Cat Talks

A fixed and insistent gaze; a loud whistle; a comment about one’s appearance; a request to smile. Street harassment takes many shapes and levels of severity, but all of them consist of unsolicited sexual attention in the public space. Even though it can be practiced by and on anyone, the majority of episodes involve a woman being unwillingly approached by a strange men. These routine intrusions are a pervasive symptom of our patriarchal society and its related power imbalances.

Through critical play, Cat Talks aims to start an empathetic dialogue about gender equity and the right to the city, having catcalls as a starting point. My final goal is to design a game aimed at teenagers that can be played in a school environment as well as in the public space, creating an opportunity for reflection on the topic and for participants to share personal experiences. A first prototype of the game was already developed and tested in two different settings, promoting very constructive exchanges. A documentary screening on street harassment followed by a discussion was organized at unibz, with a second edition to take place on the 10th of February 2022 in partnership with Progetto Liscià.