Is It Merely Cultural?

“I must be naïve, because I believe in multicultural Brussels.”

The following video is a subtitled version of the full-length Flemish documentary about sexual harassment in Brussels. Vlad posted the trailer for this film a few days ago.

The progressive young woman who made this documentary acknowledges that all the low-lifes who harass women on the streets of Brussels are “of foreign origin”. However, if she were completely candid, she would tell her viewers that the “molesters” are not Chinese, or Australian, or Russian. In point of fact, they all appear to be Muslims. Knowing the demographics of Belgium, most of them are probably Moroccans.

For her, an earnest multiculturalist, there is no conceivable solution to the problem. As she acknowledges at the end of the film, she is trapped.

Everyone she interviews is terrified of being called a “racist”. They’re mired in the Tiny Minority Fallacy. Without any access to an alternative paradigm, they are indeed trapped. There is no way out.

This is the way their world ends.

Many thanks to Michael Laudahn and E.J. Bron for the translation, and to Vlad Tepes for the subtitling:


Transcript:

00:00		A real good evening, welcome to Terzake [To the Point].
00:03		Let's have a drink together. - No thank you.
00:06		At my place, of course, not at a café.
00:07		Or at a hotel, in bed. Directly.
00:09		Don't you understand? I don't want to!
00:10		You are sexy. You give me desire. Isn't that normal?
00:14		Sexy butt!
00:18		For a young woman in Brussels, it is sometimes not a walk in the park.
00:22		Do we really have to let this happen?
00:25		[about the London Olympics, 2nd part of the show]
00:35		Femme de la rue [Street woman]. This is the way RITS [Brussels film academy] student
00:39		Sofie Peeters soon felt when she rented an apartment in Brussels' Anneessensbuurt.
00:43		A young woman can hardly leave the house here, raunchy remarks,
00:48		invasive men and directly insulting comments are primarily the hallmark of foreign Belgians.
00:53		It beggars description to an extent where the student didn't want to let it stand there
00:58		and decided to state the facts, for her final thesis.
01:01		Soon the complete report, this is a taste.
01:12		Two years ago I moved to Brussels.
01:17		They say about big cities that people no longer talk with each other in the streets.
01:23		But this was not quite so.
02:01		You are beautiful, miss. - Thank you. - Are you all right?
02:06		Pardon? - Are you all right?
02:07		I'm all right.
02:08		Are you heading for lunch? - Yes.
02:11		Let me treat you to a glass! - No thank you.
02:14		Whyyy?!
02:15		Do you speak French? [they've heard her Dutch (Flemish) accent] - A little.
02:17		Have a seat. - No thank you.
02:18		It is actually molesting. - Where are you from?
02:20		I live in Brussels, but this is molesting.
02:22		Pardon? No phone number, no.
02:25		Let's have a drink together. - No thank you.
02:26		At my place, of course, not at a café.
02:28		Or at a hotel, in bed. Directly.
02:30		Don't you understand? I don't want to!
02:32		You are sexy. You give me desire. Isn't that normal?
02:35		Sexy butt!
02:40		Tramp.
02:42		Whore.
02:52		Sofie Peeters: these are severe images. Is this what was continually happening to you in the street?
02:58		Actually, yes. It is a pity to say, but this sequence was actually recorded during one afternoon.
03:04		Thus as something that happens quite frequently in certain problematic quarters of Brussels.
03:11		Let us be clear: Certain problematic quarters, this is the Anneessenswijk, a rough quarter.
03:16		Yes, my apartment was in the Anneessenswijk, and this is the Lemonnierlaan, Brussel Zuid [south],
03:20		probably the centre of Brussels [Brussel Zuid is the central railway station].
03:24		Yes, but it doesn't stand as a symbol for all of Brussels.
03:26		No, certainly not.
03:28		How was it then that you took the step for the whole project, for actually making the film?
03:34		This is actually my final thesis for the RITS film academy,
03:39		so, regarding the subject, I had a free choice.
03:41		And I had the feeling that this was something.
03:45		These advances in the street did hurt me a lot,
03:48		and I had the feeling that I was there all on my own,
03:50		meaning that nobody talks about this among students, at the café and such,
03:56		so I thought I should do something new [a new film subject].
04:00		[Interpreting] 'It is my own fault'?!
04:01		Yes, maybe it is my own fault, maybe my clothes are wrong, maybe my behaviour is wrong, I don't know,
04:06		and I asked myself, why do these men continue doing this.
04:09		I mean, if he asks a woman 'C'est quoi ton prix' [What's your price], I cannot imagine that even one woman will respond, so why do they keep on doing it?
04:18		And this was actually my motivation to make my final thesis on this matter.
04:21		So then you decided to simply record these incidents as images,
04:26		and then I go and talk to other people.
04:28		How did you film this?
04:31		These images have been filmed by someone with a camera following me,
04:35		but I also shot many images with a hidden camera,
04:38		like when I simply clipped a pen camera here, a specially hidden camera,
04:47		voilà, then a mic in a handbag, this way.
04:50		It is actually remarkable what you say, these images were shot while they actually saw that film shooting was going on.
04:56		I don't think everyone saw it, but yes - it was actually quite visible for everyone.
05:01		Now, the risk is probably - we will soon broadcast the entire reportage - that what you do here,
05:09		you produce a report on supposed facts,
05:11		but you also threaten to target a whole population group, clearly all we see are men of foreign origin.
05:21		Yes, this was one of my biggest concerns when I started my final thesis, how could I approach this subject without making a racist film of it,
05:29		for it is simply reality, just as you say, when you walk through Brussels:
05:34		In nine out of ten cases, such remarks are made by men of foreign origin.
05:40		But they are, of course, only rrr-otten apples, making part of a whole group.
05:45		voilà, so I need to highlight that, when you walk in the streets of such a quarter in Brussels,
05:49		you will have passed twenty men of foreign origin within five minutes, of which maybe one makes one such a remark,
05:58		of course, this is one too many, but to say that not the entire foreign community is involved,
06:04		not at all, just this small problem group within the foreign community.
06:08		Yes. You are, or were living in Brussels, did you talk about it with - let's say - foreign friends?
06:14		I have in fact talked about it, with both boys and girls.
06:20		The reaction to my documentary was often, 'Ah, great that you do something about this, but be cautious…
06:27		…not to stereotype certain men negatively, so try and do it as balanced and honest as possible', so that is what I have done.
06:38		So, what is it, that you precisely, wish to achieve, with this - reportage?
06:43		Primarily, I would like to see that more women comprehend that they are not the only ones but, this affects a lot of women,
06:52		for this is the impression I had when I made a call for testimonies in March,
06:58		I received a lot of emails, I think it was 70 or 80 emails, sent by women who said, 'Great, finally something is done on this subject',
07:04		and they then gave me testimonies that almost made me fall out of my chair. Oh my God, that is really serious what this woman has gone through.
07:12		But the next sentence was that she didn't want to witness to it on camera, because she didn't want to appear racist or sentimental or daffy,
07:21		so there really continues to be a taboo for women.
07:24		Thus in other words, open the debate and hope that something will happen.
07:28		Yes, in fact.
07:29		Ok, Sofie Peeters, cordial thanks. So shall we now watch the complete reportage,
07:36		for these are the facts as they are, and it is not an obvious debate, but we will lead it.
07:41		First we shall view Sofie Peeters’ complete reportage - Femme de la rue.
07:46
07:48		Do you know the dream where you suddenly realise that you are naked?
07:52		You walk along the street, and everyone stares at you.
07:57		You feel ashamed.
07:59		Everybody's looking.
08:01		You do something wrong, but you don't know what it is.
08:12
10:18		The street doesn't listen to you. This is the feeling I get each time. I have a feeling of not being free.
10:26		Avoid eye contact. When they accost you, just look to the ground and keep going.
10:32		When I now walk in the street, I walk with an iPod in the street, because this way, I don't hear the comments. I sure see that they say something, but I don't hear it anymore.
10:39		I find it an unpleasant idea that I have to find strategies to escape from that, that I need to dress differently or need to choose a different route,
10:43		for this is not my fault. It is nothing I would have to do, it's the other party that needs to change its attitude, and this is really frustrating.
11:02		It was a strange feeling to go outside wearing long pants, given the beautiful weather.
11:09		But so I still found a way to no longer being constantly molested.
11:15		Or so I thought.
11:29		Sexy butt!
11:30		Why do you do that?
11:34		To make the time go by.
11:35		We all have the idea to marry, sometime later.
11:40		Some of us even marry at a young age.
11:42		But until then, there is time to be filled.
11:45		It is great to fill it like that.
11:47		If she is a girl who is so easy to lay
11:50		then don't think that this will be for a longer time.
11:53		These are girls for two to three days. In order to see what we can do with them.
11:59		A firm brunette. With some tan.
12:02		And a sexy butt.
12:04		Sexy boobs.
12:06		The naughty sluts.
12:08		Blabla… You talk to her.
12:10		'Give me your phone number. See you tomorrow.'
12:12		That's the way I do it. - And it works?
12:15		To be honest, in 99 % of the cases, we never succeed.
12:20		And why not, is your guess?
12:22		We are often twenty or so, that's rather a lot.
12:25		And regarding Arabs, women base themselves on stereotypes.
12:29		They know that, well…
12:31		How can I make understood that I don't want to?
12:34		You need to say that you are already taken. That you are married.
12:37		Then, you show your hand. - But I am not married?
12:40		Then, wear a make-believe ring. Just pretend.
12:42		Not everyone, but many do have respect for a married woman.
12:46		The, we leave them alone.
12:49		Thus I need a man in order to walk the street without being molested?
12:53		Let me talk.
12:54		You are a woman?
12:55		Before leaving the house, did you look into the mirror? - Yes.
12:58		If nobody looked, you would feel bad, no?
13:03		Instead of thanking us: 'Thank you for making me feel like a woman.'
13:09		Instead you come here to teach us a lesson.
13:12		But it isn't this way that you make me a woman…
13:14		When I was young, I wouldn't have let you go unmolested. I would take you.
13:19		What do I have to do for not being accosted like that?
13:23		There is only one solution: You need to pay per hour.
13:24		And I follow you.
13:26		If someone accosts you badly, I'll kill him.
13:28		But as a woman, is there nothing that I can do myself?
13:32		You just need to remain silent.
13:37		If you respond, then they will consider you someone asking for it.
13:40		Put earphones on, like all the other girls.
13:45		And let them talk - But I don't want to let them talk!
13:47		I don't like to be accosted like that.
13:50		And if I don't react they call me a whore.
13:53		A beauty thinking like that… what a pity.
13:56		But I don't want to think like that. It's the men who make me think like that.
14:01		No miss, that's the way you are. The men haven't done you no harm.
14:08		It really seems as if the clock was turned back a hundred years in time.
14:11		I was really shocked how denigrating and sexist these men appeared.
14:16		Don't they themselves have any daughters or wives or sisters which they have respect for?
14:21		Or do they act like that only towards me, against white western women?
14:26		I must be naive, because I believe in multicultural Brussels.
15:25		The more [?] I always hear from women that it's always men of foreign origin.
15:30		Is this different for you?
15:32		Are you being accosted differently, because you have … [?]?
15:36		Sexy thing, sexy black woman etc. Yes, the typical things.
15:43		But look, anyhow there is a story behind it. Anyhow.
15:45		There is a group, but you have to have nuance, and say that not all of them are like that.
15:50		When they sometimes poison it for us, then you will also see that there is a lot of criticism of you within this same community.
15:57		Why do you do that now, we're still busy bringing up our … [?], and we do so much already.
16:02		But that is something I don't understand either, for when such a guest [-worker] acts rudely against me, then no one reacts.
16:08		I got used to it. But just leave it there for now.
16:12		It's over, talk to her and blablabla. It is bad that … [?]. It has never happened to me.
16:23		If you now are a white woman, a black woman, if you are Moslem or non-Moslem,
16:29		you will be accosted, just because you are a woman.
16:30		And then they say, 'What are you doing outside so late?'
16:36		So I just look and say, 'I have to work.' Well, and your husband, what does he do?
16:41		We're from the same country, that's why I am the boss here.
16:44		I need to ask you, what are you doing outside, why do you wear that, like jeans, all right?
16:50		What's your name? Where are you from?
16:52		It has nothing to do with Islam, I think.
16:54		I think it is merely cultural with them. In their heads.
16:58		In the Middle East and in general in Africa, 'accosting' or sexually harassing women in the street is much worse.
17:10		I dare not say is this the culture, or is it the situation in which the culture is?
17:17		For example, 30 years ago this didn't happen.
17:20		Women walked in the street wearing a short skirt not reaching their knees, and with a décolleté, and nobody took offence.
17:27		So that's why I say … [?] a culture.
17:30		Tell me, what is more important than women?
17:36		Salam aleikum, welcome to Mimoun.
17:43		So Hassan… what do you do?
17:46		Presently…
17:53		Hi Mourade! Are you all right?
17:56		Can I interview you for my documentary?
17:59		Yes, sexism in the street.
18:02		Because you look differently upon it.
18:06		Or maybe you know men behaving like that?
18:14		What? You did the same thing?
18:18		So Mourade…
18:19		You said you did the same. What exactly was it?
18:24		'Tss tss… miss, do I have a chance…'
18:28		And then…
18:30		We were always a group.
18:31		Riding in a car, we hooted at women. 'Do you wanna have a ride?'
18:34		The woman concerned usually didn't want to join, let alone reply.
18:36		Logically enough, you don't whistle after people in the street.
18:38		You whistle after dogs. After animals, not human beings.
18:40		So we simply reacted by shouting 'Dirty whore', 'Racist', …
18:44		When too much is prohibited, this creates tensions. Frustrations.
18:49		We didn't talk about sexuality with our parents.
18:51		They didn't explain anything, when our bodies started to change.
18:53		You get certain urges, and you don't understand a thing.
18:56		For no one talks about it. It is a taboo.
18:58		Also, we were not allowed to talk to the neighbourhood girls.
19:01		For she is the sister of a friend, or the daughter of a family member.
19:06		There is so much respect for women that there is nowhere for her to go.
19:10		You must not even look at her. We cover women completely.
19:13		It begins as a matter of respect, but it ends with extremism.
19:17		According to my impression, this is what causes sexual frustration with people.
19:21		The more something is withheld, the more you want to see it.
19:27		I don't like to say it, but this is the truth.
19:29		This seems to be a dangerous combination to me:
19:32		An education where you don't talk about sexuality,
19:35		plus growing up in a world where women are sexual objects.
19:40		Sure, what did you think.
19:43		You see a shampoo commercial displaying a naked woman.
19:45		You see a toothpaste commercial displaying a naked woman.
19:47		Baywatch-like conditions.
19:49		Women walking in slow motion.
19:50		Women in underwear washing cars.
19:52		You simply don't understand.
19:53		How do you want to explain to these guests that they must respect women
19:57		and talk in a normal way to them
19:58		while they continue to see naked women all over the place?
20:02		They go to the disco. Naked women, dancing at the disco.
20:04		Anywhere, you see?!
20:05		Women are not so emancipated as you would like to think.
20:08		There is some emancipation and freedom in the west.
20:13		But women continue to remain, according to what I feel, a sexual object for men.
20:21		That's all.
20:28		Macho culture.
20:30		This was a word which I actually never had seen in relation to my own culture.
20:35		But the more I started to pay attention to what was happening around me, the more I saw naked women [depicted] anywhere in the street.
20:43		They looked at me from commercial posters, with randy gazes and suggestive open mouths.
20:51		How can we be respected as women when we are constantly being depicted as a kind of blow-up doll?
20:57
21:01		G'day miss, are you all right? - Yes, I'm all right.
21:05		Really, I think you're nice. - Yes, but…
21:08		But what? Do you live in Brussels?
21:12		Would you like to exchange phone numbers? - No thank you.
21:14		Would you like to have coffee?
21:16		Do you have a friend?
21:18		Yes I do, and I don't feel like chatting.
21:21		So just give me your number.
21:23		Why not? Come on.
21:24		Why not? Tell me.
21:26		Mister, I told you that I just don't want to.
21:28		Well, then off with you. Whore!
21:30		Beat it. Slut.
21:33
22:19		Can I ask you why it is that you move away?
22:22		I move away because…
22:30		Sexist remarks. Voilà.
22:34		Remarks like…?
22:36		Like what?
22:38		Do you really want me to tell you that? - Yes.
22:44		Like, 'If I could I would put it into you.'
22:51		For example.
22:53		I dare not say this sentence aloud, for it is so vulgar.
22:56		…I don't like this neighbourhood. They keep on molesting me.
22:57		'If I could I would take you.'
23:01		This happens to me every day, when I get home.
23:04		Not really. I wear normal clothes as far as I can tell.
23:09		Just words can be sufficient to exercise power on somebody.
23:16		Anyway, it does hurt.
23:19		I feel ill when someone talks to me like that.
23:23		I do nothing which would make me deserve to be treated like that.
23:28		I have the impression that I have started to behave differently.
23:34		No longer wearing skirts, for example. - Yes.
23:37		In fact, and I'm not keen on that.
23:39		Not being myself anymore, because of that.
23:41		This means we start to do what they want us to do.
23:46		No. Not that.
23:49		All right. Good luck then. - Thanks.
23:58		But I'm happy to move out!
24:04
24:10		You don't want to get to hear such things, each time you come home? Salope [bitch], pute [slut], pétasse [whore].
24:18		They shout something in Arabic, well, it always is the same word: pute [slut].
24:22		[?] …And if they really get angry and tell you that you can be happy that you still can earn money.
24:28		This is also something I find really humiliating, someone just standing before you and spitting on the ground.
24:33		There were three of them, and they spit on my shoulder, simultaneously through the fence.
24:39		I actually experienced that they grasped me tight, and that I had to worm my way out.
24:46		I didn't get an elephant's skin of it, so I just left.
24:57		I do not want to give up.
25:02		But if I move away, then I give up.
25:09		If I stay and adapt, then I also give up.
25:14		And if I manage the problem, then I surely give up.
25:20		These are the options. I'm trapped.