10 Hours of Walking in NYC as a Woman

10 Hours of Walking in NYC as a Woman 10 Hours of Walking in NYC as a Woman.jpg Screenshot from the video Rob Bliss Shoshana Roberts Hollaback! 2014 10 27 1 54 United States English 10 Hours of Walking in NYC as a Woman is an October 2014 video created for Hollaback! by Rob Bliss Creative featuring 24-year-old actress Shoshana Roberts. The video shows Roberts walking through various neighborhoods of New York City, wearing jeans, a black crewneck T-shirt, with a hidden camera recording her from the front. The two-minute video includes selected footage from ten hours, showcasing what has been described as "catcalls" and street harassment of Roberts by men, reporting there were 108 such instances. The behaviors included people saying "hello" or "good morning", comments on Roberts' appearance, attempts to initiate conversation, angry remarks, and men following her for several minutes.http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/10/28/walking-in-nyc-as-a-woman_n_6063054.html Watch This Woman Receive 100 Catcalls While Walking Around For A Day Sieczkowski Cavan October 28, 2014 April 13, 2015 Huffington Posthttps://time.com/3543632/street-harassment-hollaback-video/ Watch This Woman Get Harassed 108 Times While Walking in New York City Alter Charlotte October 28, 2014 April 13, 2015 Time Magazinehttp://www.cnn.com/2014/10/28/living/hollaback-10-hours-walking-in-nyc/ What 10 hours of street harassment in NYC looks like Grinberg Emanuella October 29, 2014 April 13, 2015 CNNRyan Andrew Now Trending: Woman harassed more than 100 times walking streets of New York https://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/celebrity-news/the-a-list/now-trending-woman-harassed-more-than-100-times-walking-streets-of-new-york/article21368304/ 18 June 2015 The Globe and Mail 29 October 2014 November 2025, the video has received over 52 million views on YouTube.28 October 2014 10 Hours of Walking in NYC as a Woman https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1XGPvbWn0A 20 November 2025 Youtube Rob Bliss Creative Production and goals Roberts said she got involved with the video by responding to a Craigslist post by Rob Bliss a few months prior, and that although Bliss told her that this was potentially a viral video, she was skeptical but was open to giving it a try.https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/she-the-people/wp/2014/10/29/the-story-behind-that-10-hours-of-walking-in-nyc-viral-street-harassment-video/ The story behind that '10 hours of walking in NYC' viral street harassment video Butler Bethonie October 29, 2014 April 14, 2015 The Washington Posthttps://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2014/dec/17/the-woman-in-10-hours-walking-in-nyc-i-got-people-wanting-to-slit-my-throat The woman in 10 Hours Walking in NYC: 'I got people wanting to slit my throat' The video exposing 10 hours of sexual harassment in New York in October has now had nearly 40m hits. But what was the impact on struggling actor Soshana Roberts? Hoby Hermione December 17, 2014 April 15, 2015 The Guardian Bliss himself shot the video by walking a few feet in front of Roberts with a GoPro camera in his backpack. Bliss and Emily May (executive director and co-founder of Hollaback!, for whom the video was made) clarified in comments to The Washington Post that Roberts' dress choice (jeans and a T-shirt) was made so as to debunk the misconception that women only get harassed if they wear revealing clothing. Roberts also said that she experienced similar harassment every day on the streets of New York City as was shown in the video. Reception The video was hailed for providing visual proof of what many considered an important problem relating to the treatment of women in city streets.http://kottke.org/14/10/ten-hours-of-walking-in-nyc-as-a-woman Ten hours of walking in NYC as a woman Kottke Jason Jason Kottke October 29, 2014 April 13, 2015 Several commentators disputed the implicit characterization of many incidents in the video, such as people casually greeting Roberts, as harassment.https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/USA-Update/2014/1030/Catcall-video-reaction-Is-hello-in-the-street-sexual-harassment-video Catcall video reaction: Is 'hello' in the street sexual harassment? The Christian Science Monitor October 30, 2014 Others responded that, even though the words themselves may not seem like harassment, the social context, including that they were directed only at Roberts rather than at male passersby, made them harassment.February 2021 Another criticism was that the video was racially biased because it depicted black men harassing Roberts, who is Jewish, even though the video creator said that she was catcalled by people of all races.http://www.slate.com/blogs/xx_factor/2014/10/29/catcalling_video_hollaback_s_look_at_street_harassment_in_nyc_edited_out.html The Problem With That Catcalling Video Rosin Hanna October 29, 2014 April 13, 2015 Slate Magazine https://storify.com/Aut_Omnia/why-you-shouldnt-share-the-nyc Why you shouldn't share that NYC catcalling video. The video, and its director, are not what they seem. Automnia Storify October 28, 2014 April 13, 2015https://www.npr.org/blogs/codeswitch/2014/11/01/360422087/hollaback-video-calls-out-catcallers-but-cuts-out-white-men Video Calls Out Catcallers, But Cuts Out White Men November 1, 2014 April 13, 2015 National Public Radio Hollaback! responded to the criticism by noting that this video was only the first in a series of many videos that would document different forms of street harassment, and said it regretted any racial bias in the video.http://www.ihollaback.org/blog/2014/10/30/statement-about-recent-street-harassment-psa/ Statement about recent street harassment PSA Hollaback! October 30, 2014 April 13, 2015 An analysis of the video documented that most of the scenes shown in the video were taken in neighborhoods with predominantly black and Hispanic populations, raising the question of whether the video was shot mostly in these locations, or whether harassment was more prevalent in these locations than in others. http://massappeal.com/does-this-street-harassment-video-really-represent-nyc/ Does This Street Harassment Video Really Represent NYC? Moore Chris October 29, 2014 April 13, 2015 Mass Appeal https://web.archive.org/web/20150407190226/http://massappeal.com/does-this-street-harassment-video-really-represent-nyc/ April 7, 2015 dead http://www.libertyviral.com/turns-out-that-catcalling-video-was-mostly-shot-in-minority-neighborhoods/ Turns Out That Catcalling Video Was Mostly Shot In Minority Neighborhoods November 4, 2014 April 13, 2015 Liberty Viral https://web.archive.org/web/20141124124836/http://libertyviral.com/turns-out-that-catcalling-video-was-mostly-shot-in-minority-neighborhoods/ 2014-11-24 dead The video was discussed on CNN by Amanda Seales and Steve Santagati in a segment hosted by Fredricka Whitfield, with Seales saying that men catcalling women is not complimentary and that women do not like being catcalled, while Santagati went on to defend men catcalling women, saying that women should take catcalling as a compliment and not abuse.That time CNN asked a 'bad boy' expert to give his thoughts on catcalling en-US Washington Post https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/arts-and-entertainment/wp/2014/11/03/that-time-cnn-asked-a-bad-boy-expert-to-give-his-thoughts-on-catcalling/ 2022-04-23 0190-82862014-11-05 You Won't Believe This Man's Sexist Reaction to the Viral Catcalling Video: Watch Now! https://www.eonline.com/news/594818/you-won-t-believe-this-man-s-sexist-reaction-to-the-viral-catcalling-video-watch-now 2022-04-23 E! Online Some critics combined both angles of criticism, claiming that the comments that Roberts considered street harassment were so perceived by her (and by her audience) because of race and class differences between her and the men making the comments. http://www.libertyviral.com/uppity-white-liberal-upset-about-being-catcalled-by-minorities-in-nyc/ Uppity, White Liberal Upset About Being Catcalled By Minorities In NYC Liberty Viral October 29, 2014 April 13, 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150626011231/http://www.libertyviral.com/uppity-white-liberal-upset-about-being-catcalled-by-minorities-in-nyc/ 2015-06-26 dead Others disputed the characterization of the video as racist.http://beautifulbitchmonsteridiot.com/2014/10/30/harassement-and-freedom-of-speech/ Harassment and freedom of speech Chok Vera October 30, 2014 April 13, 2015 This video and the point it’s drawing our attention to is not my idea of a liberal, racist, or neurotic video. Roberts, the woman featured in the video, reported receiving death threats within days of the video being released, and said that she no longer felt safe.https://www.npr.org/2014/11/01/360494480/woman-in-street-harassment-video-i-do-not-feel-safe-right-now Woman In Street Harassment Video: 'I Do Not Feel Safe Right Now' November 1, 2014 April 13, 2015 National Public Radiohttps://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/actress-who-highlighted-street-harassment-receives-rape-threats-online-9824803.html https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220501/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/actress-who-highlighted-street-harassment-receives-rape-threats-online-9824803.html 2022-05-01 subscription live Shoshana Roberts: Actress who highlighted street harassment receives rape threats online October 29, 2014 April 13, 2015 The Independenthttps://www.vox.com/2014/10/29/7088867/catcall-video-hollaback-rape-threats The woman who made a video about catcalling is already getting rape threats McKinney Kelsey October 29, 2014 April 13, 2015 Vox.comhttp://op-talk.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/10/30/when-street-harassment-continues-online/?_r=0 When Street Harassment Continues Online North Anna October 30, 2014 April 14, 2015 The New York Times Roberts later filed a lawsuit against the video's producers.Burke Kerry http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/actress-walking-nyc-woman-video-files-lawsuit-article-1.2292312 'Walking in NYC as a Woman' catcall video actress files suit NY Daily News 2016-12-28 However, the lawsuit was dismissed before going to trial.Roberts v. Bliss et al, S.D.N.Y. Document 62 No. 15-CV-10167 2017 http://law.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/new-york/nysdce/1:2015cv10167/451761/62/ March 5, 2017 The Defendants' motions to dismiss Plaintiffs Lanham Act claim are granted. Plaintiffs state law claims are dismissed without prejudice, and she has the option to replead them in the New York State courts. The Clerk of the Court is respectfully requested to close the motions pending at Docket Numbers 37 and 43 and close the case. In 2015, Roberts was named as one of The Forward 50.Jane Eisner http://forward.com/series/forward-50/2015/ Forward 50 2015 Forward.com 2015-11-11 Response videos A spoof Funny or Die video showed a man walking around for ten hours in NYC and getting harassed.http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/10/30/walking-in-nyc-as-a-man-funny-or-die_n_6072664.html This Is What 10 Hours Of Walking In NYC As A White Man Looks Like, According To Funny Or Die Huffington Post Mosbergen Dominique October 30, 2014 April 13, 2015 Josh Apter and Gary Mahmoud of the YouTube channel Cringe Factory created a spoof of 10 Hours of Princess Leia Walking in NYC.https://time.com/3579359/princess-leia-catcalling-spoof-video/ Watch 10 Hours of Princess Leia Walking in NYC 11 November 2014 Comedian Scott Rogowsky also made a spoof video showing 10 hours of walking through NYC as a Jew.http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/11/03/10-hours-walking-jewish-man-scott-rogowsky-video_n_6094746.html '10 Hours Of Walking Through NYC' As A Jewish Man Goes A Little Differently Dicker Ron November 3, 2014 April 14, 2015 Huffington Posthttps://www.haaretz.com/jewish-world/jewish-world-news/1.624519 https://web.archive.org/web/20141105120052/http://www.haaretz.com/jewish-world/jewish-world-news/1.624519 dead November 5, 2014 WATCH: What happens when a Jew walks in NYC for 10 hours? '10 Hours of Walking in NYC as a Jew' shows comedian Scott Rogowsky being urged to daven, do a mitzvah and sniff an etrog. Haaretz November 4, 2014 April 14, 2015https://www.timesofisrael.com/10-hours-of-chabad-harassment-in-ny/ 10 hours of Chabad 'harassment' in NY. NY comedian Scott Rogowsky pokes fun at ultra-Orthodox group's outreach efforts on city streets Times of Israel Ghert-Zand Renee November 4, 2014 April 14, 2015 A man dressed as a hipster also made a spoof video, walking through the streets of Austin, Texas.http://www.dailydot.com/lol/10-hours-walking-austin-hipster/ Finally, the dangers of walking in Austin as a hipster are exposed Schroeder Audra November 6, 2014 April 14, 2015 The Daily Dot A male model walked around New York City for three hours, recorded via hidden camera by Model Pranksters, was shown to have received over 30 catcalls, many of them qualitatively similar to what Roberts received. The video was taken as evidence that an attractive man in a body-flattering outfit could get harassed in much the same way that many women did, but commentators noted that whereas harassment was a reality for almost all women, only extremely good-looking men had to deal with it.http://elitedaily.com/news/world/man-harassed-walking-nyc-streets/823677/ Man Gets Harassed Over 30 Times In 3 Hours Walking In NYC (Video) Smith Kevin November 1, 2014 April 13, 2015 Elite Dailyhttp://metro.co.uk/2014/11/01/video-of-a-man-getting-catcalled-in-new-york-stirs-up-harassment-debate-4930405/ Video of a man getting catcalled in New York stirs up harassment debate Wheaton Oliver November 1, 2014 April 13, 2015 Metro http://instinctmagazine.com/post/hot-male-model-endures-sexual-harassment-streets-new-york "Hot Male Model" Endures Sexual Harassment On The Streets Of New York November 3, 2014 April 13, 2015 Instinct Magazine https://web.archive.org/web/20150530010205/http://instinctmagazine.com/post/hot-male-model-endures-sexual-harassment-streets-new-york May 30, 2015 dead A video was shot in Auckland, New Zealand, with a very similar setup to the original video, featuring model Nicola Simpson. The video reported no catcalling instances, and noted that she was stopped only twice, once by somebody asking for directions and another time by somebody who complimented her on her appearance but followed up by apologizing for stopping her. The video was cited as evidence that harassment is not an inevitable reality of life but rather dependent on the culture in a region, and that it was possible for big cities to have substantially lower levels of harassment.http://mic.com/articles/103410/a-model-recreated-that-catcalling-video-in-new-zealand-and-the-difference-is-telling A Model Recreated That Catcalling Video in New Zealand — And the Difference Is Telling Clifton Derrick November 4, 2014 April 14, 2015 Mic.comhttp://www.salon.com/2014/11/05/new_zealand_model_recreates_viral_catcalling_video_does_not_get_catcalled_at_all/ New Zealand model re-creates viral catcalling video, does not get catcalled at all. The issue isn't "boys being boys." It's deep culturally embedded sexism Kutner Jenny November 5, 2014 April 14, 2015 Salonhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/11/05/new-zealand-catcalling-video-new-york-street-harassment_n_6108028.html New Zealand Tries Filming A Catcalling Video And Something Amazing Happens Dicker Ron Huffington Posthttp://www.nydailynews.com/life-style/viral-catcall-video-recreated-new-zealand-article-1.2000115 SEE IT: 'Catcall' video recreated in New Zealand, gets different results. The New Zealand Herald filmed model Nicola Simpson walking around Auckland with a hidden camera to see how people reacted. The final product is worlds different from the viral video recorded in New York City. Taylor Victoria November 5, 2014 April 14, 2015 New York Daily Newshttp://mashable.com/2014/11/06/woman-walks-new-zealand-streets/ A woman walked the streets of New Zealand and nothing happened November 6, 2014 April 14, 2015 Mashable Ryall Jenni A woman walking around New York City, initially dressed in ordinary Western clothing (for five hours) and then in a hijab (for another five hours). Although she got harassed in a manner similar to Roberts in the first five hours, she didn't get harassed in the next five hours. The video was created by Karim Metwaly and the woman in the video was a friend of his. The implied message in favor of wearing the hijab was critiqued by commentators, who argued that such messages continued the tradition of blaming the victim and requiring women to be the ones to adjust their behavior while being judged by the male gaze, a problem allegedly prevalent both in the West and in the Middle East and other Islamic countries. http://theislamicmonthly.com/the-trouble-with-street-harassment-videos-hijab-or-no-hijab/ The Trouble with Street Harassment videos, hijab or no hijab Mastracci David November 7, 2014 April 15, 2015 The Islamic Monthly April 2, 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150402031012/http://theislamicmonthly.com/the-trouble-with-street-harassment-videos-hijab-or-no-hijab/ deadhttp://www.stopstreetharassment.org/2014/11/10-hours-of-walking-in-hijab/ UK: 10 Hours of Walking in NYC as a Woman in Hijab Stop Street Harassment November 20, 2014 Devos Siel April 15, 2015 A woman, Pooja Singh, dressed in miniskirt and a tank top was filmed by IndieTube walking through the streets of Mumbai, India. Although a few men looked at her covertly, nobody approached or harassed her. The video ended with the note: "Not even a single incident of woman street harassment took place in a city that has diversified culture, demographics and economy. The female citizens are safe, respected and treated unbiased in this city which never sleeps." Multiple commentators were pleasantly surprised and praised Mumbai residents for their civility and for minding their own business.http://ibnlive.in.com/news/watch-a-woman-walks-around-the-streets-of-mumbai-for-10-hours-to-recreate-the-viral-nyc-video-doesnt-get-catcalled-even-once/512022-79.html https://web.archive.org/web/20141113140126/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/watch-a-woman-walks-around-the-streets-of-mumbai-for-10-hours-to-recreate-the-viral-nyc-video-doesnt-get-catcalled-even-once/512022-79.html dead November 13, 2014 Watch: A woman walks around the streets of Mumbai for 10 hours to recreate the viral NYC video, doesn't get catcalled even once! November 11, 2014 May 15, 2015 IBN Live A man dressed in a stereotypically gay manner walked around New York City for 3 hours, recorded by hidden video. The creators identified over 50 instances of street harassment faced by the man. The video was cited as evidence of the existence of openly expressed homophobia in society. http://massappeal.com/three-hours-of-walking-in-nyc-dressed-as-a-gay-man/ Three Hours of Walking in NYC Dressed as a Gay Man Murdoch Archie November 18, 2014 April 14, 2015 MassAppeal https://web.archive.org/web/20150415065840/http://massappeal.com/three-hours-of-walking-in-nyc-dressed-as-a-gay-man/ April 15, 2015 dead See also Holding a Black Lives Matter Sign in America's Most Racist Town References 30em External links b1XGPvbWn0A/ Category:2014 English-language films Category:2010s feminist films Category:2014 films Category:2014 YouTube videos Category:Films shot in New York City Category:Fourth-wave feminism Category:Sexual harassment in the United States Category:2010s viral videos Category:Documentary films about women in New York City Category:Films set in New York City Category:Films about sexual harassment