Online activism and street harassment: digital justice or shouting into the ether?

Street harassment is a common, pervasive experience in the lives of many women. Despite both anecdotal and research evidence confirming its prevalence, and the harm caused by street harassment, it is rarely responded to by the criminal justice system — particularly in its more “minor” incarnations. Online activist sites such as Hollaback have emerged in recent years in response to this legal silence regarding street harassment. While the aim of these sites is to draw attention to women’s experiences and work towards achieving legal responses to street harassment, this article considers the extent to which online activist sites could function as an informal justice mechanism for victims of street harassment. Drawing on the literature on sexual assault victim/survivors’ justice needs, this article firstly approximates what street harassment victims’ justice needs may be. It then moves on to consider the ways in which the online activist site Hollaback Melbourne may function as an avenue for street harassment victims’ needs to be met. Ultimately, while it is clear there is much potential for online activist sites to act as an informal justice mechanism, further work is required to identify street harassment victims’ actual justice needs