We’ve all been in situations where we feel helpless. Sometimes it’s us who is helpless and needs the help. Other times we’re helpless to help others. Being a bystander in a situation can be tough, especially when you have no clue what to do. After the recent presidential election, a cartoon stating how ot react when a bystander to islamophobic behavior has gone viral. This cartoon shows how to safely handle the situation so that no one gets hurt and no one is helpless.
The cartoon contains four simple steps and doesn’t just apply to islamophobic behavior. You can use these techniques for any situation in which someone is being harassed and you are the bystander. The steps are as follows.
- Engage Conversation
- Pick a random subject and discuss it
- Keep Building the Safe Space
- Continue the Conversation and Leave to a Safe Space if Necessary
If you see someone being harassed, go up to them. Start off with a hello, introduce yourself and sit down with them. Do not engage the harasser. Ignore him/her and their terrible ways. Remember how you were always taught not to react to bullies because it just urged them to continue? That’s the idea behind this.
Discuss the last book you read, your favorite band, your latest Netflix obsession, the color of your nails. It doesn’t matter what you talk about, just talking to this person and creating a safe space if enough. Whether they’re wearing a hijab or they have half their head shaved, they’re bound to have something in common with you. If not, well here’s your chance to teach someone why the lead singer of that band and you are soulmates.
Make sure you’re keeping eye contact with your new found talking buddy. Ignore the harasser. The lack of a reaction from you and the victim will make the harasser leave. No one likes to be ignored, even obnoxious people who feel the need to attack others.
If the harasser doesn’t leave, you and the victim should as soon as possible. Ask if they want to get coffee or a bite to eat. Tell them about this cool bookshop down the street and escort them away from the harasser. It’s okay if the victim doesn’t actually want to stick around once you’re free from the attacker. As long as you’ve escorted them to safety, it’s okay to let them head off.
This cartoon is meant to help bystanders witnessing islmaphobic behavior, but the principle is the same for so many situations. If you see someone being harassed for their race, gender, sexuality, weight, or anything else, use these techniques to help.
