Tatyana Fazlalizadeh is a female-identified artist that I believe critically addresses a cultural, social and political issue; how women are treated and interacted within public spaces. She is best known for her art project addressing gender-based street harassment, particularly against women. It was created as a way to speak back toward her harassers who make comments on women's bodies that are aggressive, assertive and unwelcome. Fazlalizadeh chose to create her work in a form that could be easily replicated and publicly displayed in the same spaces where the source of the problem occurs: on the street. Using the portraits and words of live subjects, she creates posters and applies them using wheatpaste within the neighborhood of the individual and all over that give a face to words of the woman addressing the harassers directly.
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Left to right: "Men do not own the streets", "Harassing women is not amusing", "I am not public space", "My name is not baby, shorty, sexy, boo, sweetheart, ma", "My outfit is not an invitation"
Tatyana Fazlalizadeh, StopTellingWomenToSmile.com |
Street harassment, also known as catcalling, is a daily occurrence for women all over the world that has gained more attention in recent years. More and more women are becoming vocal about their experiences and becoming more proactive in their approach against how men target us based on our appearances. It goes beyond "just a compliment" and becomes physically and psychologically threatening to the victim. It is a way to oppress, objectify and demean women in public. It is an action that is an assertion of dominance and entitlement. Men must be held accountable for their actions and addressed for their behavior. As someone who has personally endured street harassment over the years, I felt highly empowered by Fazlalizadeh's work and what it stands for. Women do not owe men their time, their attention, their bodies or their voice.
W e d o n o t o w e y o u s h i t.
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"Stop Violence Against Women and Girls"
Tatyana Fazlalizadeh, StopTellingWomenToSmile.com |
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"Yo Merezco Ser Respetada" - I Deserve to be Respected
Tatyana Fazlalizadeh, StopTellingWomenToSmile.com |
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Her work has been spotted globally in Berlin, Canada, Mexico, France, United Kingdom, Trinidad and Tobago, the United States (Chicago, New York, New Jersey and more) and has continued to gain momentum over the last 5 years. To view more of her powerful work and videos, visit www.stoptellingwomentosmile.com as well as www.tlynnfaz.com to learn more and how you can get involved. #STWTS #StopTellingWomenToSmile
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