In brief
Recent events highlight a troubling phenomenon where women are filmed in public without consent, leading to their objectification and harassment online. Victims such as Joy Kalekye and others recount their experiences after becoming viral subjects of videos where men approached them without permission. Activists are condemning both the actions of the filmmakers and the public's negative response towards these women, which perpetuates harmful stereotypes and victim-blaming narratives.
On Valentine's Day, Joy Kalekye received unsettling news from a friend urging her to check social media. A video of her standing by a road in Nairobi had gone viral, capturing a man approaching her with unwanted attention without her knowledge.
The video was part of a series showcasing men filming unsuspecting women in Kenya and Ghana, often leading to online abuse against the victims. Activists have raised alarms about the global trend of non-consensual filming and subsequent harsh public reactions towards the women involved, reinforcing gender stereotypes.
Kalekye, once oblivious to being recorded, expressed her shock observing the man's approach in the video—"I realised, oh, it's this Russian guy that I met last year." This incident, however, invites further scrutiny regarding victim behavior and society's inclination to blame women for unwanted attention.
Activists like Brenda Yambo of FIDA-Kenya emphasize that public responses often shift the focus from the perpetrator to the victim, undermining their experiences and contributing to a culture of victimization.
In light of the scandal, Kenyan authorities are working to apprehend the man responsible for filming and sharing the videos globally, highlighting the need for accountability in such invasions of privacy.
