{"id":157084,"date":"2023-07-05T10:56:25","date_gmt":"2023-07-05T08:56:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/?p=157084"},"modified":"2025-12-19T11:26:52","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T10:26:52","slug":"i-get-harassed-here-more-than-in-brazil-students-encounter-harassment-at-the-beach","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2023\/07\/05\/i-get-harassed-here-more-than-in-brazil-students-encounter-harassment-at-the-beach\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018I get harassed here more than in Brazil.\u2019 Students encounter harassment at the beach"},"content":{"rendered":"

Catcalling, unsolicited recordings and lots of stares. Students go to the seaside seeking some relaxation, but are often met with some type of harassment, which they often silently deal with. Students Asl\u0131nur, Caroline and Haya share their personal stories. \u201cI guess women are not safe anywhere.\u201d<\/p>

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\n\t\n\n<\/svg>\n<\/span>\n\tImage by:<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMigle Alonderyte<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>

A few weeks ago, third year Psychology student, Asl\u0131nur Kavuncu (20) from Turkey, noticed a group of guys were recording her and her friends at the beach in Scheveningen, while they were just trying to tan. \u201cMy friends told me that some guys were watching us for a while, and then I looked up and saw their cellphones were fully pointed at us\u201d, she said.\u00a0 \u201cThey had no shame. They sat right in front of us and kept on looking and checking us out.\u201d<\/p>\n

At a beach party organised by Erasmus Night Out (ENO), Haya Alia (19), a Palestinian second year Psychology student, recalls a moment when she briefly left the party and someone on the beach yelled at her.\u00a0 \u201cHe had a kid with him and he approached us, I just smiled out of common courtesy\u201d, she said. \u201cNext thing I know he was asking me to take my clothes off. My friends and I immediately went back to the party.\u201d<\/p>\n

Caroline D\u00e9camps (20): \u201cThe last time I was at the beach here I couldn\u2019t even relax in peace. Even if the men don\u2019t particularly do or say anything, it\u2019s the looks they give, the long stares.\u201d\u00a0 The Brazilian second year Communications and Media student adds: \u201cSometimes I feel like I get harassed here more in Rotterdam than in Brazil.\u201d<\/p>\n

Paranoid<\/h2>

\u201cThere\u2019s nothing much to do in these situations because there\u2019s also the aspect of danger\u201d, said Asl\u0131nur. Sometimes she deals with harassments like these by changing her attitude: \u201cI always get very self-conscious with my behaviour and try to act tougher, I get this tough expression on my face and I act a little less feminine.\u201d<\/p>\n

Harassment happened to all three students very often, also away from the beach. \u201cMultiple times my friends and I been harassed in the streets\u201d, said Caroline. According to Asl\u0131nur, it\u2019s daily reality for women. \u201cUnfortunately these things happen very often and it\u2019s something that is normalised.\u201d Haya: \u201cThere were instances where we got harassed to the point where we almost got beaten up. Some guys at a party shouted at me to cover up and attacked my friends physically.\u201d She added: \u201cMany instances like these have made me very paranoid of living here.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\t

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