New Video Series Demonstrates Simple and Safe Bystander Intervention Techniques
Interested in preventing creeps from creeping? We sure are, and we hope you are, too. Yet, when witnessing a troubling or uncomfortable situation, it can be difficult to react immediately in a safe and productive manner.
You might worry that intervening will put yourself or another’s safety at risk. You might think it’s none of your business. You might fear that involvement will cause the situation to get worse. You might just freeze, and not know what to say or do.
These are common—and natural—reactions. But they don’t have to be.
It’s up to all of us to help keep others in our community safe and public spaces enjoyable and predator-free. When we understand that intervention is about contributing to safety, rather picking a fight with a creep, we can discover the power – and fun – in standing up for safety. The more people who understand and utilize bystander intervention techniques, the more safety we can bring to our public spaces and communities.
Practice does make perfect, and bystander training works. We’ve created easy-to-digest, less than three-minute videos, directed by Ashley Michel Hoban, to demonstrate the four classic bystander techniques:
Direct
Speak directly to the person who is behaving or speaking in a troubling manner. This is what most people think about when they hear the phrase “bystander intervention,” but it’s only one of four techniques you can use.
Distract
Interrupt the troubling behavior by causing a distraction of some sort. This stops a creep from creeping, and buys you some time to support the person who is targeted or find a way to further handle the situation.
Delegate
Invite someone else to help intervene directly who might be better suited to address the situation. In other words, activate the helpers around you.
Defer
Check in with a person you believe may be impacted by troubling behavior after the fact. This helps to restore a sense of safety to the environment, and mitigates that harm that took place.
By practicing and studying intervention, you can improve your skills and likelihood of responding in the most appropriate way. Together, we have the ability to prevent perpetrators’ actions and protect each other.
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