A 2013 ted talk, “Everyday Sexism” by Laura Bates, she talks about her personal experience in being harassed in public. She mentions how men don’t know how to control themselves and always belittle women. Not only does Bates speak about her own personal experience, but other women also. Bates talks about the time a woman was running and a dude in his car called her over and she thought it was for directions but when she reached his window, he grabbed both her breasts. To add on she mentions how she was on the bus and a man was groping her and when she said it out loud, everyone looked away. In a 2021 news interview, Sky News, Bates says misogyny has increased and how men blame women when they don’t receive sex. Lastly, she mentions how young men should be taught what’s wrong and right when it comes to treating a woman. 

Part 3: Reflection 

I agree with what Bates said in both interviews because women shouldn’t find any type of harassment as a normal part of their day-to-day life. Not only do older women experience harassment, but young girls too. When I’m by myself in the street men tend to feel very comfortable with complementing me, telling me things, and beeping their vehicle horn at me; but when I’m with guy friends it’s a different story and I don’t get cat called at all. Men don’t have a limit to when they harass women and especially how open they are to do it in public is terrible. Bates mentions in the 2013 ted talk a few workplace stories about bosses telling women to sit on their lap for a promotion or looking at their breasts when speaking to them. The speaker has this website where women and men can upload their own sexism story as a form of speaking up and being heard. When I was 14 years old, I was going to practice in the summer and I had a tee and shorts on, as I was waiting for the train, I notice this guy looking at me repeatedly. I kept aware and I noticed when I got off on my stop and started walking that he was following me and tried to speak to me various times. This was a grown man, and this clearly shows they have no respect nor a limit to their actions. This ted talks and news interview reminds me of the ‘Me Too Movement’ which if you didn’t know is a movement by women who tell their stories of sexual harassment and or assault. 

Part 4: Rhetorical Analysis 

Laura Bates, the speaker in the ted talk and being interviewed by sky news, a British free air television news channel, is a writer and activist and in 2012 founded the Everyday Sexism Project which is a website where women and men can share their daily experiences of sexism, street harassment, workplace discrimination which will go to sexual assault and rape. Sky news is also an English radio news service through online channels. Ted talks is a American- Canadian media organization that distributes international talks online about things the speakers are passionate about. 

Part 5: Notable Quotables

“I said, ‘on the bus this guy’s groping me.’ everybody on that bus looked out the window, or down at their feet, or at their phone.” (1:16) 

“A woman in Pakistan talked about hiding abuse for the sake of family honor” (8:45)

“Recognize that there is a real undercurrent of extremist misogyny in this country and around the world.” (0:30)