France Just Outlawed Catcalling and Street Harassment
Bad news for men who somehow think it's OK to tell women to smile or whistle at them as they pass by on the street, especially in France — now it's illegal.
This legislation has been in the works for about a year now, but it's official as of Thursday morning, according to Reuters.
The law would introduce on-the-spot charges of up to 750 euros for catcalling or other inappropriate, unwanted behaviors. While the government is not looking to "kill the culture of the French lover," it will "forbid insulting, intimidating, threatening, and following women in public spaces."
This news comes only a few days after a disturbing video went viral in France. In it, a young woman was punched in the face by a passerby after she told him to "shut up" when he catcalled her.
Additionally, this new piece of legislation extends the statute of limitations for filing a sexual-assault report. Until now, this statute was 20 years from when the survivor turned 18 — it's now been extended by another decade.
Gender equality minister Marlène Schiappa, one of the proponents for the new law, further explained that "We want to preserve seduction, chivalry, and 'l'amour à la francaise' by saying what is key is consent."
This has been a long time coming and serves as a reminder that there's a big difference between exploring the City of Love with someone you love — and being harassed by someone you don't.
Photo by JOHN TOWNER on Unsplash
TPG featured card
at Bilt's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 1X | Choose to earn up to 1X points on rent and mortgage payments with no transaction fee |
| 2X | Earn 2X points + the option to earn 4% back in Bilt Cash on everyday purchases |
Pros
- Choice to earn up to 1 Bilt Point per dollar spent on rent and mortgage payments
- Elevated everyday earnings with both Bilt Points and the option to earn Bilt Cash
- $400 Bilt Travel Portal hotel credit per year (up to $200 biannually)
- $200 Bilt Cash annually
- Priority Pass membership
- No foreign transaction fees
Cons
- Moderate annual fee
- Designed primarily for members seeking a premium, all-in-one card
- Earn points on housing with no transaction fee
- Choose to earn 4% back in Bilt Cash on everyday spend. Use Bilt Cash to unlock point earnings on rent and mortgage payments with no transaction fee, up to 1X.
- 2X points on everyday spend
- $400 Bilt Travel Hotel credit. Applied twice a year, as $200 statement credits, for qualifying Bilt Travel Portal hotel bookings.
- $200 Bilt Cash (awarded annually). At the end of each calendar year, any Bilt Cash balance over $100 will expire.
- Welcome bonus (subject to approval): 50,000 Bilt Points + Gold Status after spending $4,000 on everyday purchases in the first 90 days + $300 of Bilt Cash.
- Priority Pass ($469/year value). See Guide to Benefits.
- Bilt Point redemptions include airlines, hotels, future rent and mortgage payments, Lyft rides, statement credits, student loan balances, a down payment on a home, and more.