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The Stop Telling Women to Smile project by Tatyana Fazlalizadeh has been making waves worldwide, raising awareness about street harassment and giving voice to women of all backgrounds. When Tatyana Fazlalizadeh relocated from Philadelphia to Brooklyn, she created public art by posting portraits of women using homemade wheat paste. She aimed to document their reactions to street harassment and give voice to those objectified on the street daily.
This project is an interdisciplinary one that culminates in public art, featuring interviews and portraits of women and non-binary individuals who have experienced sexual harassment in public spaces. The posters and drawings created from these interviews are then placed on outdoor walls as a form of activism.
The Stop Telling Women to Smile project by Tatyana Fazlalizadeh. Image Copyright Tatyana Fazlalizadeh
The phrase “Stop telling women to smile” represents a larger issue of sexism and objectification. Women are often told to change their facial expressions to appear more approachable or attractive to men. This command to smile is just one example of the many sexist interactions that women face in public spaces. Even though it may not be physically violent, it can still make women feel uncomfortable, sexualised, and patronised.
The Stop Telling Women to Smile project by Tatyana Fazlalizadeh. Image Copyright Tatyana Fazlalizadeh
The Stop Telling Women to Smile project has been transformative not only for the artist behind it but also for the community that has rallied behind it. It has served as a new way of creating art and building community, with a shared cause of ending harassment against women. It has revolutionised the way in which portrait-based work is approached, using the environment as an element rather than just a backdrop for the art.
The Stop Telling Women to Smile project by Tatyana Fazlalizadeh. Image Copyright Tatyana Fazlalizadeh
The Stop Telling Women to Smile project by Tatyana Fazlalizadeh has been an important force for social change. It empowers women to speak out against harassment and amplifies their voices through public art.
The Stop Telling Women to Smile project by Tatyana Fazlalizadeh. Image Copyright Tatyana Fazlalizadeh
In 2019, the Stop Telling Women to Smile book was published by Seal Press.
“Writing this book was an intense and beautiful labour. In it, I discuss my own experiences with sexual harassment, beginning in childhood and continuing through adult life. I interviewed 10 new women for the book, ranging from cis to trans, masculine to feminine, with varying races, religions, and ages.”
Tatyana Fazlalizadeh
Tatyana Fazlalizadeh’s Stop Telling Women to Smile project is a powerful example of how art can drive activism and social justice. It serves as a reminder that catcalling is a form of harassment that needs to end, whether it’s on the street, in a club, or anywhere else.
