http://www.itsnicethat.com/articles/eliza-hatch-cheer-up-luv-photography-210817
Street harassment is relentless; as it continues to plague over many women worldwide, it’s a problem that often goes unreported and gets ignored. According to a UK study by YouGov and End Violence Against Women Coalition, 85% of young women aged between 18-24 experience unwarranted sexual harassment in public places — alongside 64% of women of all ages. There are endemic levels of sexual violence and harassment in schools where, if significant changes aren’t made, such abuse will “continue at alarming rates.” These statistics are just an example, but as a pervasive problem surprisingly many of these issues receive little national attention, as stated in a 2016 report by UK Parliament. This normalisation seems to be a stimulant for its persistence. The act of catcalling, wolf whistling or the odd hand here and there is perceived as usual behaviour, but how does a woman, or victim of street harassment, stop these moments? Can you report on every whistle, shout and uncomfortable closeness you encounter? Should society’s detachment towards street harassment be ignored?
Eliza Hatch, a photographer based in London, launched the photography project Cheer Up Luv in response to these questions. To open up a dialogue between those who have experienced countless name-callings, and for those who have felt sexually threatened by any means, Cheer Up Luv aims to share these stories and release them into a public sphere. We spoke to Eliza about her reasons behind the project and to find out more about how photography and publicity can act as a powerful catalyst for change.
Run us through the reasons for starting Cheer Up Luv.
I decided to start Cheer Up Luv earlier this year, however the themes behind it have been a constant factor in my life. Growing up in London, you get used to being catcalled and sexually harassed, especially when you are in your school uniform. When I was younger, I was more oblivious to the fact that it was happening to everyone, it seemed normal and you just brushed it off. It was only recently when I mentioned it in frustration to some friends, that I found out how frequently they experienced it too, and It was only after speaking with some male friends and realising their shock and disbelief surrounding the issue, that something switched inside me and I decided enough was enough.
My personal experiences have ranged from being told to ‘smile’ or ‘cheer up’ to more shocking offences, and the purpose for the project for me is to really show the range of what women experience in their day to day lives. I wanted to show how even the most seemingly harmless phrase has bad connotations and shouldn’t be used lightly, and I am trying to make it an accessible platform for women to speak out about anything that has made them feel uncomfortable in a public space. My aims are to show real women and tell their stories, and try to raise awareness about an issue that is completely overlooked. I wanted to create a place where women’s voices can finally be heard and to try to turn their situations where they once felt vulnerable into ones where they are empowered.
How does photojournalism act as a powerful tool? Why the photograph?
I think it is extremely important to use visuals when telling a story; it is more engaging for the reader and even for the story teller. When speaking about sexual harassment, I think it’s necessary to look into the eyes of the woman when reading her story. Words can be extremely powerful and emotive, and when they are paired with a photograph, it emphasises them so much more. For me, the project has always been about showing the woman in her daily surroundings because that is where everyday street harassment happens. To show how normalised harassment is for women, I need photograph them in and completely familiar environment so viewers can relate. The woman is always the central focus in my imagery and my aims are to turn the place where she once felt victimised into a stage for her to speak out on.