In her book, Ange-Marie Hancock examines the interplay between social power and inequality as she explores the theory of intersectionality. She suggests that inequality robs individuals of their power and exposes them to further abuse and victimization (Hancock, 2015). She adds that inequalities are exposed in everyday situations. The video in which a woman walks through New York for 10 hours silently confirms that inequality is real and that it has a damaging impact on individuals and the fabric of society.
Hancock does a remarkable job of explaining the role that inequality and social power play in defining the experiences of individuals. Weak members of society endure unimaginable hardship (Hancock, 2015). Watching the video, one is forced to come to terms with the level of harassment that women endure every day. In this video, the woman reports that she suffered over 100 instances of harassment in the space of 10 hours. This is an indictment of society for its failure to do more to tackle harassment and to create safe spaces for women. In the video, all the perpetrators of harassment are male. This is in line with Hancock’s position regarding the interplay between gender and power. Traditionally, women have suffered various forms of abuse while men have been the perpetrators of the abuse. What the video makes clear is that women lack the social and political power that they can use to fight back.
Delegate your assignment to our experts and they will do the rest.
The video addresses the frightening harassment that women suffer routinely. Another issue that the video sheds light on is the ineffectiveness of silence and inaction. Throughout the video, the woman did not speak at all. After an instance of harassment, she kept walking without saying a word. Hancock sheds some light on how powerlessness hinders women and other victims of abuse from fighting back. When the victims remain silent, this encourages the perpetrator to maintain the harassment. Essentially, the victims encourage the perpetrators when they fail to speak out. An argument can be made that had she confronted those behind the harassment, the woman in the video would have had some success in reducing the instances of harassment. Moreover, speaking up would have inspired other women and victims of abuse to rise up and speak out against abuse and harassment. Therefore, the powerlessness of women and victims of abuse encourages harassment and abuse.
All the instances of harassment captured in the video are shocking and disgusting. However, there are some instances that raise serious questions about the moral status of the society today. For example, there is a scene in the video where a man walks alongside the woman for minutes! There is yet another scene where another man keeps pursuing the woman and wondering why she refuses to speak with him. He even suggests that she is quiet because he is ugly. These scenes highlight the fact that the harassment that women endure is multi-faceted. Not only are the women forced to endure scary and awkward moments, they are blamed for realities that they did not create. For instance, the man who suggests that the woman will not speak with him because he is ugly is essentially indicating that the woman has passed judgment on him and is shallow in her thinking.
I have personally suffered harassment. I can relate with the experiences of the woman in the video. It is difficult to fight back when people offer unwanted attention and comments. Lewd and insulting comments are particularly hurtful. The woman in the video is remarkably brave for continuing to walk in the streets despite the fact that she had already endured dozens of instances of various forms of harassment. The video should be a reminder that the society is in urgent need of reflection. We need to work together to create safer spaces where women feel respected and secure.
Reference
Hancock, A. (2015). Intersectionality: An Intellectual History. Oxford: Oxford UP.
