“War Zone,” controversial lecture and film by Maggie Hadleigh-West, was shown on Tuesday evening, March 19 at 7 p.m. The auditorium in the Student Center was packed, with many students left standing in the back or sitting down in the aisles.
There was a lot of diversity in the audience, and surprisingly a large number of males came to view the film as well. “War Zone” is a documentary about a woman who is fed up with street harassment as she walks down public city sidewalks. Hadleigh–West puts herself in a risky situation by filming the men as they and after they make their catcalls, stare at her breasts, and blatantly check her out to the point where she in uncomfortable.
“Maggie Hadleigh-West takes to the streets, turning her cameras on men the same way that they turn their aggression on her. She places herself in very real danger by daring to ask them en on the streets why they are treating a compete stranger in a sexual way.” After 30 minutes of showing of her film, she followed it with a discussion, in which the audience was able to ask questions.
"'War Zone" was, despite its serious undertone, a comical, enjoyable documentary to watch. We are all guilty of checking people out, although some of us are more subtle than others, and could all relate in some manner to the film. The reactions from the men that was captured on the film was pretty hysterical, as they were put on the spot, ranging anywhere from an attitude that suggested they had the right to talk to women on the streets to downright angry, cussing out Hadleigh-West and pushing her to the ground. Hadleigh-West was very up front and direct in the film towards the men, asking them why they said something to her and how they think it made the women feel. The responses she got were interesting.
One man thought he was being friendly, and that women appreciated what he had to say. Another man merely made the comments towards women for his buddies, as a sort of game they all played during lunch break. Another man, when asked why he was staring at women’s breasts, was left speechless.
There was a sixteen year old boy filmed who said that it was okay for him to check girls out, but if his father was to do it, it would be disrespectful because he was a married man. A couple of men were caught on film having erections and masturbating when they saw a pretty woman walk by.
And, the scariest case of all, one man followed men several street blocks, lurking in the shadows as he sauntered behind them, observing. Hadleigh-West made the point that all of these men had the potential to rape, and it was her personal biggest fear.
Right before the documentary ended, there was a 911 call, which was particularly disturbing and very difficult to listen to. A woman who was calling the police as a man was trying to break into her house made the call, and then as he actually broke into the house and as he approached her. The phone was hung up, and the man proceeded to rape her, and the police arrived just as the intruder was exiting the house.
The questions that were asked by the audience members were also very good. Everyone had some sort of reaction. Why did women dress provocatively in the streets if they don’t want to be hollered at? The response was that regardless what women are wearing, men still have the ability to control their actions and words. Didn’t women find it flattering to have men make comments towards them? Wouldn’t women find it unusual if they were dressed nicely not to have someone say something to them?
One man in the audience said that he was embarrassed after viewing the film, while another commented o how he notices other men checking out his fiancée when they go out and how angry he feels at them.
The film was very eye opening, and drew a lot of attention to the problem to street harassment, as it was Maggie Hadleigh-West’s intention. After the film, she informed her audience that she was selling her own propaganda, her personal opinions and experience sand in no way meant to male-bash. She was simply drawing attention to a problem that a majority of the women face, as was made evident through a show-of-hand sin the audience about how many women were bothered in the streets at one point or another during the of course of their lives.
Nearly every woman raised her hand. How many women were physically touched, brushed up against, had their breasts or asses grabbed at one point? Again, a majority of the hands went up.
I left the film and lecture feeling more scared than when I came in, and very much more aware of people on the streets. The film brought many different reactions and view points, but the main purpose was achieved: to make people think, both men and women.
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