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SEXUAL HARASSMENT

1,001 Norwegian artists denounce sexual harassment

A thousand and one artists in Norway, considered one of the world's most gender-equal countries, have denounced rape, assault and harassment in manifestos published by the Norwegian media on Thursday.

Published: 23 November 2017 15:52 CET
1,001 Norwegian artists denounce sexual harassment
File photo: Torstein Bøe / NTB scanpix

“Shame and guilt must go to where they belong: among those who harass and those who protect (the perpetrators),” said a declaration signed by 295 female singers and published by the daily Aftenposten.

In a separate text, 706 female musicians pointed out that “there is no reason to believe that the music community is better here, even in 'the most equal country in the world'.”

Norway was ranked the second most gender-equal country in a 2017 World Economic Forum report, which takes into account wage inequalities for women as well as their participation and representation in political and business environments.

Scandinavian countries pride themselves on topping the list in gender equality, with Iceland in first place, Finland in third and Sweden in fifth place.

The denunciations come after the downfall of movie mogul Harvey Weinstein, who has been accused of sexual assault by more than a hundred women.

On the same pages as the manifestos, Aftenposten published several anonymous testimonials from artists who reported sexual violence, pressure and humiliation.

“In Oslo, I was the victim of aggression from someone I had a thing with,” one musician wrote.

“I thought like others that this is something common, that it wasn't worth doing something about”.

Another singer said that during her career, “I received uninterrupted comments on my looks and my sexuality”.

“I had countless text messages from colleagues writing about my looks and nothing about the job I had just done.”

The manifestos followed a similar step by more than 500 Norwegian actresses last week.

The Weinstein case also inspired women in Sweden, where nearly 2,000 female musicians have denounced sexual abuse.

READ ALSO: Sexual harassment in Norway's media industry to be investigated

METOO

‘When I said no’: Danish women in campaign against sexual assault victim blaming

Women in Denmark have joined a social media movement responding to victim blaming of women who have suffered sexual violence and harassment.

Published: 20 July 2021 14:37 CEST
'When I said no': Danish women in campaign against sexual assault victim blaming
Illustration file photo: Issei Kato/Reuters/Ritzau Scanpi

Using the hashtag #dajegsagdefra, which translates loosely to ‘when I said no’, women have described assault, attacks, violence, harassment and humiliation against them which occurred or continued after they rejected the advances of an attacker.

The hashtag began to trend in response to social media comments suggesting women can avoid being assaulted simply by firmly ‘saying no’ (ved at sige fra). Such comments have been criticised as an attempt to place responsibility for sexual assault, violence and harassment with victims.

The discussion is linked to Denmark’s #MeToo debate, which remains a prominent issue in the country after thousands of women shared stories of sexual harassment in late 2020.

READ ALSO:

 In the hashtagged tweets, the women describe situations of sexual assault or harassment which escalated after they told the aggressor to stop.

Kirstine Holst, the chairperson of support organisation Voldtægtsofres Vilkår, is among those to have shared personal accounts.

“When I said no I was held by the throat and raped”, Holst’s tweet reads.

Another voice in the Danish debate, Khaterah Parwani, is also among those to have tweeted using the hashtag.

Parwani is director of Løft, an organisation which works against negative social control.

She described several incidents in which she was subjected to violence and abuse after saying no to an aggressor, including being “unrecognisable at hospital” after an attack and “beaten up in a car and lying bleeding on a wet pavement”.

A number of Twitter uses in Denmark also highlighted on Tuesday a report issued by police in North Zealand of an incident in which a 22-year-old man punched and kicked a 15-year-old girl after she asked him to stop whistling at her and friends, and told him her age.

That incident occurred in the town of Espergærde.

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