“Here, ask Angela”: what is this purple sticker in the window for?

Fighting harassment on the street through a system of password ? This is the government’s ambition. In June 2020 the former secretary of state for equality between women and men wore Marlène Schiappa “The Angela Plan”that continues to grow.

Securing public places

It was originally a student initiative in Rennes. The latter were inspired by the England where the “Ask for Angela” campaign flourished in 2016. The British and French models come together: in both cases it is up to the owners of businesses, bars or hotels to attach a sticker to the window or inside the room.

This little sign works like a password meaning thata victim of bullying you can come take refuge there. The person in danger may ask “Where is Angela?” “, A fictitious staff member, for discreetly say he needs help. The name Angela evokes a angel and symbolizes a reassuring presence.

A solidarity initiative, but for what effects?

In France, “Ask Angela here” is developing gradually. You can see the purple stickers in some places in Rouen, Bordeaux, Nîmes or Lyon … but the government initiative may seem derisive respect urgency and seriousness what is street harassment? In a study published on July 3, 2020, the Ipsos survey institute revealed this 81% of women in France have already experienced sexual harassment in public places.

Finally, the main advantage of this device is perhaps that democratize the reflexes to be adopted to help a victim of harassment. The Ipsos poll reveals another figure even more colossal than the first: 86% of respondents say not knowing how to react when witnessing harassment. However, with this program, volunteer employees receive training from facilities such as family planning to learn to react and listen to a victim with kindness.

Featured Image Credit: © Hossam el-Hamalawy / Flickr