IT ain't easy being a woman. She cannot go anywhere, anytime, wearing anything she likes, because if something bad happens people will think, "Well, what was she doing there, alone, at that time of night, dressed like that, anyway?" The newest threat
to women’s dignityShe must be careful while walking on the sidewalk because somebody could drive by, try to snatch her purse and drag her along the asphalt if she doesn't let go. When she's socializing, even at a private party, she must watch her drink so it doesn't get spiked with a date-rape drug.
Now, the modern-day woman has to be wary of yet one more possible assault on her dignity, safety and ability to enjoy life.
According to an Associated Press story, the latest affront to women is video perverts. In increasing numbers in public places, they are aiming cameras up women's skirts or down their blouses and later broadcasting those pictures on the Internet. Get this: This vulgar practice isn't even against the law!
Check out these disturbing excerpts from the AP article, datelined Anaheim, Calif.: "Three men have been caught recently: one at Disneyland, one at the beach and one at Garden Grove's Strawberry Festival. They were discovered surreptitiously taping women as they stood in concession lines, stepped off rides or walked toward bathrooms.
"On the tape confiscated a few weeks ago at Disneyland, the videographer appears to hide his camcorder in a large bag that he slowly slides next to women's legs. He follows several dozen women for up to 10 minutes each, trying to position the bag directly under their skirts or shorts.
"Because the sneak shooting takes place in public, police say, it's legal even though it's outrageous...The taping is not battery because nobody was touched. It is also neither eavesdropping nor aiding and abetting indecent exposure. It is a crime to tape in rest-rooms, changing rooms, tanning salons or anywhere there is an expectation of privacy. But not in public.
"Anaheim investigators said they were particularly repulsed to find Web sites devoted to teaching men how to film 'up-skirt' or 'down blouse' without getting caught. The sites urge voyeurs to use cameras disguised as pagers or water bottles. The site displays hundreds of semi-nude pictures.
" 'This amazing technology will allow us to go boldly where no man has gone before...the potential is limitless,' says (one) Web site. 'Men used to bring down a head of an animal as a trophy,' said Robert Roy, 25, a worker for the parent company that runs the site. 'Now it's panties. This a high-tech, urban form of hunting.'
"Roy said the group hunts wherever there are lots of women: amusement parks, restaurants, shopping malls."
IT ain't easy being a woman, because there are certain things we can't do in a persistently misogynist society. So we don't go anywhere, when we want, dressed however we like, for fear of hearing, "She asked for it." When we walk on the streets, we hold our handbags close. We can't accept a drink from a stranger, because it might be laced with something nasty.
Moreover, we must now be ever vigilant in public, even in a place like Disneyland, because some video pervert might be trying to film our private parts to broadcast all over the Internet.
Yes, we have accepted these limitations. But we look at our daughters, the women of tomorrow, with great empathy and sadness.
Diane Yukihiro Chang's column runs Monday and Friday.
She can be reached by phone at 525-8607, via e-mail at
DianeChang@aol.com, or by fax at 523-7863.