From CASS: Sugarcoated & Corporate-Sponsored Street Harassment at DC’s Nike Women’s Half Marathon

Ugh.

Just ugh.

Bare Minerals encouraged "DC fraternity boys" (their phrasing) to hold signs during the Nike Women's Half Marathon that read "You look beautiful sweaty” and “Cute running shoes!"  You know, because women only run so that men can compliment us on how we look.

From Collective Action for Safe Spaces:

It’s hard enough for women to feel safe, secure and comfortable running in their own neighborhoods to train for half marathons in the first place. Street harassment is a real and scary part of many women’s daily runs, as well as their commutes to work and trips to the grocery store.  Much of the street harassment that we experience is centered around our looks, especially men’s opinions of them. Women’s bodies are the subjects of public commentary and conversations—both in the media and on the street.

The “Go Bare” campaign signs, held by Bare Escentuals’ very own team of “DC fraternity boys” (their phrasing, not mine) are tools of street harassment.

They’re simply sugarcoating and romanticizing the street harassment with pretty, professionally printed signs and free makeup at the finish line.

It's disappointing that this happened at a women's race designed to empower and provide an encouraging environment to run for women who might not otherwise do so.  It's also disappointing because this visible display of street harassment seems to normalize this kind of behavior.  Hopefully, Bare Minerals will get the message that this is not okay.